Woods shoots par again, now six off Open lead

But not necessarily at the British Open.

Something’s clearly rubbed off on Kisner, who was handed the golden ticket for the first time this year, as he pushed the lead to eight under before a double bogey at the last to rejoin Johnson on six under Friday. “Didn’t think much of it”.

“I played a little bit better (Thursday)”, Woods said of his matching scores for the opening two rounds.

“I’ve been called Dustin many times”, the joint leader told reporters.

“Maybe some people do assume, when they see the name up there, that it’s Dustin”.

So on Friday, McIlroy hit only six drivers, employing impressive patience.

The Scot, Open champion at Royal St George’s in 1985, when he won by a shot from the late Payne Stewart, was emotional at the end of his round and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wave to the crowd before pretending to dab away a tear.

Rory McIlroy (69) was two shots behind.

“If I win next week [at the Seniors Open], then I’ll be back again for more punishment”, he said.

A woeful start featuring successive bogies at the second and third – the first coming after a wayward tee shot and then a wild hack from the rough – was counter-balanced immediately with two consecutive birdies. He’s on a mission of aggression after what he viewed as troubling caution at Augusta and Shinnecock.

About standing on the final tee with his total reading 3-over, he said, “After the tee shot, I just wanted to put the ball somewhere on the green and 2-putt for par”.

“To miss cuts in the Opens, it’s never a nice feeling in any pro golfer and, as you get older, you know it’s going to happen more often”.

There will be all manner of players and shot-shapers trying to slay the toughest course in the Open rota in Round 3, including Tiger Woods, who is looking to make his first Open cut since 2014 and finish inside the top 10 for the first time since 2013.

It’s freaky, but it’s a good living.

Carnoustie’s finishing stretch also killed off the challenge of Justin Thomas, the man closest to him in those rankings.

After posting the lowest round of the tournament at the U.S. Open (63), Tommy Fleetwood is at it again. You know, I’m excited for it.

The 2007 Masters and 2015 Open champion Zach Johnson rose to the top of the leaderboard after a splendid 4-under 67 in testing conditions when wind and rain both hampered the players in the morning. I putted nicely, I scrambled well when I needed to and on a day like this all you are trying to do is keep yourself in it.

Kisner, who led overnight after a first-round 66, was three-under for his round heading to the last tee. Kisner entered the 36th hole with a two-stroke lead, but after he chose to push his luck from the rough and go for the green, he found the Barry Burn and walked away with a double-bogey and in a tie with Zach Johnson for the lead.

Kisner insists the illustrious company is “not intimidating at all” and says “everyone is really just chill”. “So I only had 150 to carry the burn”. Asked if that makes it easier or harder, Spieth didn’t hesitate.

While some players thrive and use bad weather to their advantage, the former world No. 1, now ranked eighth, has not coped well when the elements have turned nasty. I will try, I won’t totally give up.

So relentless is the world nowadays, it produces even contenders Ernie Els used to grab in nappies.