Jordan Spieth continues British Open charge, Rory McIlroy fades

But he’d rather have been swinging a club than holding a microphone. A third-straight round in the 60s will ensure qualifying next year won’t be as hard. Fortunately, one of the venues was his hometown course in Woburn. The biggest break came at No. 10, when the rain was pounding Royal Birkdale.

Ian Poulter rattled in four birdies and made only one bogey as rain and strong crosswinds caused problems for the early starters.

McIlroy, taking expletive-filled inspiration from his long-time caddie J.P. Fitzgerald after he made bogey on five on the first six holes in the first round, is very much part of a tournament.

He gave a shot back at the par-3 14 as the wind kicked up into overdrive once more.

Kuchar’s one-over-par round of 71, in the gusty winds, was only slightly soured by a bogey on the 18th.

“I always think you can judge a lot about a golf course by its leaderboard Sunday afternoon”, Kuchar said. “But don’t we all?” You only have four years to be a college kid. He also finished tied fourth in the British Open that year. Apparently, he’s found his groove.

“I played well today”, Kuchar said. “I think that was a huge turning point”. I can be more aggressive.

“I actually mishit the shot which is why it looked so gross on the shot tracker”. Poulter is fine with that.

The 39-year-old has been a measure of consistency throughout the first two days.

Fast forward 19 years, and Kuchar is indeed a tour veteran.

Starting his round just two back of the leaders, Thomas doubled the first and bogeyed the second.

Constant 25-mph winds and gusts of up to 40 miles per hour took its toll on the best golfers in the world on Friday as scores ballooned. He also opened with a 66 last month at the U.S. Open.

“I thought on 15, as long as you don’t hit it in the two right pot bunkers, should be able to reach the green in two”, he said.

“Regardless of your age, if you’re in this field, you have a dream to win the title”, Kuchar said.

He started the week as a 20/1 shot, drifted out as high as 90/1 during his front nine on Thursday – I know of one Irish punter who dived in and got money on Rory at those odds – and by yesterday evening he was 6/1 to win. “On a Saturday with a lead in a major, that’s as good as I can ask for”. The Claret Jug had already been returned to the R&A on Monday.

The American Rickie Fowler, ranked No. 10 in the world, said, “I love playing in the wind”, and followed a decent 71 with a commendable 71. His usual weapon didn’t pay off.

However, a different McIlroy appeared after the turn to grind back four shots, which included three birdies on his last four holes to complete an impressive comeback to finish his round at one-over-par. When play restarted 25 minutes later, Spieth quickly added two birdies to get back to six under. “It was a awful day”, he said. The 44 year old from Hampshire, playing in just his second Open, can book a return trip next year with a top ten finish.

It came on a gentle day when Grace said par was more realistically 67 than 70 as the scorecard said.

And now he is contending in a major championship again.

U.S. Presidents Cup captain Steve Stricker (70) made the best despite an early tee time.

“It’s not very good on the wrist when you’re hitting it out of the hay”. “Me knowing the rule, I’ve got to bring it to his notice really, for the rest of the field”. Look, I just had to turn it around. My goal was to kind of survive the sixth hole, however made a birdie.

After Charley Hoffman recorded the first-ever eagle on the 1st at Royal Birkdale in Open play on Thursday, Chris Wood pulled off the same feat on the 473-yard 18th hole during his second round.

Casey celebrates his 40th birthday on Friday and continued his excellent form in the majors this season with a five-birdie opener, his only blemish coming when he took three putts to get down at the 11th.