Mickelson looked supremely confident in his first two rounds, seemingly hitting most shots at will in scoring 63-69. Mickelson fell behind when he missed the green to the left, and failed to hole a par putt from 18 feet. In Stenson’s favor, the last three Open champions at Troon were also first-time winners. Phil Mickelson was certainly enjoying the weather on day one, he came within inches of making history in a major golf championship.
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Mickelson, 46, who is hoping to become the oldest victor of the tournament in the modern era, returned a 70 for 202.
It looks like a two-man race.
He still managed to stay out front in the British Open. A pack of five golfers was 4 under, including Sergio Garcia and Charl Schwartzel. At five, the par three, I’m aiming out towards the ocean.
On No. 4, a short par-5 downwind that played the easiest hole of the day, he drove into thick rough on the right.
It was even worse for Fowler. At No. 14 in the OWGR, he was the highest-ranked player to miss the cut. It was on Thursday, too. At one hole, he accounted for the howling wind by aiming his shot toward the Irish Sea.
Now, the tough part begins. Many players had to endure an afternoon of gusts that topped 30 miles per hour and rain so heavy at times it was hard to see. “It would great to hand one back to him tomorrow”.
It appears poised for a two-way shoot-out between them for the Claret Jug in Sunday’s final round with Bill Haas of the United States leading the chasing pack at six-under. “It’s the Open championship, some draws go your way and some draws don’t”.
Third round coverage starts at 6 a.m. CST Saturday on NBC. “But either way, I shot three rounds under par”.
“It’s a great opportunity, a great challenge”, Mickelson said.
After turning 40 in April, Stenson admitted time was running out in his bid for a maiden major, especially after failing to challenge in any of the last six and withdrawing from last month’s US Open due to injury. So much of what separates it is charming and positive, but some argue its biggest negative is what we saw on Friday at Royal Troon. The oldest victor of any major is Julius Boros, who was 48 when he won the 1968 PGA Championship.
On a rainy day at Royal Troon, Phil Mickelson finally ran into a bit of trouble.
An errant drive at the 555-yard fourth hole forced Lefty to settle for a par.
Phil Mickelson made his first two bogeys of the tournament but still shot a 2-under 69.
“I haven’t made a birdie in the first seven holes and it seems like the whole field has made about four each”.
Ko won in consecutive weeks in Southern California this year, the second the major ANA Inspiration.
The leaders have teed off in the third round of the British Open.
“I don’t think that did anything to it”, Spieth said after a disappointing 72 left him five over par. Obviously the guys at the top of the leaderboard are playing very well.
Steve Stricker ripped off 14 straight pars until the rain and wind caught up with the 49-year-old American. Top-ranked Jason Day felt the wrath of Royal Troon. He drove into a fairway bunker and made bogey. He wound up with the dreaded snowman – a quadruple-bogey 8.
Montgomerie said he likely won’t attempt to qualify for the Open again.
Mickelson’s made his first bogey when he pulled an iron off the tee into the rough, missing a gorse bush by about two paces. “I know Phil is not going to back off, he’s going to keep on trying – even after we’re done”. “I feel like I gave a few back there at the end”. The question is how much stronger the wind gets in the afternoon, and how long into the evening it blows.
“I would love to add to it but having already done it was big”.
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The wind and cool air was back to its prevailing direction, meaning the outward nine was playing downwind.
