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Oosthuizen moves into British Open lead
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland, Louis Oosthuizen escaped the Old Course before the winds arrived Friday and his fortunate early tee time helped him build a five-shot lead at the British Open.
Winds gusting to 40 mph caused an hourlong suspension of play during the afternoon and also ruined the hopes of a host of would-be challengers at the world's oldest golf tournament.
Oosthuizen was in the second group off the tee at St. Andrews and he shot a 5-under 67 that gave him a 36-hole total of 12-under 132. That equaled the lowest two-round total ever shot in a British Open held on the Old Course.
Mark Calcavecchia, who won this tournament 21 years ago, and who turned 50 last month, was alone in second at 137 after also firing a 67. Calcavecchia teed off at 6:30 a.m. local time in the first threesome of the day.
Soon after the early starters began to complete their rounds, the soft rain that had been falling stopped and the sun came out. That also signaled the start of the howling winds.
"The wind was blowing hard when they stopped play," said Rory McIlroy, the first-round leader who followed his 63 on Thursday with an 80 in the wind Friday. "I think it was blowing even harder when we started up again."
Paul Casey and Lee Westwood, both of whom played before the worst of the weather moved in, shared third place at 6-under 138. Amateur Steven Tiley was also at 6-under, but he still had eight holes to play when the action was suspended by darkness.
Tiley and 29 other players were scheduled to return to the Old Course at 6:30 a.m. Saturday to complete the second round, after which those surviving the cut will play the third round.
Newly-crowned U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell was part of the group at 139 and Tiger Woods, playing in the worst of the occasional gale-force winds, was among those at 140. Woods shot a 73 and although he is eight shots off the pace he still has a chance to become the first player to win three British Opens at St. Andrews.
Phil Mickelson, ranked second in the world behind Woods, survived the cut with a 36-hole total of even-par 144.
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland, Louis Oosthuizen escaped the Old Course before the winds arrived Friday and his fortunate early tee time helped him build a five-shot lead at the British Open.
Winds gusting to 40 mph caused an hourlong suspension of play during the afternoon and also ruined the hopes of a host of would-be challengers at the world's oldest golf tournament.
Oosthuizen was in the second group off the tee at St. Andrews and he shot a 5-under 67 that gave him a 36-hole total of 12-under 132. That equaled the lowest two-round total ever shot in a British Open held on the Old Course.
Mark Calcavecchia, who won this tournament 21 years ago, and who turned 50 last month, was alone in second at 137 after also firing a 67. Calcavecchia teed off at 6:30 a.m. local time in the first threesome of the day.
Soon after the early starters began to complete their rounds, the soft rain that had been falling stopped and the sun came out. That also signaled the start of the howling winds.
"The wind was blowing hard when they stopped play," said Rory McIlroy, the first-round leader who followed his 63 on Thursday with an 80 in the wind Friday. "I think it was blowing even harder when we started up again."
Paul Casey and Lee Westwood, both of whom played before the worst of the weather moved in, shared third place at 6-under 138. Amateur Steven Tiley was also at 6-under, but he still had eight holes to play when the action was suspended by darkness.
Tiley and 29 other players were scheduled to return to the Old Course at 6:30 a.m. Saturday to complete the second round, after which those surviving the cut will play the third round.
Newly-crowned U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell was part of the group at 139 and Tiger Woods, playing in the worst of the occasional gale-force winds, was among those at 140. Woods shot a 73 and although he is eight shots off the pace he still has a chance to become the first player to win three British Opens at St. Andrews.
Phil Mickelson, ranked second in the world behind Woods, survived the cut with a 36-hole total of even-par 144.