OPEN: Fighting Aussies battle weather to stay in touch

BY BRENDAN JAMES at ROYAL TROON

SCOTLAND turned has on its best and worst of summer during the past 48 hours and, unfortunately most of the 11-strong Australian contingent was caught on the wrong side of the draw.

All but two played through the strong winds of Thursday morning before they abated and left the Royal Troon course exposed to good scoring. Those same players faced the worst of the weather again on Friday, with high winds and driving rain sweeping across the course throughout the afternoon.

Jason Day did well to finish with a one under 70. PHOTO: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images.

Of the 26 groups playing in the afternoon wave, only three players broke par – South Korea’s Byeong Hun An and World No.1 Jason Day both had 70, while Marc Leishman bounced back from his opening 74 to record a bogey-free 69.

Day, who started his second round knowing he was 12 shots behind 36-hole leader Phil Mickelson, was caught in the worst of the weather while playing Royal Troon’s brutal back nine and could easily have dropped enough shots to miss the cut.

“We totally expected to have conditions that were going to be difficult, but not to the point where it was blowing 30 to 40 miles an hour with wind and rain coming in sideways,” Day smiled. “I think I went through four gloves during that little time span, and it was coming down pretty heavy on me.

“They are the worst conditions, by far, that I have played in. It felt like the rain was coming up underneath the umbrella. But that was pretty atrocious.

“Unfortunately the guys in the morning definitely had the advantage over the last two days, which is totally fine. You get lucky in draws like this playing the Open Championship.

Matt Jones had a rough start but stayed patient and is now even par.
PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

“But it's nice to be able to come into a day like this knowing that I need to play good golf, get on top of my game and shoot 70. Get myself back to making the cut. Hopefully over the next two days get myself back into contention. That would be nice.”

After opening with a bogey at the par-4 1^st hole, the Queenslander started to take on the course and birdied the 3^rd, 5^th, 6^th and 7^th holes to get to two under for the tournament. But as the weather deteriorated he could not be as aggressive and needed to just hold on to minimise any damage to his scorecard.

He dropped shots at the 12^th and 15^th holes on the inward half, which was markedly better than most players in the afternoon.

RELATED STORY: LEISHMAN READY TO ATTACK TROON

Day heads into the weekend tied for 41^st at one over, alongside Leishman and Greg Chalmers, who has been a model of consistency with his rounds of 72-71. Scott Hend is a further stroke back at two over after dropping four shots in the last six holes to finish with a 73.

Adam Scott and Matt Jones remain the best placed of the Australians at even par after the second round.

Scott remains frustrated with his swing as well as dialing in the speed of the greens, especially on long putts, but has managed to keep his Open campaign bubbling along hoping a low round is not far away.

“I don't know if it's a case of not hitting it close enough or not holing any putts, it may be both,” he shrugged. “But just being very patient, but never really created the opportunities I would have liked.

“I never got that long one to drop and get anything going. And then unfortunately I hit a couple of poor 3-woods on the back nine, and got me in trouble on 11 and 13 and I dropped shots.

“The patience was good, but unfortunately the execution wasn't quite spot on again today.”

A frustrated Adam Scott watches another putt burn the edge of the hole.
PHOTO: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images.

The 2013 Masters Champion is now hoping for one present for his 36^th birthday tomorrow.

“Some nice weather would be nice tomorrow,” he laughed. “I'd take that. Well, I'll wish for it.”

If his wish comes true, he’s planning on an all out attack early on Royal Troon’s front nine and stay out of trouble heading back to the clubhouse.

“If the conditions are fair enough I can be more aggressive,” he said. “Maybe just get it out of the middle of the green and a bit more at a few more pins.

“I'm going to have to probably to make up a couple. Then if I can get off to a quick start tomorrow, then back on to trying to execute a major game plan and minimise the errors.”

Marcus Fraser and Rod Pampling both missed the four over cut by a single stroke. Pampling sadly bogied three of his last four holes to miss the weekend. Nathan Holman (76), Nick Cullen (76) and Steven Bowditch (78) also missed the cut.