Dustin Johnson takes command of Open Championship at St Andrews

Joy Chakravarty 04:15 18/07/2015
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  • Fine performance: Johnson.

    St Andrews — Dustin Johnson took a big step towards winning his first major title when he handled the cold and windy conditions at the Old Course with aplomb and picked up another three shots during his unfinished second round of the 144th Open Championship on Friday.

    However, five-time champion Tom Watson beat the fading light and managed to play his final Open hole of his career. The 65-year-old legend is sure to miss the cut mark with his two-round score of 12-over par.

    Watson finished with five bogies in his last five holes, but that did not matter to the fans and several players, including Graeme McDowell and Matt Kuchar, who stood around the 18th green and gave the nine-time major champion a standing ovation.

    When play was finally suspended last night, Johnson was at 10-under par total, one ahead of the clubhouse leader Danny Willett of England. However, the American had only finished 13 holes and will have to return early to the golf course today to complete his second round.

    Having held his own against the golf course and not dropping a single shot for the first 28 holes, Johnson finally made his first bogey on the par-3 11th hole, where he missed his par putt from less than three feet on the most exposed and raised green of the course.

    He had earlier made birdies on the fourth, fifth, seventh and 10th holes with another stunning display of ball-striking off the tee.

    – Open: Johnson takes early lead with 7 under
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    Jordan Spieth, who is trying to become only the second player in the history to win the first three majors of the season after his earlier triumphs in the Masters and US Open, had mixed three birdies with three bogies to remain at five-under par for the tournament after 13 holes. He was in a great position to get another birdie on the par-5 14th, just short of the green in two.

    Former world No1 and two-time Open champion at the Old Course, Tiger Woods, was putting together a much improved performance in the second round. He was one-over par after 11 holes but is likely to miss the cut. A disappointing first-round 76 meant he was five-over for the tournament with the cut (top-60 and ties) expected to be somewhere around even-par.

    Willett, the world No39, held the clubhouse lead at nine-under par 135, followed by three players – local hero Marc Warren, 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson and 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott – at seven-under par 137.

    The second round yesterday got under way at the scheduled 0632 local time (0932 UAE time) but was suspended before the first group could finish the first hole after severe rain left the golf course water-logged and unplayable.

    Play finally resumed at 10am local time and continued uninterrupted before being halted for poor light.

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