Starting on Tuesday, Smith’s eight under-64s matched the best score of the week scored by Young on Thursday, who failed to repeat the relentless pace he had set the day before. After a perfect first inning, the American suffered his first two bogeys at major as he signed off with a three under 69.
Smith ran out of the blocks with three consecutive bird throws and would then add three more, but the team’s pick would follow in 14th place with a spectacular eagle putt. His superb, perfectly measured effort has caused screams from watching fans, however, the 25-year-old is the picture of the great man, with a wry smile. with his caddy at the height of his celebration.
After admitting to “feeling like a kid again” while doing the course earlier this week, this reaction typifies an altered mindset.
“On practice days, it’s easy to get laughter and stuff like that,” Smith told reporters.
“But out there, the last few days have been so tough, it’s almost made me rethink shooting properly and really being precise with the target and the shape.”
However, the five-time PGA Tour winner was quick to emphasize the importance of shutting down after rounds. After relaxing by watching a few episodes of “Peaky Blinders” after its first round, the Australian plans to watch some more hit BBC drama before the weekend.
“I’ve always done my job well, once golf is over, life begins,” Smith said.
“I told myself it’s like a job, don’t take it home with you. I think it’s really important, especially in these big tournaments.”
Young head chasing the pack
Despite seeing his lead dented, Young was upbeat, happy with his performance minus “a couple of missed shots” and a few misses.
“It feels like I’m still in control of what’s going on, it’s just that I still haven’t put it together,” he said.
“Instead of being second over tenth. You’re going to have to play some good golf over the weekend regardless.”
Rory McIlroy climbed from sixth to third despite dropping two strokes from his first round, hitting 68 to leave himself three shots from Smith at the summit.
A disappointing pair of bogeys in the 8th and 15th minutes slowed the Northern Irishman’s pursuit, who is looking for a second Open win following victory over Royal Liverpool in 2014.
The match ended in the 18th minute seeing Norway’s Viktor Hovland take on McIlroy in bottom 10. The 24-year-old rallied from two birdies on three holes with a superb birdie-Eagle run to set up a powerful finish.
Dustin Johnson kept his lead in the four-stroke round with another impressive performance, the American rebounding from the opening shot to shoot 67, while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler repeated the round. opening 68 to end the day of competition with compatriots.
Impressive British trio
Scheffler was joined in the lower fifth by England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who recovered from a string of birdies that missed to sink four of the five holes from the sixth hole onwards.
Renowned for his frequent fairway swings, the 30-year-old is particularly annoyed at missing opportunities on the opening hole, but believes disappointment isn’t everything, if channeled properly.
Hatton told reporters: “If I’m so upset, I do it my way, that’s a problem. “But if I hit a bad shot and I let it go, it won’t do me any harm.
“It would be worse for me if I tried and acted like everything was fine because that’s just not my personality… obviously it’s fine to be unloved, but it’s just me, me not trying to offend anyone.”
It was also a good day for two more Britons, though both from Sheffield, coming to St.
After a slow even 72nd start, Fitzpatrick exploded on Friday, shooting seven birdies to rise within seven strokes of the lead. 70’s Brown rallied two strokes on his opening day, but the 21-year-old continues to impress as the tournament’s best-performing amateur.
Tearful Woods cuts the list of titles
With the 156-man pitch cut to the top 70 players and relationships before the weekend, one victim is trapped above all others: Tiger Woods and an emotional reception – potentially the one final – St. Andrews.
Returning to his favorite course has been Wood’s main focus during the grueling recovery he has endured since a car accident in February 2021 left him badly injured in his leg. .
And with the Open unlikely to return to the ‘homeland of golf’ until 2030, Woods admits he may have played his round at the venue.
“I’m not taking a break, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to play here again when it comes back,” Woods said.
2013 champion Phil Mickelson also missed the opportunity, falling to more than five after splitting even on Thursday, as did four-time major winner Brooks Koepka.
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