Before the British Open began this week at Roy Lytham, Tiger Woods insisted his focus was on putting himself in a position to win his 15th major championship, not actually winning. Well, after two rock-solid rounds, he has done just that.
It took an improbably hole out on No. 18 from a greenside pot bunker to save his round, but Woods executed the shot to make birdie for a 67 that left him at 6-under for the tournament, four shots behind Brandt Snedeker, who fashioned a 64 en route to 10-under for the Open championship.
Adam Scott, with Steve Wiliams on his bag (Woods’ former caddie), is at 9-under, three shots in front of Woods.
The irony of Woods’ bunker shot was that it was the only time he hit into one of the 205 sand traps on the links style course. The shot was so important that Woods gave his patented fist pump and accompanied it with a scream.
He was excited about the shot, but also about how he has played in the opening two rounds. Just like Thursday, Woods had just one bogey and four birdies. Friday’s bogey came on 598-yard par 5 No. 11. He found the rough off the tee and had some difficulties advancing the ball out of that penal area.
But he followed that up with a birdie on the short No. 16 (363 yards) and the bird out of the sand on the last.
With “moving day” == also known as the third round — coming, it will be interesting to see how Snedeker and Scott, who have no major wins between them, and Tiger Woods respond to the moment. Also, conditions are bound to get worse, as rain and wind are in the forecast, especially for Sunday’s final round.
“This golf course, we haven’t seen it yet with the wind we’re supposed to get in this place,” Woods said.
