Day 2 at The Open

The typicall Scottish weather returned to Turnberry on Friday which greately effected scoring. While 50 people were in red numbers on Thursday only 6 managed that feat today. One thing that failed to show up however was Tiger's golf game. After a smooth start he had a disasterous middle of the round and had a pair of double bogeys (on 10 and 13). In a 6 hole stretch Tiger was 7 over. So we will see no Tiger during the weekend as he missed the cut by one but we will see Tom Watson and plenty of him. Watson started with a birdie at the first with a raise of the putter head bolted to -6. His time at -6 was short lived as he bogeyed his second hole. Then came a stretch that several THOUGHT was Watson's demise as he bogeyed holes 4, 5, 6, & 7. HOWEVER this is a proven champion and is nothing he hasn't overcome before. Today would be no different as he birdied 9 and 11, Then with a bomb from the back of the 16th green made another birdie putting him back to -4. As good as that was we were only getting a sample of the 18th. After his approach found the back right fringe he was not to be denied a share of the lead with another long range putt or as Watson called it "feild goals". Who is he sharing the lead with? Steve Marino who had a solid 67 yesterday and followed it up with one of the 6 rounds under par, a 2 under 68. Not bad for a tournament alternate. Marino played last week at the John Deere Classic where he was notified that he would be playing in the Open. He then had to call his dad to fly to Florida to get his passport. 6 short days later and only 4 rounds of links golf in his life under his belt he shares the Open Championship lead with an 8 time major champion.......Tom Watson. How about that for your final group. I thought Watson would play well and be in contention but now it seems that he very well could hoist the Claryet Jug for the 6th time. He's confident playing well and as a added bonus his putting (what he was "not confident with") was solid and capped off with fireworks at 16 and 18. Another veteran is also in contention just 1 off the pace..............Mark Calcavecchia. Bad back and foot no problem as he to has found some of his old magic fronm the '99 Open. There is no doubt who the crowd will be behind this weekend. Watson will have the crowd, his toughness, and most of all his determination and he isn't scared of anyone. I think his low leg kick and fistpump on 18 is a sign of things to come this weekend. Who says 59 years young is to old to compete with the young guns. NOT TOM WATSON that is a fact.
Kyle C. Rush