Turnberry takes revenge on Jimenez

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  • July 17, 2009

Miguel Angel Jimenez’s overnight lead did not last long today as a hitherto defenceless Turnberry bared its teeth.

Miguel Angel Jimenez’s overnight lead did not last long today as yesterday’s defenceless Turnberry bared its teeth and exacted a measure of revenge on day two of the 138th Open Championship.
Jimenez equalled the lowest first round in Open history with his 64 yesterday, the 45-year-old carding six birdies and no bogeys in a flawless round.
At six under par, the Spaniard led by one from 59-year-old five-time winner Tom Watson, 2003 champion Ben Curtis and Japan’s Kenichi Kuboya, who finished his first round shortly before 9pm last night with a run of birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie.
But yesterday’s benign weather was replaced by showers and a strong breeze contributing to a number of bogeys, double bogeys and worse on the front nine, which played mainly into the wind.
Jimenez dropped three shots in a row from the second to drop back to three under par, while Curtis fared even worse after a birdie on the first had briefly taken him to six under.
The world number 27, who was ranked just 396th when he won the Open at Sandwich, then carded six birdies in the next seven holes and a double bogey on the ninth to be out in 42 and now more in danger of missing the cut than leading the tournament.
Playing partner Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, also took 42 shots to cover the front nine, most of the damage done by an eight on the par-five seventh, which had been the easiest hole on the course yesterday.
Fifty players had broken the par of 70 on Thursday, but after three and a half hours play today, only three players were currently under par for the day.
Ian Poulter, sensibly dressing less garishly after an opening 75, ran up a double bogey on the second and a triple bogey on the fifth, only moving his ball around 10 yards in the heavy rough before being forced to take a penalty drop.
At 10 over par Poulter, second at Birkdale 12 months ago, was now 151st out of 156, alongside Nick Faldo who was two over for his round after 11 holes.
Defending champion Padraig Harrington, looking to win a third successive title, remained in contention on one under after four, but Rory McIlroy was back on two over alongside Colin Montgomerie.

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