Big guns make the best of the worst

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  • July 15, 2016

Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day were all forced to make the best of some horrendous conditions at The Open on Friday.

All three players were among the second round's later starters, and had to contend with heavy rain, freezing cold temperatures and swirling winds.

Within a few short moments, players like McIlroy and Day went from notching up several birdies to a bitter fight for survival.

McIlroy dropped from five under to one under following a string of bogeys, eventually recovering somewhat to sign for a 71, and admitted afterwards that in the past he might have totally disintegrated under similar conditions.

“I think I've embraced the challenge of it more and more over the years. I used to hate playing in those conditions. I really did,” he said. “But I've found a way to get myself around the course and be as positive as I possibly can.”

Day, meanwhile, racked up two bogeys on the back nine, having earlier picked up four birdies on the front. Any hopes of a major move up the leaderboard were swiftly snuffed out.

There was one half hour in particular that Day rates as the worst conditions he's ever played in.

“By far,” he said. “For the little time span we had of that, that was pretty atrocious.”

Spieth, meanwhile, battled his way to a 75 and four-over-par total, narrowly surviving the cut.

He described what it was like out there.

“Those gusts got up to maybe 20, 25 mph, but it's cold. It's a cold, heavy wind. So it plays like it's 40 [mph] in the States,” Spieth said. “Playing shots that I don't even want to hit certain clubs because I can't get my mind right.

“At this point if I make the cut [he did], I'm looking to put nice, smooth, solid swings, very confident putts on it to lead into the PGA Championship, because I know my chances here are likely finished,” he added.

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