British Open 2010 Second Round Recap and Tom Watson’s Farewell

Brutal, Shell-shocked, Nightmare, Merciless, Unfair, WAAAAHHHH!!!

These are just some of the many descriptions and exclamations from the golfers that played this afternoon and the people that bet golf this afternoon.

This weather had everything again today – wind, rain and even a little bit of sun at times.

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The afternoon conditions included 41 mph wind gusts and not a lot of happy golfers.

If you were lucky enough to draw the early group today, the stroke average was about a whopping 5 stroke difference.

For some of the top players in contention, the following scores from yesterday morning to this afternoon should paint a nasty picture:

• Rory McIlroy 63-80
• John Daly 66-76
• Ernie Els 69-79
• Lucas Glover 66-76
• Ross Fisher 68-77

Tim Clark basically giving up on these conditions, laid down on the green using his putter like a pool cue. It seemed that all the afternoon golfers were shaking their head in dismay at some point.

Play was suspended due to high winds for a little over an hour this morning. They resumed play, but some players didn’t finish due to darkness.

For the early players, we had a much prettier picture and many happy golfers. South African Louis Oosthuizen seemed to be the only golfer to master both rounds thus far.

Louis added 7 birdies today to his 8 birdies yesterday on his way to a 5 under 67. He holds a 5 stroke lead going into the third round of this prestigious tournament.

It was refreshing to see 50 year old Mark Calcavecchia shooting 67 today putting him in second place alone at 7 under par.

His style of firing at pins and going for everything makes for an exciting weekend. Add 18 year old Japan sensation Ryo Ishikawa at -3 to the mix, and it makes fun for young and old.

Paul Casey shot 69-69 and is in a tie for third place with Lee Westwood who carded 67-71 for his first two rounds. Graeme McDowell demonstrated his major winning skills shooting 68 for a 5 under score at the halfway point.

Retief Goosen is a solid 5 under par, and Tiger Woods is in striking distance at 4 under par. If your bet on golf included who would win this year’s Open Championship, don’t count anybody out yet.

Tom Watson first played this course 32 years ago.

The WORST part of this whole tournament happened at the 18th hole.

Tom Watson made the ceremonial farewell wave to St. Andrews from Swilcan Bridge as Jack Nicklaus did 5 years ago and Arnold Palmer did 15 years ago, ending his British Open career at The Home of Golf.

It was a bittersweet moment, and he seemed to be floating in the wind on that bridge.

Five minutes later, Tom hit his second shot to the 18th hole stopping a half inch left of the hole. That eagle would have gotten him to 2 over for the first two rounds.

That would have likely put him above the cut line and playing through the weekend.

Now THAT would’ve been the BEST part of this whole tournament.