Open Saturday Wrap Up

Post by Sport Writer Derek Clements

DUSTIN JOHNSON leads The Open by a shot at the halfway stage after another weather-hit day at St Andrews.

A total of 14 groups were unable to finish their second rounds on Friday after a three-hour delay caused by torrential rain, so they returned early today to polish things off and get the third round out of the way.

That was the theory. No sooner had play begun than it was suspended at 7.32am because of winds gusting at up to 50mph. And it was 10-and-a-half hours before the action resumed. By that time, the R&A had decided that the third round would be played tomorrow, with the final round being completed on Monday. It will be only the second Monday finish in the history of The Open Championship.

Johnson battled his way to a second round of 69 to reach 10 under par and leads by a shot from Danny Willett, who completed his second round yesterday. Paul Lawrie, the 1999 champion, is a shot further adrift.

Marc Warren, Zach Johnson, Adam Scott, Robert Streb, Jason Day and Louis Oosthuizen are three behind the leader. Of those, Oosthuizen and Day had to complete their rounds today. Hideki Matsuyama made light of the conditions, completing a 66 that propelled him to six under par, tied with Irish amateur Paul Dunne, Retief Goosen and a resurgent Luke Donald.

Tiger Woods missed the cut at The Open for only the second time. It was the first time he has failed to get beyond the opening two rounds in successive majors, having also struggled in the US Open at Chambers Bay.

The R&A announced that admission on Monday will cost just £10, with children under the age of 16 admitted free provided they are accompanied by an adult.