It took virtually all day for Dustin Johnson to play just four holes at the Old Course but when the second round mercifully ended, he emerged with a one-shot lead at the 144th Open Championship.
Johnson relied on the facet of his game that has virtually carried him for 36-holes when he drove the 18th and calmly two-putted for a closing birdie and a 10-under par 134 total. He held a one-shot lead over Danny Willett who didn’t have to set foot on the course on Saturday. Willett finished early Friday and is alone at nine-under par.
“Every aspect is a challenge,” Johnson said, referring to the early start in high winds that became a point of controversy, leading to a near 11-hour delay. “Why did we start if we were gonna stop?” Johnson wondered after his round.
That start cost him a shot as he was in front of the par five 14th in two but the winds messed with his next two shots and he’d end up with a bogey where birdie would have been the norm in less frantic conditions.
Play was halted after Johnson’s group played the 15th. When things finally started again late in the day, Johnson finished par-par-birdie. Playing partner Jordan Spieth wasn’t as fortunate. Spieth three-putted the 17th for bogey, his fifth three-putt of the round and it has been costly. He’s a five-under, not out of it, but not as close to Johnson as he’d prefer.
While Paul Laurie is by himself at nine-under, a half-dozen men are tied at seven under: Zach Johnson, Marc Warren, Adam Scott, Richard Streb, Jason Day and Louie Oosthuizen.
Spieth is one of seven players at five-under.
The 36-hole cut came at even par and Tiger Woods will not be around for the final 36 holes.
The field will play the third round on Sunday with a Monday finish.
Woods shot 75, shot seven-over and missed the cut in consecutive majors for the first time in his professional career.
