Oh Danny Boy — the Open Championship is calling you.
It was England’s Danny Willett who put his early 36-hole stamp on the Open Championship at St. Andrews Friday with a three-under par effort that saw him post a nine-under, 135.
With the already ample winds increasing, Willett was in a comfortable place as the overnight leader, Dustin Johnson, was getting ready for his second round.
Willett rolled in a birdie putt at the 18th after taking bogeys at 15 and 16 for a three-under 69 to go with his opening 66.
“It’s a childhood dream, leading the Open Championship,” he said after his day’s work. “It would be nice to be leading after 72.”
Willett called the early conditions “playable.” The winds were there, but it became apparent as the day wore on that the afternoon players would face tougher conditions. “If you get good numbers, you can hit good shots as long as you can control your ball flight,” said Willett, winner of two events on the European Tour.
Scottsman Marc Warren was two behind Willett, finished with a 69 to go with his first round 68.
Adam Scott had an impressive day on the Old Course. He made his way around St. Andrews without a bogey on his card, shot 67 and put himself in the seven-under group and in solid position to make a run at the championship over the final 36 holes.
