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BRITTAS BAY (Ireland), July 13: Tiger Woods fired a course-record 67 after a practice round at the European Club Friday in preparation for next week’s British Open at Muirfield.
The 26-year-old American, who has not played competitively since winning last month’s U.S. Open, was playing with defending British Open champion David Duval, 1998 winner Mark O’Meara and U.S. PGA Tour professional Scott McCarron.
“This is great. These links are tough and demanding and just what I need right now,” said Woods, who is halfway towards completing the first professional grand slam of all four majors in a calendar year.
The world number one, who became only the fifth player to win the first two majors of the season with his U.S. Open triumph at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course, was forced to withdraw from the Western Open in Illinois last week because of flu-like symptoms.
He flew to Ireland with O’Meara on Tuesday to play a few rounds of golf and get in some fly-fishing — just as they have done in the build-up to the British Open over the past few years.
The 131st British Open takes place from July 18-21.
LOCH LOMOND (Scotland): Sandy Lyle has not won a title since the 1992 Volvo Masters but is convinced he can triumph in the Scottish Open Sunday following successive rounds of 67 and 68 at par-71 Loch Lomond.
Although the 44-year-old Scot felt he did not play quite as well during Friday’s second round, he believes he has finally turned the corner after what he described as “years of sheer grind”.
“I definitely want to try and get a victory here,” he said, after finishing at seven-under 135 — four strokes behind leader Fredrick Jacobson of Sweden.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend and to letting myself go. I think my nerves are fully intact and I’m enjoying playing the game at the moment.
“This week it’s all been coming together and I’m on the right tracks now with my game.
“I’m very pleased I’m not getting chewed down by different swing drills or balls or fancy things you wear over your glasses — I’m just playing the game.”
Lyle was particularly pleased to produce a good score after what he rated as an “iffy” (variable) round.
“It was a bit of a scrambly day but to get through it at three under makes a big difference,” the twice major winner said.
Lyle collected three birdies and two bogeys and holed out for an eagle-two with a nine iron from 135 yards at the par-four 12th.
Lyle, who won the 1985 British Open and the 1988 U.S. Masters, said his struggle for form over the past decade had made him a stronger player mentally.
The Scot said that taking his seven-year-old son James to hospital for seven operations had put his golfing struggles into perspective.
Lyle has not played in the final group in a tournament since his victory at the 1992 Volvo Masters at Valderrama in Spain.
Second round scores
131 Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 66 65
135 Sandy Lyle 67 68
136 Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 70 66, Richard S.Johnson (Sweden) 71 65, Justin Rose 65 71, Miles Tunnicliff 66 70
137 Warren Bennett 67 70, a-Barry Hume 67 70, Matt Gogel (U.S.) 69 68, Stephen Leaney (Australia) 72 65
138 Mark Pilkington 71 67, Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 70 68, Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 72 66, Tom Lehman (U.S.) 69 69, Eduardo Romero (Argentina) 72 66
139 Jonathan Lomas 69 70, Tim Clark (South Africa) 71 68, Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 72 67, Ian Woosnam 72 67, Tony Johnstone (Zimbabwe) 68 71, Richard Bland 68 71, Jamie Spence 70 69, Cameron Beckman (U.S.) 71 68, David Howell 68 71, Gary Evans 73 66
MILWAUKEE (Wisconsin): Former champion Jeff Sluman shot a five-under-par 66 to take a share of the early second round lead at the Greater Milwaukee Open Friday.
Sluman, the 1998 champion who had six birdies and a lone bogey on his card, was joined by first-round leader Tommy Armour III, who shot a 67, and Kirk Triplett, who moved up from a tie for 10th with a second-round 64.
Chad Campbell is two shots back after a second straight 66.
Two more former champions, Scott Hoch and Carlos Franco, are in a four-way tie for fifth after carding 64 and 65 respectively.
Defending champion Shigeki Maruyama shot a lacklustre one-under 70 for a share of 11th place going into the afternoon. The projected cut is at two-under 140.
Second round scores
130 Jeff Sluman 64 66, Kirk Triplett 66 64, Tommy Armour III 63 67
131 Steve Lowery 66 65
132 Chad Campbell 66 66, Robert Damron 69 63, Dan Forsman 69 63, Bo Van Pelt 64 68 133 Scott Hoch 69 64, Carlos Franco (Paraguay) 68 65, Greg Chalmers (Australia) 67 66, David Peoples 66 67
134 Bradley Hughes (Australia) 66 68, Jess Daley 67 67, Kenny Perry 64 70, Tim Herron 68 66
135 Bob May 68 67, Brandt Jobe 68 67, Mike Heinen 66 69,
Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 65 70, Kelly Gibson 65 70, Joe Ogilvie 68 67, Hidemichi Tanaka (Japan) 68 67, PaulClaxton 70 65, Skip Kendall 68 67
Other international players
136 Deane Pappas (South Africa) 64 72, Phil Tataurangi (New Zealand) 70 66, Grant Waite (New Zealand) 70 66 .—Reuters
