Cameron Smith featured leader in emotional farewell to Tiger Woods
MADRID, 15 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish golfers Jon Rahm and Sergio García turned their situation around at the British Open with a second day of merit to reach the weekend in Saint Andrews alive, although the inspiration from above continues to leave far behind a leadership held by the Australian Cameron Smith.
The nightmare of the premiere was left behind for both and, with a total of -4 and -3, the Basque and the Castellón signed a comeback of more than 50 and 80 places. All in all, the head is at -13 due to the recital of a Smith who, after grazing him several times, once again has his first ‘major’ within reach after signing 64 hits.
Six ‘birdies’ and an ‘eagle’ was the festival of the Australian, unseating the American Cameron Young, first leader and now second with -11. Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Dustin Johnson, Scottie Scheffler, Adam Scott, Patrick Cantlay, Matt Fitzpatrick are big names up there putting on a good show.
The cradle of golf is inspiring many and this Friday, with some rain at the start, it was kinder. For Rahm he straightened up from the first hole, also on the second and fifth, putting the ‘putts’ that frustrated his debut. The one from Barrika recovered the confidence that he exhibited last month in the defense of the US Open.
On the 16th and 17th he saved two long putts and on the 18th he closed with another birdie to allow himself to dream, albeit far away, that he has the game to emulate his idol Severiano Ballesteros. Another ‘son’ of the genius from Pedreña, Sergio García, also remade himself in the legendary Scottish tour with 66 strokes when he debuted with 75.
The man from Borriol, who does not hide that he is not mentally at his best, left two birdies and an eagle in the first nine holes, and kept the streak going with three more birdies. The inner buzz approached him in the ‘bogey’ of 18 but he could also remember his special relationship with the ‘British’, his favorite ‘major’.
Also Spanish Adri Arnaus signed up for the weekend just saving the cut with a -2 and par for the course. The Catalan suffered in the second nine but closed with a key ‘birdie’ in the 18th. Meanwhile, Pablo Larrazábal, champion of two tournaments in recent months, said goodbye with a total of +12.
The most emotional goodbye was that of Tiger Woods, with a long and loud ovation on his arrival at the ‘green’ on the 18th, savoring what may be his last walk through St Andrews. The champion of 15 majors, two in the house of golf, needed a very low lap to make the cut after his 78th on Thursday.
The American, in his third tournament in 2022 –Masters, PGA and Open–, did not want to miss the 150th British Open in the course with the most history in the world. The ‘Tiger’ sacrificed the US Open last month, but his miraculous recovery after the traffic accident a year and a half ago cannot be that great and his physique suffers.