Storms bring chaos to Scottish Open
The Scottish Open was thrown into confusion on Friday when officials had to suspend play due to storms with 78 players yet to complete their second rounds.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: July 09, 2011 01:53 AM IST
The Scottish Open was thrown into confusion on Friday when officials had to suspend play due to storms with 78 players yet to complete their second rounds.
Former U.S. Open champion, Graeme McDowell and Scottish pair Scott Jamieson and Peter Whiteford were the early clubhouse leaders on 11 under par but world numbers one and two, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, were among those who will have to return to the Inverness course early on Saturday to complete their second round.
There had been a two-hour delay mid-afternoon but just as players returned to the course shortly after 5pm, the weather deteriorated forcing officials to call them back again to the clubhouse.
Three players, Sweden's Peter Hanson, England's Barry Lane and Welshman Jamie Donaldson, had moved to eight under par and three from the lead when played was halted just after 7pm local time.
Donald and Westwood were each at seven under par with Donald having nine second round holes to complete and Westwood seven.
McDowell, winner of the event three years ago at its previous home in Loch Lomond, equalled the new Castle Stuart course record with an eight under par 64.
"It was a good day's work and when I got to the golf course this morning and we realised conditions were going to be easy, it was a matter of going out there and taking advantage," said McDowell who carded an eagle and six birdies.
"I made a good birdie on 10 and a good par save on 11, and I eagled 12 and birdied 13 to be four-under par through four holes. That was a dream start.
"But it's like any links course in the world, if you don't get wind, if you don't get the elements, it will be taken apart, and that was kind of how it was this morning."
Jamieson continues to impress in his European Tour rookie season, the 27-year-old Glaswegian recording two eagles in the space of three holes in his 66.
"I started my round with a bogey again like I did yesterday, but it was nice to come back with four birdies in a row from my second, and then I chucked in a couple of eagles," he said.
"This is my first full season on the Tour and every week you play on a different golf course with different conditions."
Apart from chasing a first Tour victory, Jamieson is also on target to secure the last remaining place in next week's British Open.
Fellow Scot Lawrie also birdied four holes in succession from his fourth hole as the reigning Andalucian Open winner carded a 64 to sit two shots off the lead, alongside double Major-winning Angel Cabrera of Argentina who also shot a 64.
World number six Phil Mickelson capped his round of 67 with an 11th hole eagle to finish on four under.