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5 things we learned on Day 2 of The Open Championship

Published

9 years ago

Jul 15, 2016

One-half of the draw got lucky again at an Open Championship. Golfers with the PM-AM sequence were spared the mercurial weather that did its best to knock half the field out of contention. To the dismay of conspiracy theorists, Sergio Garcia was one of those fortunate 72 and sits in an enviable T6 position, six strokes behind the leader. Away we go with five things we learned on Day 2 of the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Golf gets everyone, but…

The best in the world keep their cool and carry on. Jordan Spieth was in, then out, then in a sand pit on the Postage Stamp 8th. Immersed in the worst of the weather, he found the resolve to fight and make the cut. Danny Willett and Bubba Watson also played through the wretched, afternoon weather on Friday, and each made a massive putt on the final green to finish four-over par and live to fight another day. Lesson learned: just grind it out.

.@JordanSpieth falls victim to the Postage Stamp's bunkers. #TheOpen #BunkerCam https://t.co/8I3YkpCAW1

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2016

Old guys handle the bad weather quite well, thank you

If we thought that the fall chickens would fall back, waive the flag of surrender and return to their early-bird specials, we were quite incorrect. Led by Steve Stricker at T27, a silver-haired militia that counts Colin Montgomerie, Marco Dawson, Mark O’Meara and Miguel Angel Jimenez and the nearly grey Darren Clarke and Paul Lawrie survived the midway cut of four-over.

.@DarrenClarke60 just missing out on an eagle on the 18th #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/C0MbaHBW6f

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2016

There are lurkers along these links

The first two rounds, believe it or not, are not about winning a halfway medal. Instead, those 36 holes are all about positioning oneself for a weekend move. Most impressive were Jason Day and Rickie Fowler, who toughed out the sideways wind and the penetrating rain to finish near par. If they find themselves on the right side of the weather for once, a Saturday move up the leaderboard could be theirs. Also situated quite well heading into the 37th hole are Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson at two-under, Andrew “Beef” Johnston and Charl “Clubswitcher” Schwartzel at four-under, and defending CGOTY (champion golfer of the year) Zach Johnson at five-below par.

How did Andrew Johnston (@BeefGolf) get the nickname 'Beef'?#TheOpen #BEEF https://t.co/vxck0o9B7k

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2016

Stay Woke, Phil

This was the day that Pheisty Phil had every reason to backslide off yesterday’s savage 63. After moving to 11-under with three frontside birdies, Lefty made a pair of bogeys on the back but avoided additional miscues to close at 10-under through 36 holes. A now-public acceptance of, and even an enthusiasm for the challenges that links golf offers (wait ’till you get the REAL weather, Phil) have allowed the 2013 CGOTY to moderate his emotions and stabilize his shots. Keep calm and Phil on.

So close for Phil Mickelson and Martin Kaymer on the Postage Stamp. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/ULL6hAbfng

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2016

Meet your 2016 champion golfer of the year

All right, I’m done trying to make the term fetch, err, CGOTY trendy for today. Before I go, I’ll leave you with this bold prediction of the identity of the lifter of the Claret Jug on Sunday afternoon. He has won both the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai. In fact, he won them in the same year. Never a major titleholder but invariably in the race, we’ve seen him strip down to hit a shot out of water, erupt like Mount Vesuvius, and shoot 65 on day two of the 2016 Open championship. It’s this guy~

Watch Henrik Stenson's six-under-par 65 in 120 seconds. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/4tniCn8xRd

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2016

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Ronald Montesano

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

7 Comments

Haywood Gravette

Aug 28, 2016 at 11:06 am

“I think the biggest thing is just being able to win mentally each and every day,” Lockett said. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do. I know that everybody out here are great players and each and every one of them have a chance to make the team. Given his small stature, he was asked if he ever gets scared when fielding punts, fully knowing 11 defenders are racing down field in an attempt to level him as soon as he touches the football.

Reply Report comment
Daniel

Jul 16, 2016 at 3:59 am

“Stenson? Interesting call. He lights up at lesser events and makes us think he has what it takes for a major, but does he have the composure to do so? I’m not certain that he does. Just one pundit’s opinion.”

“I put Stenson in the same kettle as Donald, Monty, Westwood, Garcia, Fowler, Haas and Kuchar. They are or were close but we know how agonizingly distant that closeness is from closure.”
Roland Montesano 17 aug 2015

So what made you change your mind you arrogant jerk?

Reply Report comment
- Matto
  
  Jul 16, 2016 at 4:23 am
  
  ^^^BWANG!^^^
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Jul 16, 2016 at 5:43 am
    
    Who doesn’t love a well-place ^^^BWANG!^^^?
    
    They shouldn’t be carelessly left at just any door, so this one is particularly timely.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jul 16, 2016 at 5:42 am
  
  I’d like to say that I had an epiphany, but nothing that historic nor romantic.
  
  His comment about getting older and not playing in these things forever struck me as insightful and an admission that majors matter. European one-off players tend to win the Open, while for US golfers, it’s the PGA. Perhaps that’s simply my perception, or perhaps it’s reality.
  
  I’m quite enamored of the fact that you pulled one of my own quotes to hold my feet to the fire. Hopefully I’ve met the conditions of your interrogation satisfactorily.
  
  …Chanson de Roland
  
  Reply Report comment
- Haggis
  
  Jul 16, 2016 at 11:34 am
  
  What the heck are ye tooking aboot with Stenson?
  He won both the Fedex Cup AND the Race to Dubai at the SAME time. Ya don’t think he has it? Youse e crazy. In fact, ya should remove Garcia, Fowler, and Kuch from that list of people. Donald was #1, Monty and Westwood had blown away Europe for a long time, and Haas also won the Fedex Cup. So what if none of them have a Major? Garcia, Fowler, and Kuch are just regular Tour players who are way underachieving
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Jul 16, 2016 at 12:34 pm
    
    Haggis,
    
    Nice thoughts. Some of the fellows HAVE to break through at some point. For Sergio, it will take a 65 on Sunday. For the rest, not this go-round.
    
    Reply Report comment

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News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

Ronald Montesano

I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear

OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.

LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break

Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.

Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.

On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.

On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.

On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.

PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home

Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.

On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.

Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?

Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.

Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?

PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates

Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.

Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.

Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.

Card III and Bacha both miss their birdie tries on the first playoff hole.

We’ll play 18 again @OspreyOpen. pic.twitter.com/vNpHTdkHDg

— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 3, 2025

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 29, 2025

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.

Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.

Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

News

BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 28, 2025

Brian Knudson

Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX

7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)

GolfWRX

5 things we learned on Day 2 of The Open Championship

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