Golf – British Open 2021: Louis Oosthuizen resists the Americans

Louis Oosthuizen retained the lead in the British Open of golf on Friday, thanks to a second round almost as successful as the first, finished 11 strokes under the par against a commando of Americans gathered in the chasing pack. The South African, 2nd this year at the USPGA and US Open, started his day one step ahead of two Americans, Jordan Spieth and Brian Harman. A few hours later, he had two on Collin Morikawa, 2nd thanks to a superb card of 64, and two on the same Spieth, 3rd, who played in 67.

Oosthuizen could have done even better, on the heels of a superb eagle at 14 which took him to -12, but a bogey at 16, his first of the week, forced him to tighten the game to stay ahead of his rivals from across the Atlantic, and in particular Dustin Johnson, the world number 1.

As the sun set over the Royal St George course in Sandwich on the English Channel, Johnson rounded off a great day of golf, without the slightest breeze, returning a card of 65 allowing him to join, tied for 4th place was another South African, Dylan Frittelli, and another American, Scottie Scheffler.

Rahm, or when the favorite goes up …

There were still 32,000 spectators to witness this great spectacle and the pretty comeback of Jon Rahm, Johnson’s runner-up in the world rankings and winner of his first Major at the US Open in June.

The Spaniard, favorite of bookmakers, has put himself back in the race for the 149th British Open, and the famous Claret Jug, returning a card of 64, like Oosthuizen on Thursday and like Morikawa on Friday. Enough to go back to 12th place, tied with Brooks Koepka, with 36 more holes to play until Sunday afternoon.

The course being roughed up by many players, due to the ideal playing conditions, the cut was finally set at +2 by the organizers. Enough to leave behind a few European leaders, starting with Francesco Molinari and Tyrrell Hatton, two heroes of the last Ryder Cup.

On the American side, the big hitter Bryson Dechambeau narrowly escaped at +1, just like Rickie Fowler. But not Phil Mickelson, the winner of the last USPGA at the end of May, weighed down by his card of 80 on Thursday and author of a modest 72 on Friday.