Bogey-free American Brandt Snedeker seized command of the British Open, charging into the lead in Friday’s second round as rivals stumbled in challenging conditions or were yet to face them. Snedeker, the only player without a bogey so far at Royal Lytham, birdied six of the first 12 holes Friday to stand on 10-under par, four shots clear of first-day leader Adam Scott. Snedeker, who shot 66 on Thursday, opened with a birdie for the second day in a row and added another at the sixth. He birdied the par-5 seventh and 11th holes for the second day in a row and birdied the par-3 ninth and 12th as well.
The 31-year-old American, who missed the cut in each of his three prior British Open starts, withdrew from last month’s US Open after suffering a cracked rib on the right side of his chest from severe coughing.
Snedeker thrived in conditions that sent every other player stumbling back, including contenders World No. 2 Rory McIlroy and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.
Overnight rain dumped nearly half an inch of water on the bunker-strewn links layout, creating soft and receptive greens that prompted organizers to use tougher pin placements and double mow the greens to make putts faster.
Add to that water puddling in several bunkers to force drops and an unusual east wind forcing more adjustments in shot trajectory by players and the late starters in round two, including World No. 4 Tiger Woods, had a daunting task.
Woods, the 14-time major winner seeking his first major title since 2008, was among six past major champions chasing Snedeker who were yet to start. Joining three-time British Open winner Woods and Scott as late starters were 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson, three-time major winner Ernie Els, past US Open champion Graeme McDowell, reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson and Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, the 1999 British Open winner. Scott, a 32-year-old Australian seeking his first major title, matched the course record with a six-under par 64 on Thursday but with seven past major winners among the first dozen players behind him.
World No. 1 Luke Donald, seeking his first major title, and three-time major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland were one-under par for the day and the tournament, trying to mount a charge. Donald, trying to become the first Englishman to win the Open on home soil since Tony Jacklin did it at Royal Lytham in 1969, took a bogey at the third but responded with birdies on the next three holes.
