One day after shooting a 64 that he considered to be a perfect round at Royal St. George’s, Louis Oosthuizen was nearly as good on Friday. The 38-year-old South African made an eagle at 14 en route to shooting 5-under 65 and building a two-stroke lead over Colin Morikawa at the halfway point of the 149th British Open in Sandwich, England.
Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, has finished runner up at six majors, including twice this year, since hoisting the Claret Jug at The Old Course at St. Andrews 11 years ago. That year, he started with a 65, improved to 12 under at the midway point and raced to a seven-stroke victory.
Brilliant sunshine, part of a stretch of a streak of good weather rarely associated with the Open Championship, and a lack of wind led to record-low scoring so far. Oosthuizen’s fast start of 11-under 129 this week – he didn’t make a bogey until his 33rd hole of the championship – shattered the previous low 36-hole championship score of 130, and was just a stroke off the all-time 36-hole scoring mark at majors.
“I only heard that when I walked in, so I wasn’t aware of what it even was before. Yeah, to have any record at the Open or part of any record at the Open is always very special,” Oosthuizen said. “It was as good a weather as you can get playing this golf course. All of us took advantage of that.”
That includes Morikawa, 24, who is making his British Open debut. He played on the firm, sandy-based linksland at the Scottish Open last week for the first time and realized he needed to make an adjustment to his bag. Morikawa, who ranks first on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green, switched out his 7- through 9-iron and it paid quick dividends.
“Those are three crucial clubs that are some of my favorite clubs,” he said. “My 8-iron is my favorite club in the bag, and when I wasn’t able to hit it last week well, I knew I had to try something different.”
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Morikawa delivered a masterful ballstriking performance in the morning wave. With birdies on seven of his first 14 holes, he threatened to equal or break the record for the lowest round ever shot in a men’s major before signing for a 6-under-par 64 and a 36-hole total of 9-under 131. With a swing that a BBC announcer described as “slower than a January in Ireland,” Morikawa has taken quickly to the quirky Royal St. George’s layout.
“Being creative is what I do,” he said. “I love to work the ball. Love to figure out different heights you have to hit it, see different windows. That what’s links golf does and what it tests. I think it fits right into my pocket.”
Creativity is a hallmark of Spieth, who followed up Thursday’s 65 with a 3-under 67 in the second round to shoot consecutive rounds in the 60s for the fifth time in a major. Three of those previous four times he’s done so he’s gone on to win (T-3 at the 2019 PGA Championship on the other occasion).
“It was a round that could’ve been pretty special,” said Spieth, who began with birdies on three of the first four holes and enters the weekend alone in third place at 8-under 132. “I like where I’m at and I just have to hole a few more putts.”
Reigning U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm of Spain found his stride on Friday. He rebounded from an opening 1-over 71 with a bogey-free performance in the second round to improve to 5-under 135 in a tie with Brooks Koepka. Rahm had a 20-foot putt for birdie to shoot 63, but left it short and settled for matching Morikawa for the low round of the day as did Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, who nearly holed out his approach at 18 for eagle.
“I think I take 64 for any round in a major,” Grillo said. “I think I’ll take 64 any day, even play with my friends.”
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson remains in the hunt after shooting 65 to improve to 7-under 133 in a tie for fourth with American Scottie Scheffler (66) and South African Dylan Frittelli (67).
Defending Open champion Shane Lowry fired 65 to make the cut comfortably at 4-under 136. Among those to sneak into the weekend play on the cutline of 1-over 141 were Bryson DeChambeau (70) and Rickie Fowler (72). Reigning PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson and Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Reed – both ranked in the top 10 in the world – are among the big names that have the weekend off.
Oosthuizen has set a record pace, but he’s had too many close calls at majors to be caught looking ahead.
“The game is good, but I know it’s a really good leaderboard,” he said. “I have to play good golf this weekend if I want to come out first.”
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