Adam Scott – in action today – image Getty Images
43 year old Adam Scott has fallen just short of his first win anywhere in more than four years but his runner-up finish in this past week’s Genesis Scottish Open provides just the boost he needs ahead of the final major of the year at Royal Troon next week.
Scott fell victim to a stunning eagle, par, birdie finish by last year’s runner-up and Scotland’s most recent golfing hero, Robert McIntyre, reversing what had happened to McIntyre himself twelve months ago when gazumped in a similar fashion by Rory McIlroy.
Scott began the final round three shots behind the 54 hole leader, Ludvig Aberg, and a bogey at the first suggested his pursuit of victory might be forlorn.
Scott would birdie holes 4, 5 and 6 but the biggest threat to victory came when he made a mess of the par 4 8th and took double bogey. Again he bounced back with three more birdies before at the 15th and another birdie at the 16th.
Scott was playing in the group ahead of McIntyre and Aberg and after missing a 15-foot birdie attempt at the last he headed for the clubhouse to await the outcome as at that point he was tied with McIntyre who had just eagled the 16th to draw level.
McIntyre holed a tricky par-saving 5-footer for par at the 17th and then after his approach to the final hole finished 15 feet from the hole he was able to convert for the winning birdie and an historic win in his own national open was confirmed.
McIntyre became the first Scot in 25 years following the 1999 victory by Colin Montgomerie at Loch Lomond.
Understandably, Scott was disappointed not to have won, but he was delighted with his week and the manner in which his game is coming together ahead of next week’s Open Championsip.
“There was a lot of good stuff for me this week, said Scott. “You know, it’s hard to complain about anything. I mean, really, it’s the first time I’ve been in contention this year. I like where my game is headed into the last week or so going into next week. Feel like I’m playing at a high level.
“It was an interesting day. Like sitting around all morning, I thought I was going to have to shoot like 8-under to have a chance and then it got quite tricky out there. I played mostly really good golf. I really like what happened with my game out there this week. I’m disappointed to not get a crack at the end. I had a chance with the putt on the last and went right and I read it straight.
“And you know, pleased for Bob. This is a big win. I played with him yesterday, and you can hear them singing over there. I think that’s awesome for him and hopefully I can take some good form into next week.
“I feel good, I really do. It’s funny, it doesn’t get any easier but I’m working at everything all the time, and trying not to get frustrated, and use that experience. It feels good to play in contention and hopefully I get another crack at it at The Open now.
“I feel good, I really do. It’s funny, it doesn’t get any easier but I’m working at everything all the time, and trying not to get frustrated, and use that experience. It feels good to play in contention and hopefully I get another crack at it at The Open now.”
But the focus was on McIntyre the thousands of local fans cheering him on. After last year’s disappointment, their support was even greater and he wasn’t about to let them down.
McIntyre’s humble upbringing no doubt plays a role in the massive following he is building.
“Yeah, I’m from a working-class background, said the champion. “I’ve got two older sisters my parents foster. We’ve got a foster boy just now that’s been with us for six, seven years.
“I was given a great opportunity by my whole family. We used to have a horse for my sisters, and couldn’t afford to do both, and my sisters gave up the horse and gave me a chance to go and travel some within Britain.
“And I was out grafting, practicing when I was young, and yeah, it was never given. I’m from the West Coast. It’s been difficult, obviously, weather-wise, but your face doesn’t fit exactly because you’re not a central built guy, and I just have to graft at it. The biggest thing for me was never give up.
“A lot of people might say, he doesn’t quite have this, he doesn’t quite have that, but I’ve got fight and that’s all I need.
“It’s unbelievable. My reaction when the ball dropped on 18 said it all. I almost lost my voice now. It’s the one I wanted and it’s the one I got. It’s just, I’ve watched it as a kid growing up, and it meant a lot. It was really the only one that I could go and watch.
“Yeah, it’s just, I can’t believe it’s happened. Just going to go celebrate tonight.”
McIntyre has shown a desire in the past to enjoy and celebrate his victories and this win appears to be no exception.
“It’s incredible. I mean, next week is a new week but I tell you, I’m going to celebrate this with my family, friends, and everyone here. I’m going to celebrate this one hard. We’ll pitch up to The Open when we pitch up to The Open.”
RESULTS
Adam Scott’s narrow miss at Genesis Scottish Open
Adam Scott – in action today – image Getty Images
43 year old Adam Scott has fallen just short of his first win anywhere in more than four years but his runner-up finish in this past week’s Genesis Scottish Open provides just the boost he needs ahead of the final major of the year at Royal Troon next week.
Scott fell victim to a stunning eagle, par, birdie finish by last year’s runner-up and Scotland’s most recent golfing hero, Robert McIntyre, reversing what had happened to McIntyre himself twelve months ago when gazumped in a similar fashion by Rory McIlroy.
Scott began the final round three shots behind the 54 hole leader, Ludvig Aberg, and a bogey at the first suggested his pursuit of victory might be forlorn.
Scott would birdie holes 4, 5 and 6 but the biggest threat to victory came when he made a mess of the par 4 8th and took double bogey. Again he bounced back with three more birdies before at the 15th and another birdie at the 16th.
Scott was playing in the group ahead of McIntyre and Aberg and after missing a 15-foot birdie attempt at the last he headed for the clubhouse to await the outcome as at that point he was tied with McIntyre who had just eagled the 16th to draw level.
McIntyre holed a tricky par-saving 5-footer for par at the 17th and then after his approach to the final hole finished 15 feet from the hole he was able to convert for the winning birdie and an historic win in his own national open was confirmed.
McIntyre became the first Scot in 25 years following the 1999 victory by Colin Montgomerie at Loch Lomond.
Understandably, Scott was disappointed not to have won, but he was delighted with his week and the manner in which his game is coming together ahead of next week’s Open Championsip.
“There was a lot of good stuff for me this week, said Scott. “You know, it’s hard to complain about anything. I mean, really, it’s the first time I’ve been in contention this year. I like where my game is headed into the last week or so going into next week. Feel like I’m playing at a high level.
“It was an interesting day. Like sitting around all morning, I thought I was going to have to shoot like 8-under to have a chance and then it got quite tricky out there. I played mostly really good golf. I really like what happened with my game out there this week. I’m disappointed to not get a crack at the end. I had a chance with the putt on the last and went right and I read it straight.
“And you know, pleased for Bob. This is a big win. I played with him yesterday, and you can hear them singing over there. I think that’s awesome for him and hopefully I can take some good form into next week.
“I feel good, I really do. It’s funny, it doesn’t get any easier but I’m working at everything all the time, and trying not to get frustrated, and use that experience. It feels good to play in contention and hopefully I get another crack at it at The Open now.
“I feel good, I really do. It’s funny, it doesn’t get any easier but I’m working at everything all the time, and trying not to get frustrated, and use that experience. It feels good to play in contention and hopefully I get another crack at it at The Open now.”
But the focus was on McIntyre the thousands of local fans cheering him on. After last year’s disappointment, their support was even greater and he wasn’t about to let them down.
McIntyre’s humble upbringing no doubt plays a role in the massive following he is building.
“Yeah, I’m from a working-class background, said the champion. “I’ve got two older sisters my parents foster. We’ve got a foster boy just now that’s been with us for six, seven years.
“I was given a great opportunity by my whole family. We used to have a horse for my sisters, and couldn’t afford to do both, and my sisters gave up the horse and gave me a chance to go and travel some within Britain.
“And I was out grafting, practicing when I was young, and yeah, it was never given. I’m from the West Coast. It’s been difficult, obviously, weather-wise, but your face doesn’t fit exactly because you’re not a central built guy, and I just have to graft at it. The biggest thing for me was never give up.
“A lot of people might say, he doesn’t quite have this, he doesn’t quite have that, but I’ve got fight and that’s all I need.
“It’s unbelievable. My reaction when the ball dropped on 18 said it all. I almost lost my voice now. It’s the one I wanted and it’s the one I got. It’s just, I’ve watched it as a kid growing up, and it meant a lot. It was really the only one that I could go and watch.
“Yeah, it’s just, I can’t believe it’s happened. Just going to go celebrate tonight.”
McIntyre has shown a desire in the past to enjoy and celebrate his victories and this win appears to be no exception.
“It’s incredible. I mean, next week is a new week but I tell you, I’m going to celebrate this with my family, friends, and everyone here. I’m going to celebrate this one hard. We’ll pitch up to The Open when we pitch up to The Open.”
RESULTS
Stephanie Kryiacou completes biggest week in her career
Stephanie Kyriacou – file photo courtesy of PGA of America
Sydney’s Stephanie Kyriacou may have been denied her first LPGA Tour and major victory when finishing runner-up behind Japan’s Ayaka Furue at this week’s Amundi Evian Championship but, that she was in contention all week and fought her way to her best LPGA Tour finish, has taken her game and profile to a new level.
The 23-year-old is in her third LPGA Tour season and until now her best result had been when 4th at last year’s DANA Open, but not only will her performance in this week’s major championship secure her best finish, the $US732,000 ($A1.08 million) takes her LPGA Tour career earnings to just under US$1.92 million and provides a level of confidence that should see her contending and winning at this level on a more regular basis.
Kyriacou was tied with the eventual winner Furue and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit playing the final hole but Furue hit her second shot approach to 12 feet at the last and converted for eagle and although Kyriacou would roll in a six footer for birdie herself to secure outright second place, she feel just one shot short of a playoff.
“Yeah, it was a good week, said Kyriacou. “Lots of positives to take away. I played great all week.
“Sucks not to hold the trophy but If you told me I would come second at the start of the week I would’ve been happy.
“Yeah, lots of confidence. Obviously a lot of stuff worked well for me this week, so just trying to keep the same mindset going forward and hopefully I can win.”
Furue wins her first major and her second LPGA Tour title having won last year’s Women’s Scottish Open.
Lydia Ko was the next best of the Australasians when she finished 39th while Hannah Green was 44th.
RESULTS
Stephanie Kyriacou contends at weather disrupted Evian Championship
After an opening bogey, Kyriacou birdied five of her next eight holes to make the turn in 31 and although she could only par her next seven holes she is well placed heading into the weekend.
Those yet to complete round two will be required to return to the course at 7.30 on Saturday morning to finish their rounds and begin round three after a cut is made.
Kyriacou is in her third season on the LPGA Tour and although yet to win she has recorded two top tens in majors previously and has won two events on the Ladies European Tour prior to heading to the USA.
After opening with a round of 65 on Thursday, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko has struggled on day two and is 2 over for the day and tied for 24th with five holes to play of round two.
Minjee Lee is a shot further back in 29th place, Gabi Ruffels and Grace Kim 43rd and Hannah Green 54th although, of those, Kim has yet to finish her round.
Lydia Ko reverses recent form at Amundi Evian Championship
Lydia Ko holds the Evian Championship trophy she won in 2015
Former champion, Lydia Ko may still be the higher ranked female golfer in the world but the manner in which she has been playing in recent weeks, in which she has finished no better than 35th in her last four starts two of those when missing the cut, suggested her brilliant game may have deserted her.
Until today that is. Ko opened this week’s Amundi Evian Championship in Evian les Bains with a round of 65 to be just one behind the lead after day one.
This event is one of two major titles the New Zealander has to her name, her victory here coming in 2015 and it is an event in which she has produced several other good finishes in addition to the win.
“When you come back to a place that you’ve won and where you played well at, I think no matter how you’re playing, you’re always able to draw on some of the good memories there,” said Ko after her round.
“Yeah, enjoying it here. I get to see some of the fans that I only see here at this week, so it’s kind of like a good reminder seeing them and seeing little kids getting taller every year I come back.”
Ko trails the leading trio of Gemma Dryburgh, Ingrid Lindblad and Patty Tavatanakit but has an afternoon time on day two to deal with.
New South Wales’ Stephanie Kyriacou is the nest best of the Australasians after her round of 66, three ahead of Gabi Ruffels, while Grace Kim and former winner, Minjee Lee are at 1 under and in a share of 38th place.
“Yeah, today was good,” said Kyriacou. “It was definitely an early start, but it was nice to get out early, no wind. Weather was a lot cooler than what it is now. Yeah, played with Anne. Know Anne very well, so we had a little birdie match going on.”
Yeah, overall it was a good day. Played well. Yeah, just a good day.”
51 players broke par on a golf course just so different to the layouts they play in other major championships.
“I mean, I think probably sounds a bit silly, but I think now that I’ve played this course a few times, I kind of know what to expect and nothing is like really scary anymore with the lies,” added Kyriacou.
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David Micheluzzi secures immediate future in Europe
David Micheluzzi – file photo – image Golf Australia
Australia’s DP World Tour rookie, David Micheluzzi, has produced his best finish on that tour by finishing in a share of second place behind Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson at the BMW International event in Munich.
A stunning 3 wood to ten feet at the par 5 last, which he described as the best 3 wood he had hit in his life, led to an eagle and followed birdies at his 16th and 17th holes to complete a barnstorming finish and such a great result.
That the finish came after bogeys at the 14th and 15th made the rebound even more special
“It was unreal and then to top it off with the putt was sick,” said Micheluzzi referring to the outstanding play at the 72nd hole.
The 27 year-old had suffered an injury on Sunday morning when trying to open a jammed door, possibly threatening him even playing on the final day. “So, I was very concerned at even not playing but the physios did a great job and got it going and the adrenaline kicked in.”
“I am just happy at the way I finished. Two weeks ago in Amsterdam I finished third last so to come here and shoot 16 under, then I am just stocked.”
Micheluzzi, who gained access to the European Tour courtesy of his outstanding 2023/2024 season on the PGA Tour of Australasia, added this finish to a top ten in Italy last week and continues to find his feet at this level.
Micheluzzi recorded another top ten when 7th at the Singapore Classic earlier in the year and the €200,000 (A$320,000) he earned for his share of second this week and the resulting 261 points will see the 27-year-old jump 63 places to 57th in the Race to Dubai rankings and ensure his immediate future in Europe.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, playing his first DP World Tour event since January ahead of the Open Championship, was the next best of the Australasians when he shared 17th.
RESULTS
Ben Campbell’s powerful finish secures title in Morocco
Campbell with his trophy – image Asian Tour
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell has continued a lucrative eight months in his professional career by recording his second Asian Tour victory and the third as a professional at the International Series Morocco event at the Dar Es Salam
Campbell snatched a surprise victory from American John Catlin to win the US$2 million International Series Morocco after a sensational finish on the Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
It was Campbell’s 7th top ten worldwide including his wins here and in Hong Kong in November in the last eight months.
Campbell also earned a start as an alternate in a Liv Golf event earlier this year, adding yet another US$140,000 or so to his growing bank balance.
Campbell holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th to win on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off, having been three behind playing partner Catlin with two holes to play.
Campbell shot a two-under-par 71, helped by an eagle on the par-four 17th and a birdie on 18 in normal time, to tie Catlin, in with a 72, on 15-under.
American Caleb Surratt (71) and Eugenio Chacarra (73) from Spain, tied for third, three behind the top two.
Campbell started the final day one behind Catlin – the leader after each of the first three days and chasing win number three of the season – and looked to be just falling short.
He’d made two great up and downs for par on 15 and 16 before holing a 35-foot putt for eagle on the penultimate hole.
On the par-five 18th hole they both faced 10-foot birdie putts, with Campbell holing his first before his American opponent, normally so clinical, just missed his attempt.
“That was a great finish,” said Campbell.
“You know I didn’t have my best out there today and I just kept saying to Mike (his caddie), I’ve just got to find something and just stay patient. And yeah, like I went flag hunting on 16 and leaked it right, and hit a great bunker shot there. I said to Mike, if I can find a birdie eagle, you never know. So, I did that, and then to hole a putt like that in the play-off, it’s always good.”
It is his second success on the Asian Tour having won the Hong Kong Open, another event on The International Series calendar, at the end of last year after a similarly last-gasp finish when he nailed a 15-foot birdie to win by one over Cam Smith.
The win is another reward for a player dogged by injury throughout his career.
He said: “I just think it’s been a tough run, and I didn’t give up then and I’m not going to give up now. I just kept saying to Mike just don’t give up out here. I’ve got to find something in my swing. I was feeling great on the range and lost it, sort of, on the course. But yeah, just said to him and I just sort of keep saying to myself, don’t give up.”
Catlin had one hand on the trophy with three to go and was a safe bet to claim the seventh Asian Tour title of his career and second wire-to-wire of the season.
Holding a one-shot lead at the start of the day, he surprisingly bogeyed his first two holes, but bounced back to lead by one at the turn before a birdie on 15 left him with that three-stoke cushion. Unfortunately, two closing pars were not good enough to hold off the charging Campbell.
Said Catlin: “I mean, you have to tip the cap. I mean the guy goes two, four, four to finish. I mean, he probably made 130 feet of putts to win on the last three holes. All you can do is shake his hand and say well done. I mean, yeah, it is what it is.
Campbell is now second on The International Series Rankings and third on the Asian Tour OOM.
Australia’s Travis Smyth finished four shots from the playoff in a share of 5th place.
The Asian Tour takes a short break now before heading to the International Series England at Foxhills Country Club and Resort, from August 8-11.
It will be the ninth event of the season on the Asian Tour and fourth leg of The International Series.
American Andy Ogletree, who topped the Asian Tour OOM and International Series Rankings last year, is the defending champion.
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Richard Green finishes 3rd at US Senior Open
Richard Green plays from the 11th tee on Monday morning – image USGA
Richard Green has finished in 3rd place at the US Senior Open at the Newport Country Club on Rhode Island, finishing three shots behind the playoff between England’s Richard Bland and Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita.
Returning to the course early on Monday to complete a weather-disrupted final round, Green was unable to advance his score of Sunday evening and in the remaining eight holes he dropped two shots to finish with a round of 1 over 71 and a 72-hole total of 10 under par.
Still, for Green this finish adds to his impressive runner-up finish at the Senior PGA Championship and the US$255,000 he earns takes him into 5th place in the Schwab Cup standings with season’s earnings of US$965,000.
Green got within two shots of Fujita at one stage over the closing nine holes but it would be LIV golfer Bland who stole the show with a final round of 66 to catch Fujita who dropped three shots in his first four holes once play recommenced at 8.00 am on Monday.
“Good week,” said Green. “It was a tough week mentally to compete and challenge myself to try and win the U.S. Senior Open. It was trying conditions today with a completely opposite wind direction, which made some holes play totally different. Required a lot of different strategy and a lot more thought into how we were going to go about getting it done.
“As much as I’ve tried to press, golf doesn’t usually allow you to press, does it? You’ve got to do well and let the birdies come to you, if they come to you. Those didn’t come.
“Got a little bit frustrated on 16 and hit a putt too hard. Other than that, I’m pretty pleased how I got through the last hole. The last hole was very challenging. A bit of great up-and-down to finish it off.”
The playoff between Bland and Fujita lasted four holes before Bland would par the final hole to edge out Fujita who had been in front since his opening 63 on Thursday.
Cameron Percy and Steve Alker were the next best of the Australasians in a share of 12th place.
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Door remains open for Richard Green at US Senior Open
Richard Green and caddie walk from the course after play was postponed – image USGA
When Richard Green resumes his final round of the US Senior Open at the Newport Country Club on Rhode Island at 8.00am Monday morning US East Coast time, he will find himself four shots out of the lead held by Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita and one behind the current second placed Richard Bland of England.
Horrific wet and windy conditions brought play to a halt at 3.00pm on Sunday with only 11 of the 71 players having completed their rounds.
Green had just birdied the 10th hole when play was called but with still eight holes to play there is still an opportunity for the 53-year-old Victorian to become only the second Australian in the 44-year history of the event to take the title. Graham Marsh was the other when he won in 1997.
The leader Fujita, an 18-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, has looked infallible over the first 64 holes of the event but the last eight holes will be most interesting as he, Bland and Green chase their first US Senior Open title.
Today, Fujita set a US Senior Open record by finding the fairway on 38 consecutive occasions during the course of the week to bypass the record of 32 that had been set previously in 1997, so his play has been exemplary until now.
Steve Alker 11th, and Cameron Percy 14th are the next best of the Australiasians to make the cut.
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Cam Davis wins second PGA Tour title in Detroit
Cam Davis – image Getty Images
Australian Cam Davis has today further confirmed his liking for the Detroit Golf Club by claiming a second Rocket Mortgage Classic and his second PGA Tour title with a narrow one-shot victory over fellow countryman Min Woo Lee, Americans Davis Thompson, Akshay Bathia and England’s Aaron Rai.
Davis, who won this event three years ago, began the final round one shot behind Bathia and Rai. However, there were still many chances with just a few holes to go before Davis got up and down for birdie from just off the green at the par 5 17th to draw level with Lee who had finished 15 minutes earlier and Bhatia who was playing in the group behind.
Needing a par at the last to force a playoff with Davis, Bhatia three putted from 30 feet, the second from 3 feet, leaving Davis as the winner and with a cheque for US$1.65 million.
The win will also move Davis from his current 67th position in the world ranking to just inside the top 40, the highest-ever ranking for the 29-year-old.
Davis was asked what it is about the Detroit Golf Club that has resulted in such success.
“Honestly, I don’t know. The first couple years I played here I missed the cut and felt like this place just wasn’t for me. I love old-school design. Donald Ross golf courses to me visually are very fun, I love the greens, I love the way the fairways meander through the tree lines and I love the shapes of the bunkering.
“For some reason, I’ve never done well on a course like this before and I don’t know what’s changed. Obviously, my game plan worked really well in 2021. I’m a different golfer and it’s a different game plan, the weather was completely different.
“I don’t know, something about having to shape the ball around a bit. You can be in the fairway and still have to bend it around trees, I feel like that’s something I’ve always been more comfortable with. And also the only thing that has to be going well more than anything else is the driver off the tee here and for some reason, yeah, I’ve managed to get the ball in play quite well out here.”
“It was a rollercoaster of emotions at the end there,” said Davis referring to the many permutations on the leaderboard late in the round. “Honestly, I felt like I had done a pretty good job of really not knowing where I stood on the leaderboard. I felt like honestly, especially that back nine, just moment after moment of could have been awesome but just didn’t quite happen, I felt like it just wasn’t going to be my day.
“I was honestly very surprised that I was tied for the lead with the last group coming down 18, I guess I’ve been here before, I needed to go get ready for another playoff.
“When Akshay missed that putt, it’s a combination of shock and feeling bad for him, but at the same time just realizing that the huge burden of trying to win again is off the shoulders. Still in a little bit of shock, it doesn’t really feel real right now.”
Davis paid tribute to the work he has been doing on the mental side of his game and especially the work he has been doing with a hypnotherapist.
“I’m working with a hypnotherapist that I only just started working with, just trying to take a different approach to try and get my head back in the right place. Yeah, I honestly haven’t been a very good place mentally at all for the last six months or so. I felt like all the opportunities have been slipping out of my hands as the year progresses without playing very good golf.
“I had a great week at the Masters and it feels like since then it all had just left me. I felt like a change of direction was definitely needed, something that I was actually going to stick to because I’m definitely someone that will start doing something and if it doesn’t feel like it’s helping straight away, it’s very easy to drop it.
“Sticking with the work that I’m doing with Grace has made a very big impact very quickly. I felt a lot better last week even though the score didn’t show it, and to have it turn into this this week is hard to believe really because I was not in a good place two or three weeks ago.”
Lee who is in his first season on the PGA Tour finished runner-up for the second occasion and is clearly a young man with a big future at this level and beyond. He will regret his final hole bogey which cost him a chance for a playoff with Davis but the week provides further evidence of his immense talent.
Lee will move close to the top 30 in the world ranking, perhaps surpassing his previous best of 31st.
SCORES
Richard Green just one off halfway lead at US Senior Open
Richard Green during today’s second round – image USGA
Australia’s Richard Green is just one off the halfway lead at the US Senior Open at the Newport Country Club on Rhode Island, a second round of 67 added to his opening 63 to be just one off the lead held by his co-first round leader Hiroyuki Fujita.
An opening bogey on day two by Green after starting at the 10th was quickly put right with two consecutive birdies at his 2nd and 3rd holes before completing an outward nine of 1 under 34. Then, just as he did on day one he birdied the first and 2nd holes of the course and parred in to be nicely positioned heading into the weekend.
Green described the more demanding conditions on day two but expressed his satisfaction with how he ground out his round.
“Hung in there pretty well today. It was much tougher conditions today with the wind. It’s something we faced in the last couple of holes yesterday, but not for the whole round.
“There were some really testing shots out there today coming through 4, 5, 6 and the early holes on the back nine, 10, 11, 12, 13. Some really, really tough, demanding shots.
“I was able to hit some good ones when I needed to and hang in there when I needed to. It was a much tougher feeling out there today.
“Fujita obviously had a great start, another great round. So, he must be feeling pretty comfortable out there.
“So, I was aware of it. Obviously aware of Steve Stricker and the good round to get up to that position where I was tied with him for 2nd for a long part of the day until I sort of made a couple towards the end.
“Yeah, it’s just being there on Sunday now. Just giving myself a chance tomorrow, giving myself a chance Sunday.”
Green finished runner-up at the recent Senior PGA Championship so contention at this level on the PGA Tour Champions is nothing new to him.
Cameron Percy – en route to a second round of 65 – image USGA
Australia’s Cameron Percy reeled off seven birdies in his opening 16 holes before bogeys at the 17th and 18th put a bit of a dampener on his efforts but he improved considerably from his opening 70 for his round of 65 to be now tied in a share of 9th place and six off the lead held by Fujita an eighteen-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour.
“I mucked up the last two holes, said Percy. “Yeah, I just tweaked my lie angles and irons and going left on me. If I don’t hold onto it it’s going left, so that’s happened on 17.
And then 18 I just blocked my driver. Been hitting a beautiful draw all day and it went straight, so that was no fun. It was in the hazard and had to chip it out.
“But I found something in my putting this morning on the putting green. Made a lot of 10-, 15-footers today so it was nice.”
The talk of the day however was the amazing feat by American Frank Bensel who, playing in his first US Senior Open, holed in one on consecutive holes.
Bensel a teaching professional at Century Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., and the Club at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., made USGA history with back-to-back holes-in-one on the par-3 fourth and fifth holes. He used a 6-iron on both holes, which measured 173 and 202 yards, respectively. They were the 22nd and 23rd aces in U.S. Senior Open history.
Other Australasians in the field to make the cut were Steve Alker and Mark Hensy (24th), Hensby bouncing back from his opening 75 with a best of the day round of 63, Mathew Goggin 31st, Michael Wright 36th, Michael Long and Stuart Appleby 47th and Greg Chalmers 60th.
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Frank Bensel – consecutive holes in one today – image USGA