Behind The Box Score

Going into the clubhouse at The Ailsa Course at Turnberry, 2008 Masters champion Miguel Ángel Jiménez is leading the British Open field with a stellar 64 (-6). Jimenez scorched the front 9, birding 3 of the last 4 holes to enter the back nine at 4 under. His round did not include a bogey, and he stayed within himself through 16. On the final two holes, he birdied each of the two, with a monster putt at 18 to take the lead, and snap a 3-way tie for the lead. His round statistically was better than the field average by far. He hit 12 of the 14 fairways on the par-70 links style golf course.

Following closely behind in second is six-time Open champion, 59-year-old Tom Watson. He joined Jimenez in the clubhouse closely behind at a 5 under 65. Watson also had a bogey free round, and spreading his birdies around the course, no consecutive holes had birdies. He also hit 12 of 14 fairways. “I haven’t reassessed [expectations] at all,” Watson said. “I was playing well in the practice rounds, and I felt I would play very well this week.”

The tiger is behind the leaders right now at +1, seven shots behind Jimenez. His round was scattered with bogeys, 4 in all. He made the turn at -1, but consecutive bogeys at 15 and 16 moved him to his current position at 1 over. “I certainly made a few mistakes out there,” Woods said. “Realistically, I probably should have shot about 1- or 2-under-par.”

The field is close to being finished. Currently, the best scores still not finished are held by 4 players, Daly, Lehman, Sterne, and Molinari. Their score is currently -3.

To check out scores as they are posted, check out the Open website at: http://www.opengolf.com/ChampionshipGolf/TheOpenChampionship.aspx