Australian Cameron Smith, who is aiming for his first major title, took the lead halfway through the competition. At -13, he leads by two shots over first-round winner Cameron Young of the United States. 2014 champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Norway’s Viktor Hovland are tied for third place.
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Former longtime world No. 1 Woods made his return to the tournament at the Masters in April after a car accident last year that nearly cost him his leg. He got off to a great start in Augusta, but gradually fell from tenth place to the final 47th place. In May, he missed another PGA Championship major due to pain, withdrawing after the third round, and now he’s bye after the second day.
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“I don’t know if I’ll be physically able to play another British Open here at St. Andrews. I definitely feel like I can play another British Open, but I don’t know if here when the tournament comes back here,” said Woods, who was moved by the reaction fans and choked back tears on the way off the pitch. “That got me,” he commented to rapturous applause from the stands.
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Australan Cameron Smith v St. Andrews.Photo: Paul Childs, Reuters
The winner of 15 majors dominated The Open at the famous Old Course in St. Andrews in 2000 and 2005. A year later he won at Royal Liverpool.
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| The Open Championship, the British golf tournament of the major category in St. Andrews (par 72, endowment $14 million) – after the 2nd round: |
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| 1. Smith (Austr.) 131 (67+64) |
| 2. Young (USA) 133 (64+69) |
| 3. McIlroy (Sev. Ir.) 134 (66+68) |
| Hovland (Nor.) 134 (68 + 66) |
| 5. D. Johnson 135 (68+67) |
| 6. Scheffler (oba USA) 136 (68+68) |
| Hatton (Angl.) 136 (70+66) |
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