Links golf. A breeze one day and a windy grind the next.
Cameron Tringale has experienced both extremes during the first 36-holes of the Genesis Scottish Open, backing up his course record-equalling 61 at The Renaissance Club with a battling, two-over 72 on Friday.
The upshot? The 35-year-old American started the second round of the $8 million Rolex Series event with a three-stroke lead and ended it with exactly the same buffer, fellow Americans Doug Ghim (69) and Gary Woodland (72) his nearest challengers at -4. Freshly minted U.S. Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick produced a fine 66 to move into a four-way share of eighth alongside hole-in-one exponent Jordan Smith (69), former Oman Open champion (71) and Xander Schaueffle who signed for an even more impressive 65.
But there was nothing routine on a day when the North Berwick layout, designed by Tom Doak and recently tweaked by Padraig Harrington, called on Mother Nature to help defend its reputation after Tringale’s nine-under waltz on Thursday.
How things look heading into the weekend 📈#GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/BeOidgaNoO
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 8, 2022
Starting on the 10th, Tringale actually looked set to continue on his merry way and by the 13th was -11 and six clear. His first bogey of the week arrived at the 14th when he three-putted from the fringe on the par-3 and despite a bounce-back birdie on 15, the slide continued with four bogeys on the trot from the 16th.
A birdie at the 4th was given back on the 6th and Tringale, still searching for his maiden PGA or DP World Tour win, was happy to get it unto the clubhouse at -7 with three closing pars.
“It was definitely more difficult for me today,” he said. “Yesterday, it seemed pretty easy, and today, it seemed like every hole was a grind to make par.
“So anyway, happy to be done and happy to be off the course and get some rest. I just want to keep going out and trying to play the best I can and hopefully get a good low one in tomorrow.
Ominously for all those struggling behind him on the leaderboard, Tringale doesn’t seem fazed by the wind.
“I mean, the course I think is still gettable, honestly, even in the wind, I just need to play the par-fives a little better, and you know, work on those into-the-wind shots and I should be all right.”
After an opening 71, Fitzpatrick mixed six birdies with two bogeys to get right back into contention.
“Yeah, it was a good day. Wasn’t in the best of positions going into the round today given yesterday’s weather and performance,” said the world No.10.
“It was fantastic to get off to such great start and build on it throughout the whole round. Played solid overall. Couple of poor shot coming in and didn’t make them count. It is what it is.”
You must enjoy the buzz of being the most recent major champion?
“Yeah, it’s been amazing. …the support just walking greens to tees and people saying congrats and keep going. It’s just really nice to be out there and receive that.
And looking ahead to the weekend?
Fifth birdie of the day for the @usopengolf champion 💪@MattFitz94 is moving up the leaderboard. #GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/tmsKRmI2Yx
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 8, 2022
“Yeah, just more confidence in my own game I guess. You know, prove to myself that I can win a major and any time I’m near those positions, whether it’s DP World Tour or PGA TOur or majors, just have that belief that I’ve done it before and can do it again.”
The cut mark fell at +3 with 61 players making the weekend. Among those heading to St Andrews early for next week’s Open Championship is world No.1 Scottie Scheffler who finished +5 alongside Billy Horschel, Robert Macintyre, Collin Morikawa and Will Zalatoris. Min Woo Lee’s title defence wasn’t great fun either, the Aussie finishing +11 after scores of 77-74.
