Record-seeking Langer locked for lead in wild, wet Wales

LONDON: High winds and torrential rain slowed Bernhard Langer's quest for a record 10th senior major title at the British Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales on Friday with only one player breaking par.

The German veteran described the conditions as some of "the most brutal" he has ever witnessed.

Five players shared the lead at the halfway point on one over par with Langer on top of the leaderboard alongside American trio Tom Lehman, Billy Mayfair and Steve Flesch as well as Argentina's Mauricio Molina.

German star Langer won at the Welsh links in 2014 by a record 13 strokes, finishing with an 18 under par total.

However conditions on Friday left just Santiago Luna as the lone man in the 144-player field with an under par round.

Langer carded a three over par round of 74 for a one over par total.

"It was much harder this morning than yesterday. It was blowing 25 (mph) with rain -- it was just miserable," Langer told europeantour.com.

"The first two hours or so, the wind was blowing strong and it was raining on top of it. It was just very difficult to do anything. The first hour or two was probably as brutal as I've seen it; and I've been many places and seen a lot of things. I'm still in a good position. There's a lot of golf to be played yet."

Fellow former Ryder Cup captain Lehman carded a round of 72 to finish one over par.

The American is one of five former British Open winners in the field hoping to add the Senior Claret Jug to their trophy cabinet -- Tom Watson first achieved the feat in 2003 and then won again in 2005 and 2007. - AFP