Players Championship: Louis Oosthuizen shares lead after round two at Sawgrass
Louis Oosthuizen shot a bogeyfree six-under-par 66 to take a share of the lead after round two of the Players Championship at Sawgrass.
The South African former Open champion is level on nine under par with American Kyle Stanley, who also shot 66, with eight birdies and two bogeys.
JB Holmes spoiled an impressive round with bogeys on his final two holes to sit third overnight on seven under.
Fiji’s three-time major winner Vijay Singh, 54, is fourth on six under.
Singh would surpass Sam Snead, who was 52 when he won the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open, as the oldest winner in PGA Tour history if he were to claim a first victory since 2008.
Ian Poulter was Britain’s best performer as he followed four birdies and a bogey with an eagle on the 16th to card a 67 and move to five under. Fellow Englishman Paul Casey is one shot further back.
“I was really happy with that,” Casey told Sky Sports after shooting 69.
“But I need more numbers in the 60s to catch guys like Louis at the top. Nothing really fazes him and there’s a lot of depth behind too.”
Rory McIlroy had two birdies and one bogey as he again failed to produce his best, carding a oneunder-par 71 to move to level par overall.
After his round, the Northern Irishman said he had been suffering with a back problem.
“I’m going to get an MRI scan on Monday after the tournament and I might have to rest for a week or two,” he told Sky Sports.
“As long as I get myself right for the US Open, that’s the most important thing.”
McIlroy’s struggles were mirrored by Masters champion Sergio Garcia and world number one Dustin Johnson, who both also finished one under par, two shots above the halfway cut.