Kisner, Johnson share lead

CARNOUSTIE, United Kingdom (AFP) — Overnight pacesetter Kevin Kisner and former champion Zach Johnson shared the lead at the halfway stage of the British Open on Friday, with Tommy Fleetwood right in contention behind them.

Kisner and Johnson are sharing a house in Carnoustie this week along with several other American stars competing for the Claret Jug, but they did not share the same conditions on the course.

The 42-year-old Johnson, who won at St. Andrews in 2015, survived miserable morning rain as he followed his 69 in the first round with a second-round 67 to move to six under par for the tournament.

He recovered from a bogey at the first hole with five birdies and no more dropped shots after that as he again flourishes at the one major held outside his home country.

“I’m not going to sit here and say, man, I just love playing in the wind and rain because I don’t, but I can do it, you know,’’ said Johnson, who had made the cut at 11 straight Opens before this one.

Kisner does not have the same CV as Johnson, also a former Masters winner, although he did lead last year’s US PGA Championship going into the final day before finishing joint-seventh.

After his stellar opening 66, five under par, Kisner shot a 70 on Friday as the rain disappeared and the sun came out for his afternoon round. But it could have been so much better as he was eight-under standing on the 18th tee.