‘Toughest conditions ever’ as players feel

ROYAL Porthcawl bit back with American Mike Heinen handing in a 96-shot card while Englishman Stephen Creed was only two shots better.

That summed up what the golf course can do to players when the wind gets up, and eventually the cut came on an astonishing 13 over par score of 155.

American star Brad Faxon hit the nail on the head when the television commentator summed up day two. “I’ve played professional golf all over the world for 36 years, and today at Royal Porthcawl had to be the toughest conditions ever,” explained the 55-year-old player who won eight times on the PGA Tour.

“It says it all when the cut in a Senior Major tournament comes at 13 over par.’’

Just one player was under-par on the day – Spaniard Santiago Luna, who signed for 70 windswept and wet remarkable blows.

And on Friday night – when play was completed in semi-darkness - the lead on one-over par (143) was shared by five players – Langer and Molina along with the USA trio of Tom Lehman, Billy Mayfair and Steve Flesch.

Sir Nick Faldo was bang on the 155-shot cutline along with 2015 Senior Open champion Marco Dawson, Welshman Stephen Dodd, Mason and South African David Frost.

The third round in any 72-hole competition is dubbed moving day, and the first big move on Saturday came from Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.

With wind speed down to 15mph, locals referred to conditions as a mild zephyr, and what a difference a day made.

Suddenly, decent scores were a realistic prospect, as opposed to survival, and at one stage Jimenez threat- ened the course record.

Jimenez, nicknamed “The Mechanic”, threw a spanner in the works in shooting a six-under par round of 65.

Another player to match the score was Pavin to become one of only two players in red figures going into the final round.

Pavin, dubbed “The Jockey” in America owing to his pint-size stature, was now at the races at minus one for the championship.