Monty in a black mood after his 68
SCOTLAND’S top two golfers of the last quarter of a century have put themselves in contention on home soil at the Senior Open at St Andrews — but there the comparison ends.
While former Open champion Sandy Lyle was naturally buoyant after a second-round 66, Colin Montgomerie did not attempt to hide his frustration after a 68 left him on the same five-under-par halfway score.
‘Positives? No, there were none at all,’ said Montgomerie, rather undermining his recent comments that he’s a more phlegmatic soul these days.
‘It’s all negative in my world. There’s a wee black cloud that follows me around all over the place.’
The sun was shining on Lyle, though, after his best-ever round at St Andrews, which featured five birdies and an eagle, to improve on his opening score by seven shots.
‘I’ve struck the ball nicely both days but this time I holed a few putts,’ he said.
His only blemish was a dropped shot on 16 as he chases a second Senior Tour victory following his win at the ISPS Handa Senior World Championship in 2011.
Lyle must win this weekend to gain automatic entry into next year’s Open at Royal Portrush after losing his exempt status when turning 60.
‘You never know,’ he mused. ‘I think it might hit me if I’m leading with two or three holes to go. But it will be lovely if it happens, not that we can afford to get too far ahead of ourselves. Right now, I’m just happy to be in the thick of the battle.
‘That’s pretty much my most satisfying round here. To get it on the top shelf on 17, not far from the hole, after making an eagle on 14 was a real bonus.’
Montgomerie’s irritation stemmed from the fact that he didn’t take advantage of a fine opening nine, where he picked up all his shots. The Old Course was there for the taking before the wind picked up considerably for the later starters.
‘What an opportunity. We had the best of the draw and I didn’t take advantage,’ said the 55-year-old. ‘I had ten chances in the last ten holes and I think a 20-foot putt was the longest, so I’m very disappointed that I missed them all, because you can’t expect to win if you’re not taking those chances.
‘I’ve never played better tee to green and I hit the ball exactly where I wanted to at most holes. I just didn’t hole out.
‘I had a golden opportunity to put a low score together. I’m talking about low, low 60s which would have put me right up there. That was a low score that was left out there, and it’s annoying because I’ve left myself a lot to do.
‘Don’t get me wrong, 68 is good, but it should have been a lot lower.
‘Now I need to do better tomorrow, a lot better.’
The Scots pair are four shots behind leader Miguel Angel Jiminez, who shot a superb 67 to reach nine under in fading light after an early-morning weather delay resulted in the final group not teeing off until 6pm.
Trailing the Spaniard by a shot are former USPGA champion Jeff Sluman, his fellow American Kirk Triplett and Germany’s Bernhard Langer, while a further shot behind are Jarmo Sandelin, Vijay Singh and Tom Watson.