THE OPEN NOTEBOOK

The term “ageless” has been applied to Tom Watson, who almost won a sixth British Open at Turnberry at age 59 ... but age has now and then crept into his putting stroke. Friday, the 62-year-old missed the hole entirely on an 18-inch par putt at the 17th hole to fall outside the cut line. But he rammed in a 30-footer at the 18th to save himself, earning nearly as big a roar as Woods had in the previous group, when he holed it from the bunker for birdie. 1999 Open champion Paul

Lawrie was asked whether he looks at leaderboards to find out what’s going on during a round. “Every hole, absolutely,” said the affable Scot. “People who tell you they don’t ... I’m not so sure they’re telling the truth. The [boards are] quite big, as you maybe have seen. They’re quite hard not to look at.”

Greg Owen holed his second shot at the 18th for an eagle to shoot his second straight 71 and make the cut. “I thought I needed at least a birdie after making a bogey at the 17th,” he said. “I gave myself a good look at the green and hit a lob-wedge in there. I knew I’d struck it well. I saw it land and saw it coming back toward the hole and I’m thinking, “Just keep rolling,” and it finally disappeared.” The 40-year-old Englishman made an albatross — a double-eagle two — at the par-five 11th here in the 2001 Open. “That’s right, they’ve lengthened that hole now so you can’t reach it. They’ll probably lengthen the 18th now.” Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, who was tied for second after the opening round, one shot off the lead, blew to a 77 Friday and for a time looked as though he could even miss the cut. “Funny how a day can change everything,” a reporter prompted. “Not that funny, really,” said Colsaerts.