Monty shoots 68 but can’t escape ‘wee black cloud’ that follows him

SCOTLAND’S top two golfers of the last quarter-century have put themselves in contention on home soil at the British Senior Open at St Andrews — but that’s where 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 Monty (below), rather undermining his comment on Wednesday 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 Sandy after a round featuring 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. Monty’s irritation stemmed from the fact 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. Ireland’s Paul McGinley is level with the two Scots on five under but will be regretting three bogeys on the back nine in his round of 73 as Miguel Angel Jimenez led the way on nine under after a round of 67. Nick Faldo was playing his first event for nine months and it showed as he followed his opening 76 with a 73 to miss the halfway cut. Of the other Irish in action, Mark McNulty and Des Smyth are at one over, Ronan Rafferty three over, Brendan McGovern four over, and Eamonn Darcy three shots further back at seven over par. At the Canadian Open, Shane Lowry shot five birdies with no dropped shots to finish on seven under after a second-round 67, six shots off the early leader Kevin Tway of the US. Meanwhile, Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan and Ruaidhri McGee both missed the cut at the Porsche European Open in Germany. American Bryson DeChambeau leads the way on 10 under after two rounds , following up his Thursday’s 66 with a 68 yesterday.