Justin recalls Tiger’s straight talking as he defies winds

TIGER WOODS’ blunt advice helped Justin Thomas to master the challenge of Southern Hills in the wind yesterday.

The world No.9 shot his second successive 67 to post a six-underpar target in the clubhouse, after taking to heart a barb from his friend Woods that his golf was not creative enough.

“The first time I played competitively with Tiger, I just asked him: ‘What do you see?’,” explained the 29-year-old American. He said: ‘You don’t move the ball enough’. For me it was a case of, ‘He is pretty good, he said that, I should probably try it.

“Just being as windy as it was today, there was a lot of manipulating different shots.

“I played better today than I did yesterday.

“It was a lot more difficult due to the wind but I made it very easy on myself. There’s a lot of golf left but if I keep doing what I’m doing I’m excited for the week.” Thomas, left, whose solitary Major victory came in the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in 2017, finished off his second round in grand style, walking in a 10-foot birdie putt at his final hole, the ninth. Matt Fitzpatrick broke par in each of the opening two rounds of a Major for the first time, posting a tidy 69 to head into the weekend at three under. The world No.19 from Sheffield reeled off a total of 15 pars, adding two birdies and a bogey.

Former European No.1 Tommy Fleetwood mixed in three birdies with three dropped strokes to register a level-par 70 and remain on the fringes of contention at one over.

However, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler crashed and burned with a 75.

A double-bogey at the last hole left The Masters champion outside the cut line on six over.