Golf, The Open: McIlroy and Hovland lead, Francesco Molinari comeback

There is Italy in St. Andrews. Francesco Molinari (18th) is back incisive after a start above par and a second round just below to earn the weekend in the oldest major, on the oldest field. With clenched teeth and on the cutting edge.

Difference

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Even today a solid game, but the putt makes the difference, he starts to enter and at ten the Turin pro has already earned five strokes; then a bogey and two more birdies. In total, six strokes under par (73-71-66) to gain several positions in the standings and reach the top when the leaders have not yet started. “A windless morning was a good plus,” he said. A question of feeling with the Scottish fields and with this tournament he won in Carnoustie in 2018? “It’s actually not that different here from what I’ve done this year in other races. I played very good laps, but I wasn’t able to put together four. Yesterday I was close to missing the cut and then today I did well: I have to find continuity ”. St. Andrews and Carnoustie, different fields and conditions. “The ground is equally hard, but here you play more drives with almost no consequences, especially in the back nine; in Carnoustie, on the other hand, a game of position is needed ”.

Olgiata

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For Filippo Celli one more shot earned: to the first two scores (74-67) today he adds a 71 which brings him to -4. Excellent golf at the start but satisfactions denied by impregnable flags; the first birdie only at 5 and again at 9 where it touches the eagle. Mistakes start at 10, but the Roman player shows that he is able to manage even difficult situations in the best possible way. Two above all. At 14 (where he touches the hole for the albatross) he ends up in the bunker twice and is also forced to play on his knees from the bank. He will only lose one shot, as well as at 17 (the deadly Road Hole) with a shaft defended by a deep bunker; he misses the second and is with the ball one step away from the back wall: here too he gets away with a bogey. Daje Filo. Twelve arrived from the Roman club of Olgiata (where Filippo has always played), and they make themselves heard a lot. In the upper part, the scoreboard is crowded for the first nine holes. Then it becomes a duo match (in the penultimate team) between the Danish Victor Hovland (66-68-66) and the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (66-68-66). They mark tight, put on a show, enthuse the public and both recover six positions to set the score leader at -16 one lap from the end. Among many beautiful plays, the shot from the bunker holed by McIlroy at 10 for the eagle stands out. Instead, Cameron Smith (67-64-73, -12) and Cameron Young (64-69-71, -12) are marked in negative: the Australian loses a shot on the lap, the American gains only one and they fall behind of 4. Scottie Sheffler (68-68-69, -11) and Dustin Johnson (68-67-71, -10) remain in the wake. The Korean Si Woo Kim (69-69-67, -11) and the English Tommy Fleetwood (72-69-66, -9) come forward. Tyrrell Hatton (70-66-73, -7) and Talor Gooch (68-69-75, -4) disappear. Matt Fitzpatrick, Adam Scott, Jordan Speth and Patrick Cantlay do not find the inspiration.