British Open: record-breaking Oosthuizen hits St Georges's

With a very light breeze, a generous sun and not too devilishly placed flags, the world elite had a blast this Friday on the fairways of Royal St George's. Birdies were plentiful on a legendary course that was almost unarmed. Change of scenery with 2011, date of the last British at Royal St George's. That year, Darren Clarke and Lucas Glover shared the top of the leaderboard at -4 after 36 holes. Seven years later, the leader after two laps has an impressive total of -11. And no less than 52 players point under the par ... In this context, conducive to low scores, Louis Oosthuizen has therefore particularly fared from the game. The winner of the 2010 edition offered himself the record for the lowest score d 'a British Open with a card of 129 in 36 holes (-11).After two consecutive birdies at 12th and 13th, Oosthuizen pulled off the eagle at 14th and was slightly slowed down on 16th by committing his first bogey of the week. Second in the USPGA and the US Open this year, the South African confirms his dazzling form. But the competition will not give him freebies.

Morikawa and Spieth in ambush

Starting with the winner of the USPGA 2020 Collin Morikawa author of a real festival this Friday, by investigating no less than seven birdies (-6 total) and by posting the card of the day with the Argentinian Emiliano Grillo (-6) (author of 6 birdies on the return!) and the winner of the last US Open Jon Rahm (-5 total). Again impressive putter in hand, Jordan Spieth (67 (-3) Friday) is in ambush at -8. Just like the compatriots of Oosthuizen (they are 5 in the top 10), starting with Dylan Fritelli (-7 in 4th place) and Daniel Van Tander (-6 in 6th place). The German Marcel Siem, who gleaned his place by winning last weekend at the Vaudreuil Challenge, offers himself a second card of 67 (-3) and a total of -6 in 36 holes. The winner of the French Open 2012 is clearly in the game.The English giant of 2 meters 06, Jonathan Thomson (-2 total) does not appear at the top of the leaderboard, but he, too, provided the show this Friday with a hole in one, the first of the week on the par 3 of 16!

Long discreet, the American Brooks Koepka, (two US Open, two USPGA), finished strong with three consecutive birdies at 16, 17, 18 to offer himself a card of 66 (-4) and make his entry into the top 10 with a total score of -5.

World number one Dustin Johnson, author of three consecutive birdies at holes 12, 13 and 14, for a card of the day at -5 (-7 total) has obviously not said his last word either.

With a second card in the par this Friday Rory McIlroy made sure to play this weekend, but already eleven strokes behind the leader, it seems unlikely that the Northern Irishman will win a second British Open this weekend. .

They will not be there this weekend ...

Min Woo Lee, winner of the Scottish Open last week, finished at +3 in 36 holes.

It's also already over for Patrick Reed (+3), former world number one Jason Day (+5) or Francesco Molinari (+2), winner of the British 2018, finished at +2 at the gates of the cut.

Will Zalatoris, revelation of the last Masters (2nd), injured his back, threw in the towel at the start of the day.

Winner of the USPGA in May, Phil Mickelson, winner of the 2013 edition, finds himself in the depths of the ranking at +12.

And to think that the 51-year-old veteran was tied for second (with Dustin Johnson) in 2011 here at the last British Open held at Royal St George's ...

Two out of 5 French people cross the cut

Brilliant Thursday (-4), Benjamin Hebert suffered this Friday with a mediocre card of 74 (+4). After 36 holes, Briviste is in the par total. This allows him to ensure his presence this weekend. Now in 53rd place on the leaderboard, after being in the top 5 after the first lap, Hebert will try to do better than in 2019 when he finished 41st in Portrush. For his first participation in the British Open, Antoine Rozner narrowly crossed the cut with a total score of +1. He complicated his life a bit by committing two bogeys at holes 14 and 15, but the gist is there. It's over, however, for the French number one Victor Perez, once again disappointing. The Tarbais, on alternating current, notably cracked on the 6 with a quadruple bogey on this par 3.His last birdie on the 18 having a bitter taste, since he failed a cut to +2 total. Qualification for the Ryder Cup goes away with this new missed cut, the fourth in four Majors in 2021. End of the adventure for Romain Langasque who played +7 in two days (+3 Friday). Despite a nice reaction of pride and a score of 69 (-1), the Basque Mike Lorenzo-Vera did not cross the cut either, weighed down by his 75 (+5) the day before.weighed down by his 75 (+5) the day before.weighed down by his 75 (+5) the day before.