St. Andrews, Scotland …
England’s Ross Fisher put himself in frame to end a two-year winless drought with a round of 68 to move a stroke clear of the field on day two of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews.
Fisher, 35 managed seven birdies but also dropped three shots in cold and wet conditions on the Old Course at St. Andrews, and one of three events playing host to the event.
The former Ryder Cup star, and who reached a high of No. 17 in the world late in 2009, last tasted success in capturing the 2014 Tshwane Open, and a fifth European Tour win.
“The front nine here at St. Andrews is straight downwind so it plays relatively easy although the front pin is hard to get at,” he said.
“And then you turn to the back nine and the wind’s all into you from off the left.
Ross Fisher driving off the final hole at St. Andrews and on route to a one stroke after two rounds. (Photo – European Tour)
“You’re hanging on a little bit but if you still the hit good shots, you can have birdie chances, and to shoot 4-under and get to 11, I’m obviously very, very pleased.”
Sweden’s Alex Noren, who led after day one with a course-record equalling 64 at Carnoustie, struggled at Kingsbarns with a one under par 71 for a share of second place at nine under par.
Noren, and a double Tour winner this season, played his worst and best holes back-to-back in posting a double bogey at the fifth but then holing his second shot in driving the green at the short downhill par four sixth hole.
He then joined Fisher atop of the board with a birdie at 16 but proceeded to bogey the closing two holes.
Fellow Swede Joakim Largergren. who is in third place at nine under par, capped his round early on at Kingsbarns when he eagled the par five third hole on route to a 68, and as the 20-year seeks a first Tour success.
Martin Kaymer is the best of the six European Ryder Cup stars adding a 68 at Kingsbarns to his Carnoustie opening score of 71 to be sharing 12th place at five under par.
And fellow Hazeltine team-mater Lee Westwood slumped to his worst Tour score in 14 years carding a 10-over par 82 to be last in the 167-player field at 13-over par.
Westwood had failed to score a point in last week’s Ryder Cup and ended his Kingsbarns round double bogey, birdie, double bogey and triple bogey.
Bizarrely, it is Westwood’s highest score since an 83 during the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine and venue for last week’s Ryder Cup.
Westwood was competing at Kingsbarns where there is a permanent marker in place on the ninth fairway to commemorate his albatross ‘2’on route to a then course record 62 and eventual victory in 2003.
