feedback | low graphics version
| feedback | low graphics version | ||||
|
 | | You are in: In Depth: The Open: SOL at The Open |
| |  Friday, 20 July, 2001, 19:21 GMT 20:21 UK Lytham diary: Day Two  Lickliter's hole in one was a 'super-solid' shot BBC Sport Online's Stuart Roach takes a look back at day two of Royal Lytham's Open Championship. Sir Bob Charles confirmed his retirement after missing the cut at Lytham, then confessed he now has some different cuts to attend to. "I'm going back to the farm in New Zealand to shear some sheep and bale some hay," said the 65-year-old, who won The Open at Lytham in 1963. "I was just 22 when I first came to Lytham and a lot has happened in the meantime. "But this is my very last swing around the Royal Lytham St Annes course in the Open Championship. "I have enjoyed every one of them, but my game wasn't great this week. I'm no longer competitive against these younger players and that is why I won't miss it." Tiger Woods' stunning birdie at the 14th brought back memories of Seve Ballesteros' first Lytham victory in 1979. Ballesteros drove into a car park on the 16th but recovered to make birdie as he marched on towards the Championship.
Woods repeated the trick on Friday when he went so far right on 14 that his ball cleared the crowds and landed on a path, allowing him to get up and down for a remarkable three. "It was a car park birdie, just like Seve's," Woods said with a grin. "He did it at 16, I did it at 14 and I knew I'd got lucky. My approach came up a bit short but I felt really good about the putt." The major slice of luck provided a real suggestion that Tiger's name could once again be on the claret jug, but he said: "Right now, it's all about getting in a position to challenge." Rumours abound that a mystery player strolled into Lytham's Pizza Express on Thursday night and bought all the paintings that hung on the wall. Sergio Garcia dismissed claims that it was him, saying: "There is no truth in the story that I was buying or thinking of buying any paintings in the restaurant." Who wants to buy pictures of pizzas anyway? Ian Woosnam revealed the secret behind his second-round 68, which left him two under for the tournament. "I had a few pints last night and it seemed to do the trick, so I will have a few again tonight," explained the pint-sized Welshman. "I felt a lot looser and a lot happier." Poor old Thomas Bjorn was happy to see a friendly face when he spotted BBC commentator Mark James on the course. Bjorn added a second-round 75 to Thursday's 76 to send him crashing out at nine over par after suffering a bout of flu. Spotting James reporting on Justin Rose's progress, Bjorn was quick to hang back and chat for a full 10 minutes before resuming his match with Brad Faxon and Carlos Franco. Not that James was able to offer any words of comfort as double bogeys at the fourth and 11th compounded Bjorn's Lytham misery. Three injuries meant two withdrawals on the second day of The Open. America's Rocco Mediate was forced out because of back trouble following a first-round 74. The other two injuries both belonged to Chris Perry, a knee problem and a wrist injury too painful a combination to allow him to continue. Frank Lickliter's hole in one at the fifth completed a six-of-the-best collection for the American. "I've had six in my career, but this is the best," he beamed after holing a five iron. "I just hit it super-solid on a perfect trajectory." Simple really. Davis Love is still in contention for the claret jug after a second round 67 left him at two under. Not bad considering the fact that he dropped shots at each of his opening three holes on Thursday. "Bogeying the first three holes in The Open championship is not the start you want," he conceded. Love has been dogged by neck and back injuries all year but said: "At two under I'm definitely not out of it. I just need to relax a little bit. I've been close, but not real relaxed." | |   
Other top SOL at The Open stories:  Links to top SOL at The Open stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||
 | | | | |
|  Links to other SOL at The Open stories |
| ||
 | ^^ Back to top | |
| Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Other Sports | Sports Talk | In Depth | Photo Galleries | Audio/Video | TV & Radio | BBC Pundits | Question of Sport | Funny Old Game ------------------------------------------------------------ BBC News >> | BBC Weather >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMII|News Sources|Privacy | ||
