• Open Championship, What They Said, Round Two

What They Said

Graeme McDowell's challenge fell apart with a seven-over 77 © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: 'Old guy' Watson savours 'lucky' hole-in-one
  
• News: Clarke leads as McIlroy digs deep
  
• Features: Conditions encourage mind over matter for early leaders
  
• News: McIlroy delighted with position
  

ESPN will be providing comprehensive coverage of the Open Championship, with live scores, news and all the reaction from Royal St George's

Darren Clarke sits four-under after a round of 68. He said: "It would mean an awful lot [to win the Open], but obviously this is only after two rounds. There's an awful long way to go yet, and I believe the forecast for the weekend is very, very poor - which I quite look forward to, but the course is going to play very, very tough. If that's the case, then the tournament is still wide open for an awful lot of players."

Rory McIlroy put himself firmly into the mix with a 69 to sit four off the lead. He said: "The wind got up and the course is playing firm and fast and it is hard to hold the fairways and get near to the pins. Anything under-par today was a good score."

American Lucas Glover joined Clarke at four-under and is happy with where he is placed, despite not being content with his putting: He said: "I am very pleased with the way I finished. I could have made a few more in the middle of the round, I did not read the putts as well as yesterday so did not make many birdies, but I am happy with where I sit and can now relax. It [pin positions] was difficult, but fair. The guys from back home are playing well, but we'll see what happens when the wind picks up."

When asked about his beard, Glover revealed: "They said nobody has won the Open Championship with a beard since the 1890s. That's what BBC Radio told me. I'm happy I made the cut and I played well and got the afternoon off."

Tom Lewis struggled to a second round 74 - but still sets one-under overall. He said: "I think if you asked me two days ago I would have taken it [one-under], but at the moment it doesn't feel so good. Four-over is not a great score, but the way I hit it and the way I felt on the greens today was terrible. But I'm only three back."

Phil Mickelson sits one-under after a second round of 69. He said: "It was a fun day. I got fortunate being on the good wave of tee times, going late-early, and had a chance the front nine to shoot something low. It's fun to be in contention at any major, but it's fun for me to be in contention at the Open Championship because I haven't been here that often. So to have a chance to be right in it, it's exciting."

Simon Dyson dropped shots late in his round to finish level par after a 72. He said: "That was a tough lesson at the end there on 15 and 17. I dropped three strokes in two holes without really doing anything wrong. I got off to a fantastic start with three birdies, and all of a sudden after three holes today I'm leading the Open. A little disappointed with how it finished, but I'm looking forward to the weekend."

Graeme McDowell is likely to miss the cut after a round of 77. He said: "It's getting to be a bit of a habit, these types of days. I couldn't really put my finger on anything that was particularly bad today, I just drove it average, iron play was average - everything was average. My attitude has been pretty average the last two days, I have to say. When things are going right it's easy to think well. When things aren't going so well it's very difficult to think well. You can't wait for the golf ball to make you happy."

Pablo Larrazabal had a level-par round of 70 to remain two-under heading into the weekend. He said: "A bad round of level par is a good one in this tournament. If I play my long game like yesterday and my short game like today, I can be in the fight for the weekend."

Tom Watson stole the show with a hole in one. He said: "It was special. I was going along playing links golf, bumping it here and bumping it there. The wind stiffened and I took out a four iron from 160 and hit the ball on the nose. You don't know what is going to happen, but I did see it go in as it was a one-hopper."

Chad Campbell finished early at three-under after a 68. He said: "I'm definitely not complaining with my tee times. You know, the guys in the evening yesterday had it pretty good, and I was the early part of that, but I definitely had it better today. It's a bit like home. In West Texas we get a lot of wind, and the terrain is not really similar, but I can relate."

Masters champion Charl Schwartzel is well placed to mount a challenge at the weekend after moving to two-under. He said: "We have had the better side of the draw. The conditions have been pretty calm, with the wind getting a bit stronger towards the end. I am happy with where I am."

Adam Scott continued his good form in majors this year with a round of 70, leaving him one-under. He said: "I don't want to spend the next two days in the rain, but yeah, I wouldn't mind if it played tough. I think that would be good for me. I'm striking the ball well over two days in tough conditions, and I think my ball-striking can hold up. But you're going to have to make some par putts, so you'd better putt well over the weekend."

Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen (+2) gave himself a chance of making the weekend after a 70. He said: "I was hitting it all over the place the whole day. It was just nice to see a light at the end of the tunnel the last few holes. Four, five, or six behind going into the weekend is still good. The finish was a bit disappointing but I'll take a lot out of it the way I played the front nine."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.