2:55 p.m. St Andrews time (6:55 a.m. PDT)
He’s making it look easy, Danny Willett is, and he’s the easy story early in this rain-delayed second round at the Old Course. I’m wondering who he is, too. The things you learn when you check in with the crack Grey Goatee research staff (suddenly unavailable) or The Open app on my smartphone (very available): Englishman, 27 years old, ranked 39th in the world, former English Amateur champion, third at this year’s WGC Match Play in San Francisco.
Willett got to minus-10 on a bogey-free card with birdies on 9 and 10 to go three up on Zach Johnson (one-under today) and Dustin Johnson, who hasn’t teed off and won’t for a while.
Clear difference in style between the two Johnsons: Zach, 39, has made a sumptuous living in professional golf ($35.7 million) despite being a short hitter on golf courses that only seem to get longer and still can’t contain the likes of Dustin, the best driver of the ball in golf.
ZJ just got a shot back with a birdie on 13 after a bogey on 12 dropped him to 6-under. He’d love to post a number before DJ, and a kid named Spieth, make their Friday runs.
Leaderboard note: Phil Mickelson’s at 4-under (2-under today) through No. 7. There’s lot of golf to go, and the rain delay dictates some of today will be held tomorrow.
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