GULLANE, Scotland – After a compelling Friday at Muirfield, as the course continued to punish the world’s best players, many of whom were already weary from Thursday’s battering; it was Miguel Angel Jimenez who leads the way at the halfway stage of this 142nd Open Championship.
Jimenez, the 49-year-old Spaniard, will be attempting to become the oldest major champion in history this weekend, surpassing the record of Julius Boros who won the 1968 PGA Championship at the age of 48. Jimenez started the day at 3-under, after his fine 68 from Thursday, and battled around in a level par 71 on a Muirfield course that was becoming ever firmer in the uncharacteristically sweltering heat in Scotland.
Jimenez, a winner of 19 events on the European Tour, and a member of numerous Ryder Cup teams, has achieved much in the game, but a major victory would be the icing on what has been a very lucrative cake:
"It would be very nice to win a major. I've been 25 years on the tour, 19 victories on the tour, and I would love to have a major on my CV of course. Why not this one? I would love it. It's amazing, you know. My game is consistent at the moment, all parts of the game. I made some recoveries today – only two birdies and two bogeys. I keep elastic and flexible. I'm still training and walking and still able to shoot low."
The popular and charismatic Spaniard’s method of remaining flexible is well known; with his impressive stretching routine on the practice range a thing of legend among fans and fellow players.
He has contended in the Open in recent years, being the first round leader at Turnberry in 2009, while also remaining a factor in the weekend at Royal St Georges in 2011. With the astonishingly firm fairways, length is not crucial on a course that places a premium on shot making. The veteran believes these are skills that he possesses in abundance: "You need to hit hook, slice, that's the game of golf - one is playing golf and one is hitting," he said.
Jimenez has become one of the most popular players in the game, with his fun loving lifestyle, openly admitting his love of cigars and expensive wine. With his pricey shoes and distinctive ponytail, Miguel is a cult hero for golf fans worldwide, and he believes that his relaxed attitude to golf and life aids his performances:
"I feel relaxed and, I tell you, I love what I'm doing. I play golf; I do this for a living. And I've been doing the same thing for 25 years. I don't have any pressure. As soon as I leave here I'm just going to stay with my girlfriend, with my sons, and we're going to have dinner, like I do every day. I don't need to do anything special as I'm leading so now I have to go to bed at 10 o'clock – bullshit. I will go when I feel like it. And especially after I smoke my cigar."
Jimenez will partner Henrik Stenson in the final paring on Saturday, with the Swede at 2-under for the Championship after being the only player in the field to post two under-par rounds. The 37-year-old, who was the 54-hole leader at last week’s Scottish Open, is on an upsurge in his mercurial career, and will be a strong contender throughout the weekend.
Most eyes will however be on the penultimate pairing of Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood who are out at 15:10 local time. The 40-year-old Englishman went round Muirfield in a stunning total of 26 putts, as he navigated his way around the glass-like greens. He made five birdies on the front nine, before settling for a round of 68 that leaves him at 2-under and with a fine opportunity to win his long awaited first major this weekend.
The former world number one reflected on his round: I made the most of the earlier softer conditions. It's playing tough out there. It's about not making too many mistakes and having a lot of patience."
Westwood, whose putting has often let him down at crucial moment in recent years, has turned to former Open champion Ian Baker Finch for assistance. The work has certainly appeared to pay off. Westwood noted the technical improvements that have been made to his putting stroke: "There's a little more connection between the arms and body - he's given me a few more tips to clear the mind. I feel very confident with 10 footers. I start off with the line I've picked and that's always a good thing."
He will require to make more of those 10-footers on Saturday, as Muirfield continues to present a brutal test to the players.
However, cooler conditions tomorrow may just halt the progression of difficulty that has seen the links firm up to almost unprecedented levels, and seen just nine players under-par at the halfway stage.
Tiger Woods had to battle hard on Friday, grinding out an impressive level par round of 71. He fought for every shot on the course, making numerous five-footers for par. As majestic as his opening round of 69 was on Thursday, his second round was equally as noteworthy for the strength of mind shown.
"It was difficult out there today," Woods said. "The wind obviously is a completely different direction than it was yesterday. On top of that we've had quite a bit of moisture on the greens overnight. We actually made a couple of ball marks early. It obviously changed a lot as we were playing along. Our last four holes -- our last five holes -- it got awfully quick."
Five years have passed since Tiger last won a major, and he has frequently put himself in position in recent years before falling back over the weekend:
"You continue playing, continue putting myself there," he said. "I'm not going to win every major I play in, but certainly I can try and put myself there. If I give myself enough opportunities, I'll get my share, and I think I have so far in my career."
Woods won his third Open in comparable conditions at Royal Liverpool in 2006, with a sun baked course meaning that the driver isn’t a requirement. That certainly plays into his hands, and he expects the course to become more difficult over the weekend:
"It's one of those things where it's changed daily," he said. "The practice rounds, I played early, and there are quite a few ball marks out there. Then we get out there yesterday where there's nothing. And hitting 6-irons in a couple of holes that were going 275, 280. Today I hit a sand wedge about 180 on one of the holes out there.
"It's what this golf course does. It's so quick. It depends on where you land, on what side of the slope. Is it on the backside or the front side, and that determines a lot how far the ball is going to go. It's going to be a big test."
A big test indeed, and it is one that has seen some of the biggest names in the game play themselves in contention. Dustin Johnson is also at 2-under, with Martin Laird, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Zach Johnson and Angel Cabrera at 1-under. Darren Clarke, Charl Schwartzel, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter and Phil Mickelson are only four shots back at 1-over.
As the cutline rose to +8 at the end of a compelling day, Muirfield did claim many victims, not least Rory McIlroy, whose struggles continued with rounds of 79-75. Less unexpected absentees for the weekend included Three-time champion Sir Nick Faldo, who hinted that his first Open in three years might also be his last. Five-time champion Tom Watson also missed the cut, and the 63-year-old likely completed his final Open Championship in his beloved Scotland, site of four of his victories.
With slightly cooler conditions in the morning, the early starters will have an opportunity to play themselves into a strong position going into Sunday. Muirfield has presented a brutal test, but largely a fair one. A few of the pin positions were harsh on the field, but generally speaking this is a setup that has been dictated by the warm and dry weather in the region spanning back a month. For the R&A, scoring at The Open Championship should be determined by the conditions, whether they prove to be favourable or not for low scoring. However, despite the fine players on show, you feel that it is Muirfield itself that will select a champion.
And with the quality and depth of leaderboard, it may very well be another great who finds themselves inscribed on the Claret Jug as an Open Champion at Muirfield.