It was another day of low scoring at Gleneagles, as the field picked apart and took full advantage of the profitable conditions on Friday in the heart of Scotland. With the rough cut at a lower level than has been seen previously, the PGA Centenary Course wasn’t quite as punishing as it has been, and players were consequently able to take full advantage of the benign conditions. This may be an indication of what we can anticipate to see next year in the Ryder Cup, and European captain Paul McGinley has been spotted taking down copious notes related to the setup and layout of certain holes during the last two days.
However, at the end of Friday, in the 15th edition of the Johnnie Walker Championship, it is Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez who leads the way by one shot at the halfway stage.
The 43-year-old, who has spent the last five weeks at his farm in Rosario, hometown of Argentinean football star Lionel Messi, birdied his final five holes on Friday morning to post a second consecutive round of 65 to post a 14-under total of 130 that breaks the 36-hole tournament record set by Adam Scott in 2002.
Gonzalez, whose most recent of four European Tour victories came in Sweden back in 2009, hasn’t posted a top ten finish this season, and finds himself precariously at 109th on the Race to Dubai, with just the top 110 retaining their playing rights for the 2014 season.
It’s been a difficult few years for the former caddie, with his mother, father, and father in law all passing away since 2011. And the memory of his late parents is most certainly on his mind this week.
“The last two years have been very difficult personally,” Gonzalez said. “If I win I would like to dedicate it to my mother and father, that's my target this week.”
Gonzalez is also well aware of his situation, with his full-time future on the European Tour yet to be resolved. A victory in Perthshire this week would end all of those troubles, and ensure of his status until the end of 2015.
“It's a very important week for me because I have not played well at the start of the season,” he added. “To shoot two rounds of 65 is amazing. I had five weeks' rest to recharge my batteries.”
That rest has, to the surprise of Gonzalez himself, has energized him for this week, which is unusual for a player who normally thrives on momentum.
”It's strange because I'm a professional golfer and I need competition, but I'm feeling great after five weeks off. It has made me more relaxed and I think that's the key to making a good score.”
Gonzalez’s nearest challenger is Bernd Wiesberger, who he shared the day one lead with. The talented 27-year-old Austrian his seeking his third European Tour victory in the space of 18 months, while at the same time he has openly admitted that impressing Captain McGinley is also very much in his focus.
”I played with Mr McGinley in the final round of the Scottish Open and afterwards he said he was very happy with my game and thinks I can play myself into the team,” he said. “That's something I really enjoyed hearing.
”It's good that I have my name up there and even though qualifying has not started yet it's important to play well at The Ryder Cup venue and make a statement that way.”
The qualification system gets underway at next week’s Welsh Open, and Bernd Wiesberger will be hoping to have made his statement before the race has even begun. After opening rounds of 65 and 66, he may very well do so this weekend.
Englishmen Mark Foster and Tommy Fleetwood are tied at 11-under, three back of Gonzalez. The 22-year-old Fleetwood, who won on the Challenge Tour two years, recently claimed the British Par 3 at Nailcote Hall. Mark Foster, however, is seeking retribution at Gleneagles.
The 38-year-old from Worksop has only claimed one title on the Tour, ten years ago, not a fact respective of his immense ability, and he has passed up opportunities since, not least at Gleneagles two years ago where he made a closing bogey on the par five 18th to fall into the marathon five-man playoff that was eventually won by Thomas Bjorn.
“At the time it was not too bad, but as it went on I thought about it more, especially every time I step onto the 18th tee here now,” said Foster. “I'm not one for regrets. I stayed positive and hit drives and just made a bad swing rather than choosing a bad club.”
Reflecting upon those other missed opportunities to win, Foster stated: “Nobody thinks about it more than me. If I knew what it was I would have put it right. There have been occasions when I could have won but I have to keep putting myself in position and see what happens.”
The cut would fall at 3-under, with 72 players making it through to the weekend. One of those is Paul Lawrie, who, after a 67 on Friday, is at 7-under for the tournament, and will start the third round seven shots off the lead as he attempts to become the oldest player to retain a title on the European Tour.
”I hit it lovely today and I am in there again," said Lawrie. “I think I will probably need a low weekend with the way the scoring is going but as long as you are in there you have a chance.”
Lawrie will not be the only player desiring low numbers this weekend, and they will surely continue to be found plentifully on a course that will be firmly in the eyes of the watching public during the next two days, with attending looking ahead to the 40th Ryder Cup matches in 398 days time.