From the early wave, World No. 40 Talor Gooch finished bogey-par-birdie toward a 3-under 34-35=69 in R2 of The 150th Open at St Andrews, falling three spots to T8 on 7-under 137, six adrift of leader Cameron Smith (64).
The 30-year-old, making his second appearance (T33/2021), opened with 68, his best score in a major, and although he backed up on Friday, has posted consecutive rounds in the 60s for the first time in his eighth overall major event. On 13 (of 16) fairways and 16 greens in regulation, he offset one bogey-5 at 16 with four birdies at 1, 3, 14 and 18, posting +1.36 SG: Off-the-Tee, +0.09 SG: Approach, +0.47 SG: Around, and +0.83 SG: Putting at last glance. The Oklahoma State alum, who sandwiched a missed cut at the 122nd U.S. Open four weeks ago with a solo 9th (London) and solo 7th (Portland) on the LIV Golf circuit, is vying for a first major top 10, looking to improve on a best of T14 on debut at the 86th Masters three major starts ago in April. See link below to post-round comments.