Herbert Takes Lead at The Open; DeChambeau Receives Penalty for Rules Violation

Athletes treated to a Feast for the Eyes in day two at Royal Birkdale, for the 154th Open Championship in progress. Among many highlights from the second day Golf’s preeminent tournament was capped off with victory going to Matthew Fitzpatrick.

With just half a shot between them, there were some close games Wednesday afternoon at the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, including that between Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick. 49-year old Willett edged out a 71 to join the lead group at eight-under 65, albeit two-under clear behind third-round leader Tommy Fleetwood, who made WGT’s record-equaling round of -9 to surpass 65-65-65 scores.

Phil Mickelson followed some other celebrities by making birdie eagle after shooting a 62 and is now just five strokes back.

The downside was the imposition of three strokes for Bryson DeChambeau, incidentally. Presumably, all will be forgiven if he plays any better Thursday; he scored 69 to be in a tie for sixth.

Willett praised for his solid play after a 71
Danny Willett led the group with a 68 on the back nine, starting with a series of birdies, and holding on to the five-under tally. Stage set for a decisive fourth round with leaders a bare shot apart.

Extended time spent in bunkers and rough contributed to a string of bogeys, which followed a stretch of birdies near beginning, confirming the trend of his day-round of 71 with 3-under put in closing rounds. Only Tommy Fleetwood had a lower third-round score, another Briton, who, from the tee with a record-equalling -9 just about his gaze set for an even stronger finish to ward off competition.

Staying alive through Phil Mickelson’s “grandpas’round”, where a birdie came with a 59 shot -62 with a Robin Puchau bogey at seventh – and other penalty-oriented blemishes, shows no sign of slowing down at age 48 for Mickelson, who 137 continues losing ground but not too much so with almost every major winner firing strong through Tuesday in his famed halcyon days.

Bryson DeChambeau’s penalty for “ping pong” iron shots costs six strokes through two rounds.

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