VALDOSTA —
Harris English doesn’t seem to be letting the England weather bog him down too much. In fact, the Valdosta native seems to be doing just fine at the rain soaked Royal Lytham and St. Annes in England.
Through his first two rounds of his first-ever major championship, the 141st Open Championship, English, a former Georgia Bulldog who attended high school in Tennessee, sits at tied for 51st at 2-over par. The solid two days of play earned him a tee-time this weekend, something a player like Phil Mickelson can’t say after a disastrous two days on the course.
English, who spent his childhood in Valdosta before moving north to Tennessee, was especially effective at the end of his Friday round by birdying four straight holes (13-16). The four straight birdies was the longest such streak of the day, which was also accomplished by 1997 Open Champion Justin Leonard.
After Thursday’s opening round, English was 1-over par after shooting a 71. He opened up his round with 10 straight pars before he bogeyed the par-five 11th hole following a drive that missed the fairway. Harris then bogeyed No. 15 but rallied back with back-to-back birdies on the par-four 16th and 17th. He finished his day with a bogey on No. 18.
On Friday, English struggled mightily out of the gate. After two straight pars to begin the day, English recorded bogies on two bogeys and a double bogey across the next six holes to move to 5-over par on the day. He then birdied Nos. 9 and 10 before recording a bogey on the par-5 11th.
Then English found his groove. He birdied his four straight holes, all of which were par 4’s and closed out his day with another birdie on No. 18 to record back-to-back 71’s in the Open Championship.
English is a rookie on the PGA TOUR this year. Prior to this week’s event, he had missed just four cuts in 19 TOUR event this season and had earned an impressive $845,235. He qualified for the Open Championship after back-to-back days of record golf at Dallas, Texas’ Gleneagles Golf and Country Club; he shot a course-record 60 and a 63 in the two-day event.
South Ga. Classic winners in event
Two previous South Georgia Classic champions are in the field for this week’s Open Championship and both will be competing this weekend. 2009 winner Garth Mulroy shot a 69 on Thursday and a 71 on Friday and sits at even-par heading into the weekend.
2011 SGC champion Ted Potter Jr., who earlier this month won on the PGA TOUR for the first-time in his career, is tied with Mulroy, and 10 others, for 28th place after also shooting an opening round 69 and a second round 71.
Snedeker leads, Tiger in hunt
Brandt Snedeker owned Friday’s round. The American shot a six-under 64 to grab the lead at 10-under par. First round leader Adam Scott finished the day 3-under par and sits in second at 9-under par for the tournament.
Tiger Woods remains in contention following his second day. Woods shot a 3-under par 67 on Friday, following up his 67 on Thursday. Woods is in third place at 6-under par, just four shots behind Snedeker.
Masters champion Bubba Watson started his second day at 3-under par, but struggled Friday and finished at 3-over par to sit tied for 28th.
After shooting an opening round 67, Rory McIlroy shot a second round 75 and sits tied with English at 2-over par.
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Related Photos
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The Associated Press Harris English, a native of Valdosta, sits at 2-over par following his second round at the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in England. The Associated Press
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Harris English birdied four straight holes during Friday’s second round at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. The Associated Press
Discussion
English makes cut
Valdosta native Harris English sits 2-over par
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