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Journalism of Courage
CARNOUSTIE, JULY 16: The beast of Carnoustie battered the world’s greatest golfers for the second straight day here on Friday — underlining its reputation as the toughest course in Open Championship history.Only Frenchman Jean van de Velde, who shot a sparkling 68 to go atop the leaderboard with a two-round total of one-over 143, and Angel Cabrera of Argentina, with a two-under 69, managed to resist the links.
Overnight leader Rodney Pampling of Australia, who caught the links at their weakest when he was a early starter yesterday before the wind blew in, felt the full force of the breeze sweeping in off the Firth of Tay.
By the time the 29-year-old staggered of the 18th green, he had become the first player in modern history to be leader after the first day and fail to make the cut on the second.
Yesterday, the Queenslander shot a level par 71. Today, he signed for a 15-over par 157 and his dreams of finishing in the top 10 on Sunday were in tatters.
Greg Norman was within two holes of bringing thecourse to its knees but Scotland’s most feared links fought back with a vengeance.
As Norman approached the 17th tee he was four-under-par and heading for a stunning 67 after going on a birdie blitz on the homeward nine. Ten minutes later he walked off the 17th green after running up a triple bogey.A principal victim among the dawn patrol was world number two David Duval.The 27-year-old American finished with a four-over 75 to drop 12 over for the two days. But the worse news for Duval was that he will make the cut and have to come face to face with Carnoustie again.
Tiger Woods found himself on a roller-coaster. The world number one began the day three shots off the lead after a first round 74. But he quickly closed the gap on Pampling to delight the large gallery watching his every move. The 23-year-old was just through the green on the first hole but continued where he left off from in the first round with the putter, holing from 30ft for a birdie.
He finished with a one-over 72 for a two-round totalof 146 that left him perfectly placed to challenge over the weekend.
