Roarin’ Rory: McIlroy ties major record with opening 63 on calm day at St. Andrews
By Paul Newberry, APFriday, July 16, 2010
Young Irishman takes Open lead into second round
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Trying to catch Rory McIlroy and his record-tying 63 was difficult enough in the British Open. It didn’t appear to be much easier Friday morning for the early starters.
In a cruel tease, they arrived at the Old Course to a blue sky that stretched over St. Andrews Bay. Within an hour, clouds moved and it was raining harder than it ever did in the opening round.
McIlroy was warm and dry in his hotel, not teeing off in the second round until much later in the afternoon.
Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, who opened with a 7-under 65 in the tougher afternoon, was bundled up in rain gear and holding steady with four pars at the start of his round, and a birdie at the fifth get within one stroke of the lead
Vijay Singh birdied the second hole to reach 5 under.
These conditions are foreign to McIlroy, who was in the morning wave that played in calm conditions. No one took advantage quite like the 21-year-old from Northern Ireland, who became just the 22nd player to shoot 63 in a major championship.
Phil Mickelson, who made only one birdie in his round of 73, also was to tee off Friday morning with hopes of getting back into the mix, or at least avoid going home.
