Legacy Isn’t Lost on Woods

What is Tiger Woods going to miss most about Jack Nicklaus? Fishing tips.

“I’ve gotten more information about fly-fishing in Russia, Iceland and Canada. He gives some pretty good spots,” Woods said.

“No, seriously, just to have him around and be able to talk to him about anything, we kind of understand what it takes to prepare and be ready for tournaments and from that standpoint, it’s been pretty cool.”

Woods said Nicklaus is remarkable for his consistency.

“From the time when he won his first major to his last, no one’s ever been that consistent. Just look at his championships alone, 15 years and the top six right in a row. It’s hard to imagine being that consistent, because you can always get the bad end of the draw one time, you figure. But he played right through it and was always in contention.”

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With his 67, Phil Mickelson moved to three-under after 36 holes and he’s looking for a low number today. Third last year at Royal Troon, Mickelson is playing his 13th British Open and said experience pays off.

“I think it’s a big factor when the wind blows,” he said. “If the wind doesn’t blow, it’s not a necessity, but when the wind blows, it’s critical to know where the bunkers are and what angles you need to come in from. Because the bunkers are in play when the wind blows. They’re not when it’s calm.”

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It wasn’t a long tournament for David Toms, who disqualified himself Friday morning for what he thought might be a rules violation in Thursday’s first round. Toms made a double-bogey six at the 17th hole, but before his last putt on the hole, he was concerned that the ball might have moved after he addressed it.

Toms, who was given credit for a 74, should have signed for a 76. He thought about the ball moving when he went home Thursday night and showed up at 6 a.m. Friday to disqualify himself.

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Matthew Richardson, a 19-year-old amateur from Middlesex, England, shot a three-under 69 and credited playing a practice round with Ernie Els.

Said Richardson: “Well, I’m not a great believer in religion, but I think Ernie is God.”

Meanwhile, Els rebounded from his opening 74 with a five-under 67. It was Els’ first round in the 60s in a major this year.

“I hit my irons better and I definitely putted better,” he said.

Els made eight putts between eight feet and 30 feet.

“I’ve got some birdies going my way now, and I need a lot more of those over the next two days,” he said. “I know what I have to do. I’ve got to get, somehow, to 15-under par. I know that’s saying a lot, but I might be close with that number.”

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The first group of the day went off at 6:30 a.m., and Duffy Waldorf was part of it. He turned in a four-under 68, even though his wake-up call came a little early.

“It seems like I had an alarm go off at 1 a.m. with the garbage trucks and then some late revelers about 2 a.m., so I thought to myself, ‘Am I ever going to get some sleep tonight?’ ”

Waldorf rose at 4:45 a.m., but wasn’t complaining.

“Being at St. Andrews, it wasn’t difficult to get ready for the round.”

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Sergio Garcia’s 69 put him at five under for the tournament, but he feels as if he hasn’t gotten enough out of his first two rounds.

“I guess I should feel I should be at least nine under, but unfortunately I’m not and that’s the way it is,” he said. “We still have two days to go, and if it stays like this and I get it going with the putter, I can really shoot a low round.”