Brandt Snedeker goes low at Royal Lytham

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England -- Brandt Snedeker always has tried to embrace the British Open experience.

The 31-year-old pro likes to stroll the town, spend a couple nights at the pub, partake of the local ales. He appreciates the fans who turn out in cold and rain to watch. He has even picked the brain of his idol, five-time Open champion Tom Watson.

The Open, though, never seemed to love him back. Three appearances, three missed cuts. Then came Friday.

A six-under-par 64 — the second consecutive day someone at Royal Lytham took dead aim at the lowest round in a major — not only left Snedeker with a one-stroke lead, but an entry in the record book as co-owner of the Open’s 36-hole record.

“Yeah, I’m sure everybody in this room is in about as much shock as I am right now,” quipped Snedeker, whose total of 10-under 130 matched Nick Faldo’s 1992 record set at Muirfield.

That’s also the lowest midway score in any major, though it provided Snedeker scant cushion. Adam Scott, who lit up the first round with a 64, followed with a 67 to fall only one shot off the lead.

Nor will anyone overlook the next man in line, even with a three-shot separation. That would be Tiger Woods, who birdied two of his last three holes — including a bunker holeout at No.18 — to finish off his second consecutive 67.

“I figured I had a game plan that I thought would fit well on this golf course, and I figured I could execute it,” Woods said. “And I’ve done that so far.”

Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen was another shot back after a 66, followed by a stellar quintet at four-under that includes former major winners Graeme McDowell (69) and Paul Lawrie (71), last year’s PGA Championship playoff victim Jason Dufner (66) and Players Championship titleholder Matt Kuchar (67).

“It’s a world-class leaderboard,” Scott said. “I think no matter what the conditions are tomorrow, one of those guys is going to have a good day and make up ground.”

Nearly half an inch of rain fell on Royal Lytham overnight, defying forecasts that called for the weeklong precipitation to end. Course workers were out early to squeegee standing water from the fairways, with more than a dozen bunkers also unable to soak up all the moisture.

Green speeds, however, were slightly faster after a morning mowing. It turned out to be just the right mix for Snedeker, one of the game’s best — and streakiest — putters.

Five birdies in a seven-hole span allowed the Nashville native to slingshot past Scott, reaching 10 under with six holes left in his round. Though he cooled off with pars the rest of the way, it kept him bogey-free for both rounds.

“My mantra all week has been to get the ball on the greens as fast as possible,” he said.

There’s another zero that stands out about Snedeker’s first two days: no bunkers. Though there are 206 of them scattered about Royal Lytham’s real estate, he hasn’t made acquaintance with even one.

“I’ve come close a few times and gotten lucky,” he said. “I don’t expect that stat to hold over the weekend. I’m fully prepared to hit it in a few bunkers.”

It had been 12 years since anyone survived the first 36 holes of a major without a bogey — Woods, when he stormed St. Andrews at the 2000 Open.

For other marquee names, Friday was one of misadventures.

Rory McIlroy’s day included an approach shot at No. 3 that wound up on the fourth tee and two swipes to escape a pot bunker at No. 9. A 75 left him just inside the cut line, 12 strokes behind Snedeker.

That was better than Phil Mickelson, who carded three bogeys and three double bogeys on the way to a 78 that sent him home at 11 over.

jshain@orlandosentinel.com