GRAEME McDOWELL RIPPED up the Scottish Open course this morning on his way to the top of the leaderboard, just one week ahead of the British Open.
His eight-under round of 64 included six birdies and a eagle on the 12th. He is joined at the top on eleven-under par by two Scots, Peter Whiteford and Scott Jamieson, who both shot rounds of six-under 66.
On a calm morning, low scoring was the norm and a number of other big names made a move. Padraig Harrington and Justin Rose both shot five under rounds of 67 to move to a halfway total of eight-under, three back from the lead.
Angel Cabrera of Argentina and Scotland’s Peter Lawrie matched McDowell’s eight-under round this morning. Both now sit just two back of the Northern Irishman on nine-under for the tournament.
Of the rest of the Irish to complete their round already, Damien McGrane shot a 67 to move to four-under par overall while Gareth Maybin’s 68 saw him climb to three-under.
Those teeing off in the afternoon could not have played in much more differing conditions to the morning. An electrical storm saw those out on the course called in at 3pm. Play did not resume until 5pm.
Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Michael Hoey, Peter Lawrie and Shane Lowry are some of those affected by the break in play. However the break did not seemed to affect them.
Clarke is three under for his round, (-6 in total) through eight holes; McGinley (-5) two under through 11, Hoey (-1) one under through 13, Peter Lawrie (-6) two under through 13, and Shane Lowry (-4) also one under through eight.
Overnight leaders Lee Westwood from England and Chile’s Mark Tullo are both struggling on even par for today, but both remain at seven under.
Play was suspended again at the Inverness course at 6.30pm due to what event organisers called ‘dangerous conditions’.
The projected cut is four under par.