The 144th Open: Owen three under, Westwood’s round incomplete, Willett clubhouse leader

The second round of the 144th Open will conclude tomorrow, after a lengthy rain delay on Friday morning meant play was suspended with a number of groups still out on the course.
England's Lee Westwood during a practice day ahead of The Open Championship 2015 at St Andrews, Fife. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 14, 2015. See PA story GOLF Open. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only - no commercial use. No onward sale. Still image use only. The Open Championship logo and clear link to The Open website (www.TheOpen.com) to be included on website publishing. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 for further info.England's Lee Westwood during a practice day ahead of The Open Championship 2015 at St Andrews, Fife. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 14, 2015. See PA story GOLF Open. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only - no commercial use. No onward sale. Still image use only. The Open Championship logo and clear link to The Open website (www.TheOpen.com) to be included on website publishing. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 for further info.
England's Lee Westwood during a practice day ahead of The Open Championship 2015 at St Andrews, Fife. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 14, 2015. See PA story GOLF Open. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only - no commercial use. No onward sale. Still image use only. The Open Championship logo and clear link to The Open website (www.TheOpen.com) to be included on website publishing. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 for further info.

Lee Westwood is one of those who will have to return in the morning.

He’s currently three under after 14 holes, in a tie for 25th place.

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Mansfield’s Greg Owen joins him on three under, after shooting a 73 today.

And Sheffield golfer Danny Willett is the clubhouse leader on nine under, although Dustin Johnson is a shot ahead having played 13 holes today.

It was an up and down day for Westwood, who endured strong winds, a couple of rain showersnd fading light.

He had five birdies, and three bogeys in a round that took him to the 15th green before play came to a halt.

Owen also enjoyed an action packed day.

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He started with a double bogey at the first, and dropped another shot at the fourth.

But an eagle at the very next hole was followed by a run of 11 straight pars, before a bogey and a birdie left him one over for the round.

Owen admitted his back was troubling him in the cold, and the conditions made life hard.

“I’m happy to be finished to tell you the truth,” he said.

“It’s been tough. We battled hard. I made a lovely eagle on five which really settled me down, and then just fought to get in.”

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“I hit some good shots, I hit some poor shots, and all in all I holed out well, and very happy with the score, obviously.”

Willett became the centre of attention as he picked up three shots on the front nine.

A birdie at 10 gave him a healthy lead, and although he dropped shots at 15 and 17, a birdie at the last saw him sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard on nine under.

Speaking to the assembled media after his round, Willett said: “It’s a childhood dream, it’s still a bit surreal.

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“I’m going to have to get used to it (topping the leaderboard).

“Now I’ll try and rest up then try and grind out another good weekend.

“I’ll hopefully be up there in two days time.”

All three of the region’s golfers saw their tee times delayed by an overnight deluge that continued into the morning, leaving some of the course under water.

The time lost will be made up tomorrow morning, before the cut is made and the third round is played in three balls.