Except for their score, Schwartzel, Lehman, Jacquelin have little in common
An interesting trio of players – all from different continents and in different stages of their respective golf careers — tied for the best second round on Friday in the British Open. Reigning Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, former British Open champion Tom Lehman of the United States, and journeyman Raphael Jacquelin of France all shot 3-under-par 67 to climb into contention.
Schwartzel, 26, is 2-under for the tournament, two shots behind leaders Darren Clarke and Lucas Glover. With a victory here, Schwartzel could match the feat of countryman Gary Player, who won the Masters and British Open in 1974. The others who have captured both events in the same year are Ben Hogan (1953), Jack Nicklaus (1966), Tom Watson (1977), Nick Faldo (1990), Mark O’Meara (1998), and Tiger Woods (2005). Chance of Winning: 5 to 1.
Lehman, 52, won the 1996 Open Championship at Royal Lytham, his lone major, and is bidding to become the oldest major champion in history. Julius Boros won the 1968 PGA at age 48. The oldest winner of a British Open was Old Tom Morris in 1867 at age 46. Friday’s 67 was his best British Open round since 1997. Lehman has had a career resurgence since joining the Champions Tour where he has won five times. This is the fifth straight year he has made the cut at the British, including a T14 last year. He stands two strokes back at 2-under. Chance of Winning: 20 to 1.
Jacquelin, 37, is the one happiest to be here. He has three wins on the European Tour, has never competed in the Masters or made a cut in a major other than the British Open. His best finish on the European Tour Order of Merit (money list) is 20th. Chance of Winning: 500 to 1.
