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European Tour: Ross Fisher Grabs 36-Hole Lead at Dunhill Links

By Mike Randleman

Jul 29, 2016; Springfield, NJ, USA; PGA golfer Ross Fisher tees off on the 18th hole during the second round of the 2016 PGA Championship golf tournament at Baltusrol GC - Lower Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2016; Springfield, NJ, USA; PGA golfer Ross Fisher tees off on the 18th hole during the second round of the 2016 PGA Championship golf tournament at Baltusrol GC - Lower Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Five-time European Tour winner Ross Fisher leads by one at the 36-hole mark, but a tough test at Carnoustie awaits him tomorrow.

Six members of the European Ryder Cup team traveled to Scotland this week for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (an event that alternates between three gems in Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews), but you wouldn’t know it by glimpsing at the top of the 36-hole leaderboard. There remains one more round before the 54-hole cut, but some prominent European Tour members have a lot of work to do if they want to catch Ross Fisher at 11-under, or even make Sunday at all.

Lee Westwood has carried his struggles from Hazeltine across the pond, carding scores of 75 and 82 to sit in dead last in 167th place.

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His fellow Englishmen and teammates, Matthew Fitzpatrick (+6) and Danny Willett (+2), will need to make a move on Saturday if they want to make the cut, which is currently projected to hover near even-par.

The trials and tribulations of these struggling heavyweights likely won’t be at the forefront of Ross Fisher’s mind. A solid player in his own right, the 35-year-old Englishman will seek to convert his one-stroke lead into a sixth career European Tour victory over the next two days.

We’ll be able to get a better idea of his chances after his Saturday round at Carnoustie, the hardest track of the three. Carnoustie has played at a 71.00 stroke average, compared to 68.87 for Kingsbarns and 69.53 for St Andrews (all par-72).

Oct 1, 2016; Chaska, MN, USA; Thomas Pieters of Belgium reacts after making a birdie putt on the first green during the morning foursome matches in the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Chaska, MN, USA; Thomas Pieters of Belgium reacts after making a birdie putt on the first green during the morning foursome matches in the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

One of Fisher’s closest pursuers is an exception to the stingy scoring at Carnoustie (a.k.a. “Car-nasty”). Trailing countryman Joakim Lagergren (-10), Sweden’s Alex Noren is alone in third place thanks to a course-record 64 on Thursday. A favorite to hold the 54-hole lead heading into St Andrews, the world No. 29 displayed why golf is a fickle game on Friday. He was seven shots worse at Kingsbarns, shooting a 71; however, with two rounds at St Andrews remaining, he can’t be too displeased with his current standing.

One of the hottest players on Tour, Tyrrell Hatton, is lurking at seven-under, and Thomas Pieters, the Ryder Cup rookie stalwart, is also in the mix at six-under with two St Andrews rounds on the horizon.

Martin Kaymer appears to be shaking off a 1-3 record for Team Europe last week. He sits in a tie for 12th at five-under and has been hitting the ball nicely, ranking sixth in driving accuracy and tenth in greens in regulation.

Top 10 Leaderboard

  1. Ross Fisher (65-68) 11-under
  2. Joakim Lagergren (66-68) 10-under
  3. Alex Noren (64-71) 9-under
  4. Jbe Kruger (68-68) 8-under
  5. Tyrrell Hatton (67-70) 7-under
  6. Six tied at 6-under

Next: Ryder Cup Report Card: Team Europe

Who will find the winner’s circle on Sunday? Which is your favorite course at the Dunhill Links? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter, and keep it here with PGN for more European Tour updates.

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