Glover Tied for Lead at British Open

July 15, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Former Clemson All-American Lucas Glover shot an even par 70 on Friday and is tied for the lead after two rounds of the 2011 British Open at Royal St. George’s Golf Links in Sandwich, England. Glover is tied with Darren Clarke at the midway point of the tournament with a score of 136.

Glover, who opened the tournament with a 66, was one shot out of the lead when play began on Friday. He trailed Thomas Bjorn and Tom Lewis, who shot 65s in the first round, but both faltered with over-par rounds on Friday.

Glover, who played his 700th professional round on Friday, had a consistent Friday with two birdies and two bogeys. He made par on each of his last eight holes. He had many opportunities for birdies, but did not putt as well as he did in the first round when he had eight one-putt greens. He had 32 putts on Friday after 28 in the first round.

“I hit it better than I hit it yesterday,” said Glover. “I just didn’t make many putts. You know, I’ve got to put those two together to win a big tournament like this. But, I played solid. I’m happy I made the cut and have some time to rest.”

Glover and Clarke will play in the final pairing on Saturday. The tournament is televised by ESPN and the broadcast will begin at 7:00 AM eastern time.

This is the third different major that Glover has had the lead at the conclusion of at least one round. He had the lead at the end of the first round of the 2006 PGA at Medinah, when he shot a 66. He obviously had the lead at the conclusion of the fourth round of the 2009 US Open, and now is tied for the lead at the 2011 British Open. He is the only former Tiger to lead at the end of any round of a Major.

Glover’s 36-hole score of -4 is the same as his 72-hole score when he won the 2009 US Open at Bethpage Black in New York. The Royal St. George’s course has proved to be tough for some of the top players in the world.

Only five of the top 10 players in the July 13 World Rankings made the cut, as number-one ranked Luke Donald, number-two Lee Westwood, number-seven Matt Kuchar, number-nine Graeme McDowell and number-10 Nick Watney all failed to make the cut, which was at three over par. The top 10 players in the world are a combined 27 over par through two rounds.