Percy powered ahead, Kelly was out of this world, eagles were coming from all angles and putters were optional on day two of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open. Here is everything you need to know from Friday at The Gleneagles Hotel.
Percy extends advantage
Cameron Percy will take a three-shot lead into the weekend after a brilliant back nine of 33 in tough conditions. The Australian entered day two with a one-shot advantage but with wind adding to the firm and fast conditions, the King's Course was a much tougher proposition than it had been on Thursday. On a day when nobody went bogey-free, Percy looked like he too could fall victim to the layout with bogeys on the fifth and eighth before a birdie on the ninth steadied the ship. A chip-in on the 13th then sparked an excellent closing run and further gains on the 14th and last saw the 52-year-old card a 68 and get to nine under. American Jerry Kelly matched Percy's lowest round of the day with a 68 to sit at six under, two shots clear of a pair of Open Champions in Ernie Els and Henrik Stenson and Austria's Markus Brier. "Obviously very happy," said Percy. "It's such a hard golf course. You've got to concentrate on every single shot. There's no easy holes or anything. You can lose your ball on every shot. That's what I like. It keeps me tuned in, if that makes sense."
Kelly moonwalks to 68
Kelly compared the King's Course to "playing golf on the moon" after producing a round that was out of this world. The conditions made Kelly's 68 all the more impressive as he moved to six under and the American admitted he had to get out of his comfort zone and almost adopt a links mentality, a challenge he was relishing. "It's kind of like playing golf on the moon and not knowing what gravity is going to do to your ball, how far you're going to hit it and where it's going to land and hitting the craters and going all over the place," he said. "It's acceptance, and that's normally not my game. But I brought it this week and I hope I continue to bring it because you're going to be wrong, and it's going to bounce in places that: "that was a good shot but...", no but. Just go get it done the next time. I'm always learning. When I'm truly enjoying the challenge, I play much better. I always ground it out my entire career but I'm learning to accept some things and enjoy some things."
More than one way to skin.... an eagle?
The par-five tenth is undoubtedly gettable this week but how you get to it is up to you. Jamie Donaldson took the long putt route.
While Zach Johnson decided to hit a second that was quite possibly the shot of the day.
No putter needed
David Howell dropped six shots in his opening four holes but then did this on the sixth.
And while Percy's two bogeys in his first eight holes were not quite as dramatic, he too started a recovery with a hole-out.
The great escape
Yes, we know we had one of these yesterday but quite frankly, it's hard not to with the test the King's is posing this week. This time it was Henrik Stenson doing his Houdini act on the ninth.
