An early gust of wind and rain on Friday threatened to reveal the Old Course’s teeth but, in the end, all that false dawn achieved was to highlight the elderly links’ dentures. Dustin Johnson is hardly known for his smile either but, on a day of formidably low scoring, the two-time major champion led the morning assault on the leaderboard before Cameron Smith put a sliver of daylight between himself and the field as the sun set over St Andrews.
Looks can be deceiving and the Australian world No 6, with a mullet so unkempt it might pique the interest of a Highlands sheep shearer, cut a route through the pot bunkers with the precision of a razor blade. A round of 64 took him to 13-under-par and ensured The Players champion of a two-shot lead over Thursday’s overnight leader, Cameron Young. The likes of Johnson, Scottie Scheffler and Tyrrell Hatton might have expected to be in closer pursuit after standout rounds in the morning wave, but Smith managed to push back the tide and then some.
