Day 2 Golf: Women's British Open

and warm and the breezes sweeping in from the Irish Sea were nice. But

this was a tough task. Only nine players broke par and the narrow

fairways and thick rope broke a few hearts along the way amongst those

harbouring hopes of lifting this, the beautiful 21st-century styled

women's claret jug. A fascinating day at Royal Birkdale for the first

day and the top names of ladies golf were blessed with a glorious

Thursday. Leading was Japan's a Yacob O'Hara. Mo Martin finished

three under and in second place. What a superb shot that was. Then

three names all on two under par and type of bird. This is a good links

shot for you. The sun it's hat on all day, even if the officials

couldn't. Some players went to extreme lengths to keep fares on.

Leading the British charge was Holly Clyburn, shooting one under par.

Matching that of last year's champion, world number one, Stacy

Lewis. Look at this! Teenager Charlie Harle is still in contention

at one over. Absolutely glorious shots. Laura Davies found it hard

going. She finished three over alongside the world number 12. At

the end of 12.5 hours of golf, this is how the leaderboard looked.

Mo Martin, statistically the most accurate off the tee. Amongst the

other seven women who broke part was Morgan pretzel. Stacy Lewis and the

top Briton, Holly Clyburn. There is a leading scrap for the leading

amateur. Some big named professionals have work to do to

make sure they are the right side of the cot when it falls this evening.

Dame Laura Davies shot an opening 75. She is in the company of Jessica

Corder. I Myers at Ogata underway this morning. We will be keeping an

eye on the two-time champion in this event, Sinn.

Once again it was an early start. 6:30am and conditions are very

friendly. Light winds, sunshine, who will make hay today? This is where

we will pick up late today. Not a great deal of movement.

Let's get out onto the Royal Birkdale will

it is a very placid looking links when you view it from here but it

was at via -- fierce test yesterday. Frisky breeze today. But looking at

the pin positions, the flags are in a more friendly position. We will

maybe get more than nine players breaking par. This is our first look

today at Dame Jessica Davies -- Dame Laura Davies. Successful member last

August. Just spoiling the card a little bit after a good comeback

with a couple of birdies on 13 and 15. Pretty much ideal scoring

conditions out here today. The players in the morning part of the

draw need to go out and take advantage like Dame Laura. This for

a birdie trying to get to three over par. Should be easily inside the cut

line at the end of the day. Laura looks like she is walking better

than she was yesterday. She has a very painful heel. It is a condition

she cannot pronounce the name of, she just knows it is very, very

painful. This is her 30th consecutive British Open

championship. Not counting the four she played as an amateur. Well done.

Laura has had a tendency over the last few years to shoot herself out

of contention with some big numbers at this championship. But things

looking good for the weekend. Paula creamer for a par at the 14th. Ken

Brown is out following this group. I am sure you are enjoying being out

there? Absolute delight. Flags are almost limp at the moment so ideal

conditions. Greens are a little fast. ' last night. They are pretty

slippery. Three bogeys and two birdies. She is currently at five

over. Jessica, ahead on 16. An opportunity spurned. Lydia also

caught out by the pace. Has this to save a par. 14th, par three.

Good-looking card, but managed to have a triple bogey at number eight.

Now she has steadied the ship. Well done.

Tremendous calmness about Lydia in everything she does. Sometimes we

take it for granted she is 17. But when you look at what she has

achieved in the game, it is remarkable. Michelle way out on the

pack your screen. Her training aid which is the yellow stick she has in

her hand. She has this an orthodox putting style. She calls it the

table top. Back to the 14th. Nice par. Strides off to the 15th. Steady

day, single bogey on the card. She is trying to get more confidence.

Has been struggling this year, but loves this championship. It is her

favourite major and if she can have a good week here, it will spur her

arm for the rest of the season. Jessica, on the elevated tee on 17.

Exhilarating shot this for the players between two towering sand

dunes. That looks pretty perfect, bounding down the fairway. Just have

a look at this. No tee peg for Laura. There will be a heave to the

right. Bango! She just has the thrill of enjoyment of hitting golf

balls. Why did she not use a tea? There was one stage in her stage

when she wasn't very good with the driver. She found she could hit it

off the deck. She has employed that ever since.

Flag today cut at the back of the green. Several paces back from the

edge. The breeze is supposed to pick up this afternoon but it might get

really windy at the weekend, especially on Sunday. A Yacob Louis

Hara. Talented group of players. Level

par. Especially Carrie Webb and Lexie Thompson. Charley Hull looking

for a good Friday afternoon. Georgia Hall, the English amateur. Very tidy

start. Carlota Ciganda who was involved in the Solheim Cup Europe.

Three over for the day. Par five. 499 yards and just off to the right.

Creamer setting off for a draw. That has scampered down, missing the

bunkers. The. In the middle of the fairway is a yardage and marker for

the players. That says she has hit it out 250 yards. This is for an

eagle. They don't help your scorecard. Yes! Dead centre for the

young Spaniard. That was a sick of a good move back hurts her back to one

over for the championship. She birdied on 15, eagled at 17 and now

has another par five to get her teeth into. Suzann Pettersen. Laying

alongside Katrina Matthew who is not going along very well at all. Suzann

Pettersen at one over. Three bogeys today, a couple of

birdies. Another birdie chance coming up. She is one of David led

that's stable of players he coaches and he rates her swing as the best

of the lot. That is some praise indeed. Nice to see plenty of

youngsters out watching the golf. Good crowds here and a great two

weeks of golf in this area, the open championship being played at Hoylake

next week. They do know their golf in this neck of the woods. Very

educated spectators. This is the young American amateur, Emma Talley

and out watching hair is Mark James. Yes, she looks very talented

indeed. 150 yards to this pin today. A friendlier position than

yesterday. I think she just dragged it a touch left. It's easy to set

pin positions that tees the players into chasing them and that's where

all sorts of trouble can accrue. Now she's made bogey at the last, as

soon as I joined the group she did well to make a bogey.

shot that because she can't have been hitting much more than a

7-iron. Just seems to have lost her appetite for the game slightly. Won

this title two times in the past but is now concentrating on playing

mostly in Japan. Appeared in the States on two occasions this year.

Well done. At ch championship last year she was trying to main four

Majors in a row. This year coming in somewhat under the radar. Dame Laura

with her second. Well, when the camera pulls out we

will see where the flag is. We knew from yesterday's flag position that

would have been - she's more room to work with today.

You can't be more dead centre than that.

Cries of anguish there. Well, the quality of the tee shot

hasn't been matched by the quality of the second so far.

That flag all the way at the back of the green. Yes, they could have

afforded to carry it to the heart of the green today. Yesterday it was

trying to bump it in that was the task.

I played in the championship here when Laura won and it's amazing to

me to see her still out there, loving it anteing it up. She's so

hungry for the game. Just trying to get back to level

par. Certainly gave that one a go.

Suzanne looking for a first victory in 2014. She did have some injury

problems earlier in the year, struggled with a back issue.

Back to 12 and problems for Jiyai Shin. Yeah, a problem here, and

although she's got a back swing it's not going to be easy, the ball will

come out low and running. A bank S on the right which she wants to get

close to. Anything within ten feet will be a good shot here.

I think she can get it out all right, I think control is the key.

It's going to come out low and skidding. And just really hard to

get it close. Well, I know it's a disappointing

that it hasn't come out, but she probably semibudgeted for that. It's

not an easy shot, but it's easier. Left herself a birdie chance but may

have wanted to get a bit closer. Now back to the 12th.

So take two. It really wasn't that difficult a shot, I didn't think,

but I don't know if she's trying to get too cute with it. This will be

easier from the flat of the bunker. Now it's getting really bad for her,

Mark. I am not sure what she's doing to be honest. It's not that bad a

bunker. She's taking quite a lazy swing at it. You want

bunker. She's taking quite a lazy face wide open and give it some

wellie. It's out. A chance to save a double

bogey. But what a costly couple of holes, she was going along pretty

well, fallen at the 11th and 12th. Ahead at 17, Korda, a long bunker

shot. And that was brave. She flew it all the way to the top level. And

not bad. Birdie putt for Laura. Uphill,

slightly off the right-hand side. Look at the high hand position. Come

on! She's looking more comfortable with

the putter in her hands this week than I have seen her for a while.

At the 18th hole, Munoz. May just be laying up here, Maureen. It's

difficult to see exactly how it's lying. But that seemed to have quite

a bit of loft on it. Got to avoid those bunkers, which she has done.

The lay-ups here at Royal Birkdale require some consideration because

you just have to plot your way around through the bunkers. You

can't just have a quick lash at it and hope to carry them. It's just a

thinker's course and that's what I love about it.

A distinctive upright back swing, with another one lasor-like at the

flag. It's unique. It's not a position you would teach but that's

the great thing about this game there's many weird and wonderful

ways of playing it. Jessica Korda Father a birdie at the 17th -- for a

birdie at the 17th. This is to get into red numbers. You have to look

back at the second shot, do you not, Maureen? Yes, heart of the fairway,

off the tee. Mid-iron. Well this is for a double bogey at 12.

At least she got that in, that's something. A bad run of form for

Shin. It's been 24 weeks at the top of the world rankings from May 2010

to February 2011. On and off, being world number one in that period. And

struggled withier in 2012, she had -- with injury in 2012.

An uphill from here. The greens are quick. This is on an awkward slope.

Will it be her first red number? She just hit that straight through

the break. Never really looked as if it was tracking at the hole at all.

Anything short will get dragged to the left. An awkward spot, difficult

to get at and difficult to putt to. I was watching her after a round

yesterday, must have been about 20 journalists gathered around her and

she started moving backwards towards the advertising board that there is

there and moved about 20 feet over the course of ten minutes as they

all got closer and closer, trying to get her comments after the round.

It's so intense, the intense media scrutiny that the Japanese players

endure at these tournaments. Creamer had a chance to reach the

green. This is her second putt. This will give you an idea of what slope

this is cut on. It's got a break from the right, despite it being a

short one. A nice roll. Beautiful putting

surfaces. A bit of bling there on the ankle,

Maureen. Yes, and name on the shoes. A lovely four. You have been

impressed by her, haven't you, Ken? I have been stunningly impressed,

actually. She's not short, but not long, but very accurate, great

attitude. But such a delightful touch around the greens. Lovely

putter. Another one boomed away by Korda.

She's a very long hitter. And has the distance, good chance for an

eagle at the closing hole for Jessica. Korda -- Jessica Korda.

Let's see what Laura can do here. You mentionled struggling with the

driver and went to the tee. You have a certain amount of talent to hit it

off the deck. But if you ever see Laura using tee pegs look out,

because she must be really, really confident.

A good chance to finish with a birdie. Could be an eagle birdie

finish for the Spaniard trying to boost level par for two days here at

the Ricoh British Women's Open. The players at the top of the board out

later. All those good scores yesterday came from the very early

starters who were - there were only a couple of late scores that

threatened par. Left to right-er, watch this putting

stroke. Last year she was the best in the world, man or woman. Didn't

quite have the read there. But that's going to be a very, very

secure birdie. So it's a birdie, birdie finish for

Park and a 72. To the 16th hole and Lydia Ko. Looking a little bit

anxious, that went down the right side.

The caddie, a new relationship for Lydia. She's been trying to find

someone that she jels with. How she rescued that round. Home in 36 48

per of 72. Very good work indeed. This 16th. Nice time to welcome in

Peter Alice. It has been a bright and breezy morning so far. Golf is

pretty lively, lots of birdies, but also lots of bogeys, I am afraid.

Paula creamer. Finding it hard work. Steady. It is OK.

Good crowd out watching the big groupings early on Friday. Suzann

Pettersen now. This is her third to the 17th.

Trying to get that want to trundle up but I'm not sure it is going to

get all the way to the back of the green. She will not be happy with

that one. Korda's second. She does not appear to like it very much. In

the sand? Yes! Could be worse places to be dandy greenside bunker. Dame

Laura. Second shot. 18th hole. 472 yards, an eagle chance coming up for

Dame Laura Davies. That will delight the crowd. Be nice to see her finish

with an eagle. She won't have seen the little hop over the corner of

the bunker either. Quite a few remarkable rounds going on. Several

Eagles this morning. The amateur remarkable rounds going on. Several

from Australia dropped three strokes in the first three holes will stop

then went par, eagle, birdie. 72 or anything under will be a very good

score today, as it was yesterday. 14th tee, this is Beatriz Recari

from Spain. Had a very good year in 2013. Hasn't had as good a season

this year. Two under for the day will stop --.

She is from Spain where they do the running of the bulls. Good swing.

Just find it interesting watching the different tempos and rhythms,

length of swings, particularly amongst the women. Those from the

far east, long, will we. Not very pretty swings but very effect give.

The others are more tight, compact and punchy. This is Suzann

Pettersen, she has a good swing. Coming up at the 17th. It was never

going to reach. It was half way, it was tired. Just having a rummage

football. Where Arnold Palmer hit his marvellous shot on his way to

winning the open championship on July the 16th, 1961. He did not do

it out of bushes that tight. He was a legend, but not that much of a

legend. Korda now at the bunker shot at the 18th. Nicely played. Bit of a

runner. She has had a bit of success on the

ladies tour but has never won in the knighted States. Travels with her

husband, who is her caddie and their daughter, Lola. It is quite an

effort going through the airports, with all of the luggage you need to

travel with a small baby. I don't envy them. Her name was Lola!

Lookout. There you are. She was a showgirl. But that was many years

ago. It is a hard life travelling with young. I have listened to Gary

Player travelling with his entourage. 84 bits of luggage, 14

children, or what ever it was. He did not have them all at once, mind

you. Dame Laura Davies for an eagle. That should be a birdie.

Laura will be here for the weekend. Has not made the cut in this

championship since 2010. 75 on day one but felt like she had played

better. It is a better day on Friday for Dame Laura, 72. Two birdies, two

bogeys. Suzann Pettersen now with a little

bit of work left for her par at the 17th. That is an interesting

routine, the dropping of the left arm and then placing it in the right

position. That is an expensive whole! She is such a good player.

But this is not a happy hole. She had to drop out of the bush. Now it

has gone to the left. Nasty. She has short sighted herself at the 16th.

Korda at the 18th, birdie putt. Shots can slip away. It is

extraordinary looking at the scoring sheets. The amount of bogeys, double

bogeys and also birdies. It is a real mixed bag. Paula Creamer hit it

in the lies in the left rough. I think play prudently. Chipped it

back into play. Slightly elevated green but plenty of landing area

towards the back left of the green. Currently where I am standing,

putting surface doesn't have a breath of wind. Unbelievable. This

is her third. Don't see too many days like this,

Peter in this championship? This coastline, Ireland gets in the wake

of it, but nothing else to stop it coming over from the Atlantic. 72.

She did not get a good finish. Only a drive and an iron for her today.

Not to birdie, is not exactly sinful. Good old timer, bring your

binoculars. Dust having a little kip. Steady breathing... Up and

down... Back to Beatriz Recari at the 14th

for a birdie. It really has been a tough season. She has struggled with

illness on a couple of occasions but her best finish, tied for 28th and

that was in Australia. She has missed seven cuts in 2014, which is

surprising considering the year she had in 2013. Been better today. It

can happen so easily in a part one especially if it enters from the

Greenside, you land on the down slope. Elevated green and the Green

running away from her. If she gets on the putting surface, she has

played a belter. Might be a bit ambitious. Open the face and chip

underneath it. Nearly brilliant. Awkward shot, we saw one at the

12th. It took a couple to get out. Nowhere to swing. It is one of the

features of so many links courses. Some people think they are unfair.

But they are called hazards. So try to avoid them! Early days, but the

scores going out at the bottom. You said there was no wind, can it be no

wind, Kenn? I have seen no movement. The 16th is covered by the sand

Junes. Have you seen any interesting wildlife? I have. I have seen some

wonderful butterflies. A hummingbird. This is your

favourite. I was watching Lord Bath this morning, he was in the

butterfly area. They are wonderful creatures all settling on the old

boy's knows. I think this has got to be one of the best courses for

butterflies. Why would that be? There is a great expanse of land

that helps them. At St Andrews, it has all been trampled away, but they

like being out, glittering around. Beatriz Recari has got through most

of the round incredibly well this morning. She is smacking one away on

15. It has skipped the bunker but the bubbly won't be able to get

there in two. clubhouse, they're fluttering a wee

bit. Very tranquil looking out across the bay. Wonder who they're

supporting? ! That was for a bogey, so costly.

It's going to be a double. All started with a slightlierant

drive into the bushes and you walk away with a double bogey. -- lightly

errant drive. You can learn a lot from Paula

Creamer's play here. It was in the rough, decided not to take a chance,

pitched out sideways and eliminated taking more than a five and given

herself a chance of a four. It's there. Perfect speed. Well

done. Have you given any thoughts to what

the qualifying score might be, Ken, for the final 36 holes? Well, after

one round it was plus four, scoring may be easier today, so it's

suggesting plus six, seven. Five, six, seven, that sort of thing? It's

hard to tell, if the wind picks up this afternoon it might be eight or

nine. Well done. I did see I think a sand

lizard, this is one of the few places you can see sand lizards, I

wasn't sure if it was sand or common. I am not sure they have a

great collection, but as you say, they're being squeezed out.

This is going to be her final hole of the championship. It's not been a

day to remember for Katrina. 13 over par for the round. Five bogeys in

the first nine, a six and eight and a seven coming home. Pettersen has

been struggling, as well. You never know, you wake up feeling

great and first shot goes into trouble and it's a struggle. Another

day, you go out, you don't feel all that great and you break the course

record. People try to explain it, but you can't.

No scores on the right mean they haven't started yet. Players near

the top of the leaderboard going out after lunch.

Matthew tapping in for an eagle. Very un-Matthew-like that round.

She's such a steady performer. A tricky chip, very fast from the

front. You have to get the ball landing softly and slowly, if you

can. You don't want too much fizz. Some of you may remember Ken

attached to the club for years, he had a wonderful touch around, slow

swing, difficult to play shots like that.

She nipped it, if you nip it and it doesn't stop that's pretty good, but

could do better. But it needs a different technique. Old-fashioned,

I am afraid, but true. Three eagles at the 18th hole today,

so that could make for an interesting day. Two par-5s to

finish and a good chance to better the score card. 17th tee and Paula

Creamer. The second rounds this year have not

been kind to Paula. She hasn't broken 70 in the second round since

February. Talley back on the 14th. A good tee shot, affording her a great

opportunity there which she has grabbed gladly.

Back to the 18th and Suzanne. Only had a couple of birdies. Four

dropped shots. This isn't a pushover either. It's 13, 14 feet, I suppose.

I am fascinated by her putting technique, Maureen, how she

addresses it and it looks as if she's going to putt cross-handed.

Extends her left arm down. Some little trick she's working on, in a

minute the left hand will appear down there. Oh, holding it away down

there. I don't know what that's all about. If it goes in, it works.

There you are, don't know why everybody doesn't do it!

Calm waters out there, Maureen. They can never be too calm for me, Peter.

I am in the same boat. I am not a water baby. I am not too happy on

the water. There is a great bit of golfing country and lizard country

and slow worm country. Ko has been having a few woes. A six

and seven, a couple of birdies would do a power of good.

67 yards for Recari. There is a bank short and left of the pin. She needs

to keep this just right of the pin. Just releasing a bit there. She's

not a long hitter but usually deadly accurate. A couple of seasons ago

was known as the iron woman of the LPGA tour, played 62 consecutive

tournaments on the LPGA and that takes some doing.

241 yards to the flag. Has to tip-toe over that and let it run on

to the green. Narrow target. 14 paces or so wide.

The club looks miles too big for her. Oh, over the top! Oh, you lucky

girl. She won't know where that is, she will have a big smile on her

face when she sees that. Oyama on 18 trying to tidy up with a

birdie. And a 72. Well-played, a much better day for the Japanese

player. The first seven players in of this second round all scored 72

which makes strange looking reading when you look at the scoring board.

Then we hit an 83 with Matthew. Sort of hit that bank. Hasn't got a

terrible lie. Not a bad angle of the flag. Could she have had a cut

terrible lie. Not a bad angle of the the green, Ken? Just too far back.

Both of them played... They were playing as a three-shot. She needs

to land this short of the tier on the green, let it dribble up. Over

is not good. Yeah, that's getting better all the

time. This was one of the strong

departments of Recari's game in last year's Solheim Cup.

So far there's been a masterclass in chipping from Ko. Spinning it, it

better sit. That was a bit risky. She will have

another challenge facing her when she gets up there.

Got to release it up. No birdies yet today.

Well, it was a very strange one that, wasn't it, Ken? It seemed to

be the wrong type of shot. The ball is sitting on the top of the grass,

and opened it. A switch back of a green this, lots of bumps and

hollows. Perfect golfing weather, perfect watching weather.

Laura is into the grub. 72 under the belt. Just sit here Father a little

while now and watch the world go by! -- for a little while now.

A beautiful free swing. Solid, sensible. Compact swing.

Workmanlike. Not many things to go wrong.

A long putt up the 17th, after that strange chip shot she played.

That was a beautiful pace putt. No nerves, stress required for the next

one. She's going to remain at one over par. Shot 72 yesterday. One

over so far today. 16 pars, one bogey on 13. A nice red number would

redress that. She's five over, she could do -

doesn't want to take any more than par on the last two holes. They're

two 5s. Particularly today because it's wide open birdie chances. Quite

quick from this side. Might move towards the tee for a - to the right

a little. Not much. Nice putt. Oh, didn't go. Just stayed out. I think

she thought it was in. So only a par-5.

hard, I am afraid. It was too hard. Just catch the edge of the wrong

speed and they spin away. That was a costly, untidy. Just a whisker too

much left and would not go in. Couple of sixes. Two sixes and

seven. You can see those are the early

starters beginning to show on the board. Azahara Munoz, two rounds

completed. A number of good scores coming in and a lot of nationalities

represented yet again. Acute strong players yet to go. Lexi Thomson and

carry web still to go. As we looked down, Georgia Hall becoming the

leading amateur yet again. Missed the bunker. But it saddled.

Just a thump down the fairway. 230 yards to clear the bunker. It is

basically the line the players want to take. Creamer should clear it.

She will fly it slightly longer than Ai Miyazato. But if in doubt you

need to go a little bit slightly left. That is a drill David Whelan

coaches, to keep the head level. Here she goes. Anxious. No longer

anxious. Yesterday there was a little bit more breeze, so the

medium length hitters were sailing over that. But once the wind drops

or switches into you, it is very much in play. Interesting, the

fairway to the right of it, fairway to the left of it. There is almost a

danger if you do clear it, of running into the next one. It is

like landing an aircraft carrier on a deck. It is so calm and

controlled. She is only 17. The wind is slightly helping but

almost directly across the angle of the tee shot. She has dropped eight

shots so far. She has got away with it. Will it stop? Yes.

That is why, if you are in a heavy rough, pitching out isn't the

easiest. All of those bunkers, two on the left, two on the right, can

catch you out. Beatriz Recari. Perfect for

difference. The Spaniard lives in Orlando now, she actually lives in

Sergio's old house. Going well. Could be. Pace again. With a little

bit more speed, it would not have gone. Just got it right, well done.

Last year's US amateur champion. That was the qualification that got

her into this championship. Meet Key said he has had good

showings in the past. There have been a couple of withdrawals. Bad

back for Christie Kerr. Not sure about Siri Pack, to be honest. The

young and -- amateur has had an amazing round. You can always tell

the one with dentures. They take it serene Lee. It is the ones with a

few fillings, ouch. Keep your mouth closed when you are eating!

If you go in that bunker up against the face you will not be able to

reach the green in three. The pin is in a much more accessible spot than

yesterday. Towards the back right today. If ever you are in this

situation and you cannot reach with this shot in hand, get the ball on

the fairway and then make sure you reach with the next. Six on the

card. It looked a heavy light, Kenn? It was, on the upslope. -- a heavy

lie. Beatriz Recari just sizing this up.

Good, solid seven iron. Right to left, not a difficult putt, but it

will be a bit slippery. She has been stalking this for a minute or two.

What a beauty! What a beautiful putt. I remember her holding all of

those putt, magic. Timed it to perfection. When she gets the

putting boots on, there is no one better. 239. She wants it to be

straight to run between the bunkers. She has not done it. That would have

been through the back of the green, I fancy, if it had got through the

gap. Not a bad spot to be. Good angles. Nice lie for Lydia. It looks

to have possibilities. Very well done. An opportunity to pick one or

maybe two up here on the last hole. May he said key, this for a birdie.

They are all finding their range now. I was in the second -- it was

in the second round of this championship last year that she had

a couple of Eagles at St Andrews. Finished tied seventh. That counts

as much as a 300 yard drive! Out in 33 with three drop shots. It is

pretty good. Two bogeys coming home. One under for the championship so

far. Famous old clock in the clubhouse. It is very comfortable in

there. It looks 1930s doesn't it? That was the style of it years ago.

Come on, let's see a good swing here. From 142. That will do.

Extraordinary rhythm, that swing? Amazing. She is only about five foot

two inches. She is not a very big person. An elongated swing. What are

they looking at? Tiny little tart. Ungainly looking -- tiny little tot.

As a footballer's warp. In 2010, she had five winds around the world. She

was consistently near the top of all of the scoring stats. Today she

still hasn't won a major. Great view of the hospitality unit here.

Good view of this swing. Quicker read them all together. Pushed it a

bit. -- rhythm. Beatriz Recari has had four birdies

today. This is more of a return to the form she enjoyed this year --

last year. 17th tee. Reachable par five. That came off the putter so

softly. Pretty long, too. Yes, three wins in America for Recari, very,

very competent player. A deft touch required from Ko. Oh!

You can't really be more deft than that. Delightfully played. Two in a

row. Ken's been singing her praises about the chipping and putting and

he knows a thing or two about that, but that was really lovely.

It's a closing birdie, but it's home in 39 for Ko. Two sixes and a seven,

that's not a bad score. Tacking that on to yesterday's 72, leaves her at

plus four total. Miyazato, a long birdie putt.

Travelling - moving right. She's had one dropped stroke and

that was at the 13th hole. Not a birdie. Very competent play. 73.

Should be an easy card to mark and sign.

This group have been a little behind all day. I hope there's no news at

the end of their rounds but I think they're OK. After a splendid bunker

shot, for a birdie. We have watched this a few times and you have to be

careful, if you are a bit weak and right-half it can dribble right

here. This needs to be struck nice and firm, dead middle. Like that.

Well done. That's a 73 for Creamer, that should

be good enough for the weekend. Top 65 players plus ties play at the

weekend. This is the emerging story on

another beautiful day in Southport. We have had terrible weather for

this event the last couple of years so this makes a glorious change.

Recari's momentum continued, at the 17th she had this putt, about 18

feet or so. Would it be back-to-back birdies? No danger. Down to 2-under

for the championship and well into red figures and surging up the

leaderboard. Here from a greenside bunker. That gives her a chance of

three birdies in a row. Very elegantly done.

And so was that. A superb round. Upstaging that of Ayako Uehara

yesterday. I got her reaction to that round afterwards.

A 67, the best round in this championship so far. A wonderful

finish, birdie, birdie, birdie, tell us about it. Yes, it was a great

day. I drove it really well all day long so that gave me a lot of

confidence. The putter behaved today. I made some really good putts

especially in the end so just really thrilled that I could put this round

together and that I managed to stay patient and do a good job out there.

You are probably pinching yourself, this is the second time in six

previous appearances you have made the cut here. Why have you suddenly

got to grips with lynks golf at this point? I learn from experience,

definitely many mistakes in previous years so I managed to learn a few

things here and there and I think in all lynks course it's vital to put

it on the fairway and I did that yesterday and today, that was the

key. You had a wonderful 2013, two wins and a debut on the Solheim Cup

and a real star in that victory over America. How difficult is it to try

to follow up a year like this and is this a real flash of that previous

form last year? Yes, it's been an eventful 2014, especially the

beginning with injuries and definitely expectations like you

say, definitely expectations are high after I consider my best year

on the LPGA and so it was tough but I learn from everything and all the

challenges just make you grow and I learned many things about myself and

about my game and I just worked on basics and worked on just getting

back on track and get confidence back and I feel really good and

could feel that way on the course yesterday and today and the score

reflects that. You have shown the way, keep it going. Thank you. Thank

you. So now a co-leader with Ayako Uehara. The Japanese player dropped

a shot early in her round. A three-way tie at the top.

Some of the great names as you look down the leaderboard. Par has been

one of the great scores the last couple of days, it's been tough for

all these players. There really is nothing like a Dame

and here she is, Dame Laura. Relieved to be with us for the

weekend because it's been a good few years have you been with us for this

weekend. That's right. Missed it, missed a few cuts already this year.

Any time you are on for the weekend, if the weather turns nasty anything

can happen. You want to be in with a chance. In your 30th year of playing

this great championship, and now as the latest member of Royal Birkdale,

you have something to live up to here. I know, yeah, local member

now. It's a place obviously I - I won it in 86 which is almost a

lifetime ago, it's good to be back. I remember finishing eagle-eagle

last time I think on the Saturday night, hoping to do that again

tomorrow and maybe have a chance on Sunday. You don't know. If things go

against you on - I saw electiony started with a ten -- Lexie started

with a ten today, anything can happen. You won it by a street, five

shots something like that, and the prize 28 years ago was rather

different to the elegant slender Cup that it is today. As you will see

Laura finishing here in the famous pink cardie, this was the prize. A

pair of candlesticks, very charming. Very nice. Different to the one they

give now. I am surprised I didn't drop that. They were a bit up

stable. We were looking through your 3046 year -- 30-year career here. I

remember the days, and here you are and it's amazing to think that you

have something like 84 worldwide victories and here you are

yesterday, this one going in the other day. Laura, it's an amazing

career to reflect upon. If I were to ask you which is the best victory of

your career and why what would you say? It has to be be the 87 US Open.

It opened doors for me. Turned up as a no-hoper and one of the greatest

prizes in women's golf and they allowed me to join the tour and

didn't have to go to tour school which was the best part, that was

it. 88 was my rookie year in America and it's gone well since. You

changed so many things, the he eligiblibility for the tour. Your

attitude, that's what people have really enjoyed. How much fun has it

been genuinely or is there some tigress inside you bursting to win,

is that what drives you? It's all about the winning. When you are

winning, if you are winning and not having fun there's something wrong.

I have been fortunate to win. When you are not doing so well it's hard

to smile. I am not very good at hiding my feelings. You can tell

when I am not doing well. Certainly over the years the victories are

what makes the game fun. Everyone wants to see people enjoying the

game and the best way is rolling in that 30-footer to win a championship

somewhere. Obviously the oldest player on the field at 5... Thank

you for that. You have kids here who are 30 years your junior and below.

What keeps you fresh, what makes you want to still compete against these

youngsters? I think the basic fact is I still think I am good enough.

That's the thing. My results recently in the last few years

haven't shown that but I know how I am hitting on the range, if I can

make more putts I can be in contention again. Not many people

probably think that because it's been a long time since I won on the

LPGA, two or three years since I won a tournament anywhere. I won a

seniors event two years ago. If you think in your own mind you can still

do it you definitely can. If I were to say, are you resetting your goals

as a Dame, clearly there are responsibilities one has to live up,

but in golfing terps what would fascinate -- terms what would be

Laura Davies Solheim Cup captain, is that a realistic ambition? It's not

something I particularly want to do, I am still going to try to qualify

for the Solheim Cup in Germany and just coming up to a year's time, so

that's the biggest thing, the thought of being a captain at any

stage hasn't entered my mind because I still consider myself a player and

want to keep playing. If there is one player on the circuit now that

reminds you of yourself in your pomp, who is it? Charley Hull

springs to mind immediately, has the same attitude, sees the pin and goes

for it. She will have a go. That's the way I always played my golf and

she impressed me very much two years ago when I played with her in

Morocco, one shot and I said this girl's good. Obviously at that stage

it was her first pro event and she's gone on well since then. How many

tournaments have you thrown away where little cautious might have won

you even more? You can't say that because the amount of shots I have

hit to win tournaments, you never got to be scared to fail. That's the

best thing. In Japan one year I had a shot to a par-5, I was eagle got

me probably second, maybe in a play-off, I made a ten. Went for it,

I went for it again and I walked off miserable that day. But another year

I knock it in the middle of the green and maybe win the play-off.

That's always been my attitude. I don't really want to change it. It's

great to see you here for the weekend and everyone will look

forward to seeing you over the next couple of days. Thank you for

joining us. We look forward to seeing Laura Saturday and Sunday.

Next week we will be looking forward to the turn of the men just down the

coast on the Wirral peninsula. Where we see a magnificent landscape

they see a hostile terrain, the magic of the Open starts 17th July

across the BBC. And magical it should be, the 143rd

Open championship. We will have highlights this weekend of events at

the Royal Aberdeen Club. Rory McIlroy is tuning up nicely. We

saw 64, course record from him yesterday.

In fact, Scotland will be under the sporting microscope shortly again, a

week on Wednesday at the start of the 20th Commonwealth Games.

Wednesday. I have another visitor in the studio. The most beautiful

crystal trophy. This is the Solheim Cup. Played for by the European

women against the top American professionals. It has been going

since the 1990s. This is your big event. It is heading to central

Europe in Germany and that is a bit of a coup in central Europe, how

much German who you speak? Not enough. I have a year to learn will

stop I took French and Spanish in school but I will work on my German.

It will get a great welcome over there because there are some great

German players hoping to get into this team. What impact is this

competition having on women's golf after Europe won for the first time

on American soil last year in Colorado. How do you sense this

competition is evolving? You can feel the interest growing. A lot of

people watched the Colorado matches. People who like golf, people not in

golf, it is raising women's golf a lot. Coming to Germany now, we are

so excited. They are ready to have the best Solheim Cup ever, they say.

I believed them. Europe going for three in a row, which would be

unprecedented. It has had an impact that thumping defeat, 18-10, for the

Americans. It has had an impact on the American players. American

players seem to have reclaimed their own tour with nine US victories so

far. I bet they wish this was this year and not next? I am happy we are

not playing them this year. But you never know, we still have a good

game. It is nice to see so many American girls play well on their

own tour. But it is nice for others in Europe to see the American girls

performing. The win in Colorado was amazing, to beat them on their own

ground for the first time and with those numbers, it was very

exciting. Does it show the strength of the European tour as well?

Obviously, quite a lot of players were Rockies at the time and began

to show exactly what they were capable of? Definitely, the quality

of golf on the tour is growing. I am out playing a few events every year

myself and there are so many young girls, so much talent. Charley Hull

came out last year and played so great. She played a very good

Solheim Cup, being that young. She is not the only one. So many young

girls coming out, it is so much fun to see. You were assistant captain,

what kind of captain do you hope to be this year? I will try to be

pretty relaxed. The last captain was calm and collected and I will try to

copy that a little bit. What we did so well in Colorado, we had the best

team spirit and so much fun together. So many good laughs. I

will build on that and have a fun week together. We had a get-together

here on Wednesday at the open. It was fun to see a lot of the girls.

We have had some good laughs already. That is a big part of it,

have a good time together. The European team seemed to do that

easily. We don't have a hard time getting together as a team. I will

try to be a fun captain, I guess. What will you learn from this

year's Ryder Cup at the needles? Can you watch the male professionals

going about their business? I have never been to the Ryder Cup and I

will be able to go this year. I am excited to be able to go and pick up

anything I can from them. It is a great excuse to get a ticket. That

is what I thought. A quick word about this championship, how it has

evolved and these fantastic conditions we are playing in. It is

amazing, it is always like this in England. It is absolutely beautiful

out there and the condition of the course is as good as it can be. It

is good to see some of the European girls playing well. It goes without

saying, we wish you all the best. Look after this little beauty. I

will, for sure. We will see some of her European potential, team members

over the coming hours. These are some of the top names we will be

watching today. The leader over night was Ayako Uehara. Charley Hull

made such an impact last year. After a positive start for Morgan

Pressel, she presses her case for a win at St Andrews. She is out with

Anna Nordqvist of Sweden. A few shots to update you with at the

moment. That was a fine round of 70 or the former US open champion. Her

overnight leader, a birdie putt at nine to go back into the outright

lead. It has been an up-and-down round for the young Japanese. Three

bogeys and three birdies. This is at the very next hole and she will be

out of the lead. That was for her par. Her fourth bogey of the day. A

roller-coaster round for our overnight leader. This is how it

looks: Sun Ju Ahn, nicknamed big mamma

making her way up the leaderboard. We go back to our commentary team.

Out on the 11th green, Morgan Pressel. Sorry, that was Stacy

Lewis. Let's go down to Mark James. Pressel. Sorry, that was Stacy

Lewis. Let's It was indeed Stacy Lewis. Two fine shots. Left her with

a tricky birdie putt. Lewis has stayed the same. Is the breeze

getting up at all? There is a little bit of winds, it is no more. Not

much of a problem will stop quite a benign day for the links. Charley

Hull with an absolutely lovely second shot. She has been rewarded

with probably the easiest putt you can get in this position. Downhill a

touch, but not desperately quick. It finished right on top of her

partner's marker. In fact, I suspect Lewis' cloying stopped it rolling a

bit further. They will be fiddling around a bit trying to move various

markers. Good around a bit trying to move various

for Charley Hull. She has had two bogeys, one birdie. A couple of

pars. But they have been comfortable pars.

Amy Yang with a chance for an eagle at the 18th. This for a round of 71.

Going to be back-to-back days to finish the day for Amy Yang. She is

in the hunt to win her first major championship, heading into the

weekend. 71, 72. Quality player. Won her

first tournament at 16. Quickly to Charley Hull. Smacked it into the

middle with no-nonsense. Identical putt now. Well done. But

another one goes adrift. The overnight leader is slipping down

the board. Two under, now. Problems at the 13th for Holly Clyburn. She

went into the long graphs. This is her third. When you hit one shot in

trouble, you have got to play safe. If in trouble, get it out and start

A reminder of the situation here. again. Don't compound and error.

A reminder of the situation here. Beatriz Recari has lit up this royal

but they'll course with 67. She is having her lunch and looking forward

to the challenge over the next couple of days. Sun Ju Ahn, is also

a winner already twice. Back to the 10th green we go. Morgan Pressel,

chance for a birdie. Good try. Ninth appearance in the

British open. She is almost a veterinarian her mid-20s. Yes,

started young. Seems to enjoy these links greens. Has promised a couple

of decent putt. Lovely condition is out here. Sunshine and a light

breeze. Almost perfectly blue sky. Onto this beautiful par 3/12 hole,

Stacy Lewis. -- par three, 12th hole. Couple of bunkers. That looks

lovely. Beautiful bit of draw in. The flag is virtually still. More

often than not this whole plays in a hefty crosswind from right to left.

152 yards. This 12th is playing today. Charley Hull will be trying

to keep this up to the right. Not too far. It looks pretty safe.

Well, all three safely aboard the 12th.

It's a lovely corner of the golf course.

The 13th, Holly Clyburn. And that was not what she needed. 13th hole

looking to be quite costly for Holly Clyburn. From the elevated 11th tee.

352 yards. That's a brave one. She was the first player to record a

hole in one in the Solheim Cup matches which she did in Denver,

Colorado, rather timely at the 17th. It ended the match. Yeah, I think

the opponents had... They had a shot to tie. That's not very appetising.

She was playing with Caroline, the two Swedes. A tremendous week for

the Europeans in Denver. A nice little shot. I am surprised

to see her at seven over par. She looked in complete control of her

game in the run-up top the championship. She did, I felt she

went out yesterday on a relatively calm day and tried to play a lot of

wind shots which to me the conditions didn't exactly require.

She could have played a more normal game.

There's really nothing you can do except get it back out on the

fairway from here. You have no options. It's chop it out and get

going again. Lucky bounce. That will work out

pretty well indeed. You can make up the score on the back nine. She

needs to play it in probably three or four under. Introduced to the

game by Tiger's father. He was her first coach, she had a close

relationship with her grandfather. 35 feet uphill for Uehara. Good safe

tee shot. She can give this a fair whack up

Par-3 steadies the ship a little bit. There is today's work so far.

Just a bit more! That's going to be a double bogey, I am afraid. It's

been a good year, though, for Holy. -- Holly. Hopefully Charley Hull

will have seen her opponents putt. Well, she had seen it and hit it

further right. Never had the confidence to hit it hard enough,

simple as that. You can see on her right leg some of that, I can't even

say it, the tape they have. She told me yesterday she was off to the

physio to get treatment on the back of her leg, it was a bit tight.

Everybody is using that tape, Maureen. If you have any money you

might want to invest in it. Yeah, I wish I had invented it! Michelle Wie

had it on her leg at the US women's Open. A par for Michelle. Michelle's

battled injuries, multiple injuries in her career. Seems to be healthy

at the moment, apart from that leg which is a bit sore. Stacy Lewis

with a birdie. players suffer from injuries. As you

mentioned there, Wie has had a lot of injuries, Pressel has suffered,

as well. You wonder are they putting their bodies through too much at a

young age? Charley just leaked that one, that was a careless dropped

shot there. Very, very unlike her. It was unlike her to leave the first

putt short. Might be her biggest strength but also her weakness,

she's a little careless. Seems to go about her business and not worry

about it too much but then on those short putts sometimes she let's them

slip by. She's usually good at putting that behind her. At the

11th. Second shot for Pressel. Played well in this championship

last year. Led after the first round. Led going into the final

round but shot 76 to finish tied for fourth.

She was in the deep stuff off the tee remember. Putting across her

shadow. It's got to move... Not enough.

Good start there with three birdies in the first six holes. That has not

proved to be the easiest scoring part of the course so far.

This is for a birdie. She needs some birdies on the back nine.

There we go. Lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Her uncle, Tiger, bases

himself in Florida, which is probably about a four-hour flight

from Phoenix. Lewis, has a club in her hand that

cannot reach there. There we have a look from the tee.

You see the rank of three bunkers down the right side. In 2010 that

right-hand rough was very sparse and the players bombed it down there.

That bunker on the left is the one they need to miss off the tee. Then

it's a very flat approach to this big circular green. Bunker trouble

is at the front and a few humps and hollows off the back, but it's all

about the tee shot. Just a sea of bunkers up there. 350

to the first bunker on the left. 274 to the far one. It looks like Stacy

Lewis may have stopped short. This is hit up the right.

She's having a busy time that marshal down the right. Let's see if

Charley can regroup after that rather careless, unnecessary putt at

the last. Well, it was heading towards the

right bunkers, we will have to wait and see where that one finished.

You were saying earlier how well she performed at St Andrews last year.

That fourth place finish got her into an automatic spot for the

Solheim Cup, her fourth Solheim Cup. It was an important week for her

because up to that point she was not in the team.

Good shot from Michelle. She worked on the range late in the day with

David Leadbetter. This is Webb on 14.

That's pretty handy. She needs to pop that one in and then go for a

Recari-type finish over the last four holes.

Recari-type finish over the last Yesterday the cut, remember it's 65

players plus ties, was sitting on plus four and frequently what you do

is you double it and take one off. So the players will be looking at

plus seven. But conditions are benign, so you are thinking plus

six, plus seven. 302 yards to the front of the green.

-- 203 yards to the front of the green. I don't think she's really

going anywhere, it's a question of playing a sensible recovery, just a

wedge probably towards the bunker. 120 yards ahead of her up the right.

That would be the safe play. A good time to - that looks like Mark James

It can't be the old boy having a kip! He is his double. You can't

trust anyone. Holly Clyburn. A little bit off her right.

Here is Michelle, who's going to have to battle to qualify.

APPLAUSE Nothing really happening for her.

Michelle famously had many years combining her golf and her studies.

Was whenless in that time, but let's go to in order in order. Golf and

her studies. Was whenless in that time, but let's go to in order in

order -- go to Nordqvist. A fine approach giving this fine putter

another birdie opportunity which she snaps up with gusto.

This for a par. My goodness, a little too steamy.

She's hoicked it left towards the spectators. That could be right on

the edge of the thick stuff. That could leave her another difficult

shot. It's a delightful day with, for this part of the world, a modest

wind. With the thick rough, speedy greens, it is a monster test. But as

I was told by a lady in high places, this is a Championship and we want

to go to great places. It is certainly hard work. Charley Hull is

in the right-hand trip. Hit it out sideways. A bit risky to go forward.

She's got 201 yards to the pin. Something like a four or five iron

pitching round the front edge I would guess.

Stacey Lewis. Thinking about the qualifying score, if it's the six

over there'll be a lot of players will be four over and six over. 1 6

pin for Stacey Lewis. Yers will be four over and six over. 1 6 pin for

Stacey Lewis -- 166 pin for Stacey Lewis. She's got an eight iron.

A very impressive strike. Exactly as Mark James suggested. That's

excellent. Two excellent shots. Lewis has the honour of wearing a

green bib with the Rolex rankings on it. Number one in the world. It is a

little bit like the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France. The other

caddies have to make do with white and red ones. Does he get some

special honour, do you know? Uehara on the right. Could be in an

awkward spot. Just a word for you. If you happen to be interested in

golf and you've got someone with a computer, or better still can work a

computer, work out getintogolf.org. It is all going a bit Pete Tong, to

be honest. 108 yards from the left rough. Although it is not a

desperately difficult one, she's got to be careful here to take her

medicine. Can she reach the green from her lie, Mark? I think so. But

it is long rough and she seemed comfortable with her second shot. It

seemed that a wedge she went with. Went with way more than that. Who

knows what she's got in mind? If she gets tangled up she could end up by

that white sign or towards it. You've got to be very careful here.

Aiming to the green marker. Right of that by the camera tower. She's got

to take the club back through the long grass and get it down, back to

the ball through the long grass. Trouble again. Missed the sign,

Peter, but - A dangerous shot, particularly

when you were not massively powerful.

The course is taking no prisoners and it is very much accuracy off the

tee that's of vital importance. A long narrow target of two evil

bunkers at the front of the green but you can come in bit. That might.

We saw when well up the hill, came down five or six feet away, so you

can be lucky. Not a big face on this bunker. The

one thing you need clear is club head speed.

Michelle Wie. Playing for position down the left side. That's good.

Some of you will remember, if you are coming to Hoylake next week for

the Open Championship, how Tiger Woods plotted his way around. I

don't think he used a driver more than two or three times.

Here's Pressel. Found trouble. An interesting swing

there. She's so quick at changed direction at the top. So fast with

her body action, it throws the club slightly outside the line. Lincicome

for a par and it ain't going to do it. She's been on a good roll.

Things can come to an end so quickly around here. Back to par. 4 over for

the Championship. A long bogey putt now for Uehara. A

strange bunker shot. Catching the sand just before the ball, a

dangerous way to play this shot. Right to left, not a hard putt but

lengthy. It must seem like a bit of a never ending hole for the Japanese

player. It's been a truggle from the tee and it's going to take six of

her not so very best shots. -- struggle.

CLEAR She's got a few bogeys sprinkled in. I don't know whether

the weather's deteriorated or the wind is getting more difficult or

pressure is beginning to tell, but dozens of sixes and sevens of the

score card. Still a lot of birdies. This is a strange mixture, looking

at the score card. Stacey Lewis popping one in... Oh,

Stacey, Stacey. Stays one-under par. Deserved a birdie there. Three

beautiful shots. But only a four. Just not the greatest of lies.

Settled down fractionally on the down slope. This is where the

ability to accelerate the club quickly to get the ball up. A tricky

shot. That was wonderfully played. APPLAUSE

The club entered the sand just at the right angle. Everything worked

out perfectly. The best front nine of the day has been posted by the

amateur Georgia Hole, birdies at four, seven and nine. She's moved up

to 2 under for the Championship. Charley Hull slips past the edge.

Still a couple of lone scores under 70. Very few players-under par. It

is a tremendous battle for 80% to qualify for 30%. Big reward for

those that can do it. The main thing is footing the final 36 holes. Hose

that can do it. The main thing is footing the final 36 holes. The --

the main thing is to get into the final 36 holes. Georgia Hull from

Devon, the youngster. Wanted to turn professional in April this year but

says it is a struggle to find the fund to enable her to do so. Surely

she will get financial support, because this is a wonderful

performance from this young lady. Two under for the Championship so

far. She was the coleader in the amateur stakes in this Championship

last year with Lydia Ko. The youngster, who is the daughter of a

plasterer from Devon, she's really loved this game ever since she was a

child. She was only nine years of age. She's a real talent and going

very well right at the top of the leaderboard in this great

Championship. Great to see her playing so well here at Royal

Birkdale. Back to another major winner, Anna Nordqvist. Just in time

to join Anna and her birdie celebration. How right Hazel was.

Hannah's first win was in 2009, her only major Championship win to date.

She's had a couple of Wednesday this year. R only major Championship win

to date. She's had a couple of Wednesday this year -- wins this

year. A couple of them. Pressel's got this a yard to save

her par. Yesterday she had 22 putts. These are tricky fast greens.

Michelle Wie. Nicely done. That's OK. Coming up nicely.

Right at the flag. Beautifully tracked. Lovely shot from Charley

Hull. She was doing all right until we

arrived. 164 yards. The others hit 7-irons.

Uehara has a five. It will be hard for her to hit at the pin and stop

it. She gave it a fair bit of height, straight for the middle of

the green. Hanging on nicely. Deceptive when they use the clubs

which are shaped like the old-fashioned woods. You think it

must be a four or five and you suddenly find it has a six or 7-iron

loft on it. Swing those arms. You don't see many people swinging like

that. Get those arms moving. What do you really think of it,

Maureen? It is hard work. One has to be sensible but it is painful to

watch. It is so hard, I am sorry. Well, I think one of the major

differences between the men's and women's golf is obviously the

strength in the forearms. Rough like this is so penalising for the women.

Great river. We have seen Brittany Lincicome in the rough, and she is

one of the strong players. She was really struggling to advance the

ball at all. As for getting control out of the rough, it is difficult. I

think the Greens are drying out as well. Royal Birkdale always sets a

very stiff challenge. All of the Championship courses. They are great

courses, wherever they go to play. I like to climb, but I prefer the

Pennines to Everest. There is no disgrace walking either way. That

tee shot flying out the right has gone way to the right. You have to

be... It is so penal. 3D pen pops down the right and further down the

fairway couple more. A little bit of fade is ideal.

This one doesn't give many birdies away. A good swing.

Georgia Hall, patting out after a weak first putt. -- putting out.

Well done. She played on the Curtis cup team in the States. Stacy Lewis

was the very first Curtis cup player to record five wins out of five, at

Saint Andrew 's, the first year that it moved to five series of matches.

This sort of chip is very easy in your 20s. In your 40s, you are not

sure whether to putt. She played it nicely but it did not trickle out.

If you look at the yardage book in the back of her pocket, it has

Razorbacks written on it. I think that is her football team. College

football team, is it, Tom is giving me thumbs up. Michelle Wie.

6-over. She needs this one. Come on. You have to earn your keep now,

Michelle. Those secret little runs. Birdie

missed. Hopefully the next one goes in.

Should have been a birdie. I wonder how many people will be trying that

patting style over the weekend. Not many, Peter, I don't believe. It is

one thing getting into that position, another getting out of it.

It is just over 18 months since Charley Hull turned professional. It

is amazing, really, because already she seems to have been around for

quite a long time. A golden opportunity here, after a wonderful

tee shot over the flag. All the way for Charley. Excellent. A very well

come birdie. She had a birdie two on the fourth as well. Back to plus

three. Have you noticed how she salutes the crowd, with the hand

going up? It is interesting. I think she has copied a few of Paula's

moves. Interestingly enough, she said that Morgan Pressel taught her

how to wave to the crowd when she was nine and she played with Pressel

in this programme at live. -- at Royall the thumb.

Lovely tee shot from Morgan Pressel, decent distance and down

the left, giving a better angle at Pressel, decent distance and down

the flag. 176 left, down breeze, so the ball will release a little bit.

Always looks like she is setting up slightly for a draw. They are just

trying to judge the bounce. There is a ridge which would kill it. Getting

the flight just right. right. Her trademark twirl at the

top of the backswing. This is a dangerous hole. Another one goes

ripping by. You can become frustrated and angry.

That is no good. Four birdies, and still a bit of a

struggle. Michelle Wie was a major winner

couple of weeks ago at the US open. That has just drifted off. If you

are wondering about news of the other major winner, Thomson, who

shot 72 yesterday, but opened with ten today at the 1st hole and is

currently plus five for the Championship.

Suzann Pettersen, unbelievable to think she has only taken two Majors

so far. Play goes on here until eight p.m..

Laura Davies is around for the weekend, we are delighted to say.

A little uphill from Morgan Pressel. The ball seemed to hop a little.

Four is always a good result on 13. It has produced a number of bogeys.

Who is that? Wonderful collection of head covers and accessories. That is

why golf is such a wonderful game. A good shot, you can sell the punters

all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff. From tip to toe, they come

in. If you have a few members with a few bob and some silly extravagance

is, it is wonderful. Welcome back, Tom. Thank you, Peter. Georgia Hall,

second shot to the 11th. I spoke to her before she teed off today. She

was very excited, having shot 73 on day one. She turns professional

after the Championship. I hope she gets some invites, Peter, because

she has played tremendously. Yes, it is nice when they getting carriage

man, because you have to consider when to stop. She obviously has

talent which needs nurturing, not smothering.

about the club selling greating 15 years of

about the club selling greating 15 years of its existing -- 125 years

of its existence. Epsom Golf Club also celebrating 125 years.

Wilmslow, Macclesfield. There won't be many more centenaries until the

mid 2020 because of the First World War. Congratulations to all of them.

1250 years of more centenaries until the mid 2020 because of the First

World War. Congratulations to all of them. 1250 years of golf -- 125

years of golf. 500 yards this. The bunker at the left is 220 to carry

it. The wind has pepped up a bit now. Two big hits to get up here in

two. And that's a corker! Uehara doesn't have Hull's length,

the bunker won't be a factor for her. She won't be able to get up in

two either, I wouldn't have thought. It is a good 12 miles per hour wind.

Accuracy is the name of the game for her.

Things are not going her way at the moment. Uehara, who led after the

opening round, really struggling at the moment.

Michelle Wie at the 14th, deciding to putt it.

A disappointing bogey. Not too bad a tee shot or

A disappointing bogey. Not too bad a be keen to get that back. That's

going awfully close to the bunkers. He's going to be... That that's got

to be difficult. She's got to get that up over the bunker lip. She'll

be very conscious of it, Mark. It is easy to drive into it that face or

into the hill. Anna Nordqvist for three birdies in a row.

Not to be. Won a major Championship in 2009 and didn't have full status

on the tour. Won again later that year. It took her a little while to

win her third event. In fact 95 starts on the LPGA Tour. Morgan

Pressel for a par. It is looking beautiful here at

Royal Birkdale. Uehara has dropped down. Coming home she's had two

bogeys and a double and is now in a tie for seventh place.

Can Michelle Wie make the cut now? That's the big question. She's one

of a few of very big names the the women's game struggling he. That's

hard to believe with the way she's played over the last few weeks.

Played in the final group of the final day. Lost to Lexi Thompson,

who won the Women's Open at Pinehurst.

Didn't work on that occasion, the new putting style. She's a member of

the Bears Club, Jack Nicklaus's club in Florida. She said there are old

pictures of Jack and he was quite bent over when he was in his prime.

Have you ever been to the Bears Club? I have. Very smart too. Very

nice indeed. It is a very fashionable place to be for golfers

now in that part of the world. This is the first time I've had a

good look at her swing. What part of the world is this girl from? From?

She's new on the scene. Devon. An old Devonian girl. Plays at park

stone. Really? They've kept it quiet from me then. There's one of those

little... It didn't quite kick back on to the green, but not bad. I wish

her all the very best. Looks good. Ayako Uehara is staring up the

fairway. She's continuing her policy of aggression out of the rough.

That's fine. Wasn't much she could do. Any chance of reaching in three?

Should be able to reach. She'll have about 200 to the front but it will

be a fair hit for her. The wind's not helping a lot. The other two

girls could reach two. Uehara can just about get there. That looks a

long way to me. Morita makes the birdie.

APPLAUSE Battling to make the cut. And it is

a battle, Tom. It is very hard work when they deserve everything. And

it's a beautiful day. It is hard work. Mark James send they can knock

this on. If anyone can do it, he can.

The ball will tend to draw in across the front of the green. Oh, Mark.

She knobbed it. I don't know whether that ran into a bunker or up the

fairway. A tight lie. Let's see if we can spot it here. She really

launched herself at it. I see. Hit that little bank in front. With the

other ball, it has to climb over the bunkers. That's more difficult.

Dangerous. I'm told that Charley Hall's ball is in a bunker. But

information from Marshall is notoriously inconsistent. Stacey

lieu sis going with an iron. She didn't clear it by much. That's not

good. . The fairway is the right-hand side. A misjudgment,

wrong alignment, I don't know what it is, but luckily there's someone

there or it might have been a lost ball.

Interesting that, Peter, the lip of the bunker got into her head,

because it shoot have been a simple shot. Once you are conscious of it

and you play e been a simple shot. Once you are conscious of it and you

play that short -- it should have. The little one is playing her third.

Let's see if she can miss trouble. Uehara, the biggest club in the bag

that's not a driver. My goodness me, that was some form of mass panic.

Missed that fellow in the blue shirt, but it is waist deep. I don't

think you're going to enjoy it when you find it.

Oh, dear. Feng on the tee at the 12th.

That looked a nice shot. That's a beauty.

I haven't seen anyone near the flag for a couple of which hours.

Georgia Hall had an invite to play in April but couldn't afford to go,

which I find quite sad really. If she's playing golf at park stone I'm

sure some of the lads there I left 40 years ago, or their sons, will

chip in and give her a helping hand. It is all happening here. She's

topped it up the fairway but it's OK. She's hit it over the bunker, I

should say. I'm getting a little tizzy here. The other two players

aren't in good shape. Is your pulse racing? Does it bring back horrible

memories? It does died, Peter. Not distant enough ones. Charley's

third. Just when you want to bounce, it stops and when you don't want it

to run, it charges through the back. It is very annoying, but that's

modern links golf. It is amazing how the game has

spread through the Far East. It appeared in Japan, Thailand and

Korea. Over the last ten years China has blossomed. They used to creep

over from Hong Kong and build a few courses. It is really taking over.

Any news, Mark? What's on? There's a lot of staring happening. She's

calling for an official but I'm not sure why. It is a bad line. It is

not that easy to get it out from this life. The ball will be way

below her feet. Oh, dear. This is very hard work. When you see the

best players struggling like this, I suppose it pleases some people who

think, serves them right, let them suffer.

Come on Christie, roll him. In yes! A character.

Pressel's left herself easy as possible putt from 12 and a bit

feet. Very slight movement from the left up the hill. This is cut on an

awkward spot. Very few birdies here today. Not too much to report.

Uehara is sizing the shot up. Lewis appears to be waiting but it's not

that easy for Uehara to get it out. It looks a horrible place. The one

good thing is it is an uphill lie, which makes it easier to make

contact. Fourth shot. how far it went. Georgia Hall,

making par. Her instructor, Dan Frost, is her caddy this week. Is

this the cavalry arriving? Oh, my goodness me. We didn't really

understand. What it is is that they go every place and if you start to

move one, things are moving. There is no relief from them. They are

warning you to be careful not to... OK, we are going to do an

unplayable. It is obviously the middle of something. What is she in

the middle of, Mark? I cannot tell you. She said if you move one, you

move another and it could make... I don't know what she could be in the

middle of there. Yes, the referee pretty much dismissed any claim for

a free drop. She has measured two club lengths and she will be playing

her fourth shot. Howell is on for four. Uehara has played four. It is

carnage at this hole. On some courses, the ball seems to

gather into the hole. On these, it just whizzes past the edge. Time and

time again, well struck putts are not going in.

Lewis, had her drop. She has indeed. 100 odd yards to go. Difficult

control. -- difficult to control. Very hard to get this within ten

feet. The players had an note, apparently, about being careful when

they are around the bramble bushes. They may move the branch ten feet

from the ball but it is connected and the ball moves and they are

penalised. The official from the United States golf Association was

warning her that she has to be careful because she could move the

golf ball and be penalised. She did not get it far, did she?

You just have to log it up and let it chase up. That is going left. My

goodness me! It has gone right into the edge. My goodness. When you come

to the end of a perfect day. I was reading an article yesterday

about royal clubs. There are 66 around the world, including Royal

Birkdale. The most recent was one in Hamburg, which gained royal status

in April last year. There was one in Czechoslovakia not so long ago. It

used to be if one of the royal family came and had a game. The old

story went long ago, couple of people thought they were royal clubs

but they in fact were not. One or two stories over the years about

some clubs which didn't let the right people in, or refused entry to

the juke of Windsor or something. There are a few old stories rustling

around. King Edward, the one who was in the early 19 hundredths, he

played golf. And the Duke of Windsor, who abdicated in 1936, he

would go and play and then the club would write and say, can we say we

are a royal club because you visited? Buckingham Palace would

say, yes, you can. The Duke of York has promoted a couple of clubs since

taking up the game. It is a nice thing to have. The latest in a

succession of miserable lives for Uehara. She has to hit this quite

hard -- miserable lives. That is a great result. A little

unlucky that it just pulled up. She just could not make it stop. She

has fallen outside of the top 50 in the world, struggling over the last

year or so. Stacy Lewis, fifth shot. I think Mark James was right, there

is a bit of a melt down here. I think the golfing brains are

becoming a little bit scrambled. Open Championship next week. Tickets

are available on the gate. The great thing about the Championship, they

don't put a limit on how many people come along. If you are under 16,

accompanied by a grown-up, you can come for nothing. If they are

paying! Play will start at about half past six and there is something

for everybody. If the weather is nice, which we all pray for. Well, I

wouldn't know... I was going to say I wouldn't know whether that was

granny or grandchild from That was quite a haircut, wasn't it?

They are all traipsing about. They are going to break camp in a minute.

Stop it! Shanshan Feng. First player from mainland China to qualify for

the LG PA Tour and went on to win a major a few years ago, as Hazel

mentioned. She was a winner at the end of last

year. That was done in Naples, Florida, where they play the shark

shoot out. Great place to be in November. Bogey putt for Lewis, and

another one slips by. You will remember this 15th hole.

What do you think, one player starts to struggle and it brings the whole

group down? It can do. I have been laughed at many times, but I have

always said I think sport is wonderful when it goes well, and

when it does not it is cruel. It is the hardest profession. I watched

the Cricketers and golfers, and you lose form and dozens of people tell

you what you are doing wrong. It is not easy. Wonderful when it is

wonderful. Coming round. It has stopped on the bank.

It is going to be a triple bogey for Uehara. What a difference a day

makes. Eight. We just said when she was on the tee, one of the

straight, good drivers. You said if you are short you want to be

straight. Look at that, six, three, eight. It brings you down. What a

struggle. You have to collect your thoughts before reaching the 16th,

and don't blow some more shots. 21, full house. Now they really have

to regroup, because they could have thrown away the chance of being here

for the weekend if this continues. She is very determined, so it

wouldn't surprise me if she went birdie, eagle, birdie to finish, if

something kicks into gear. Not often we see the umbrella for

the sunshine. It has been grand, a fascinating day. Maureen is

adjusting her dress and is going to sit down and give us the benefit of

her great wisdom. She will tell me to shut up, but I love her dearly. I

leave you in charge for a few minutes and look what you do! That

may bring you up-to-date with Alexey Thompson. She shot 72 yesterday and

opened ten, five this morning, going 7-over par. She has had all par,

birdied the seventh, ninth and 15th, back to plus four for the

Championship. Georgia Hall, a neat little chip but it has run on too

much. Last year's British amateur champion. Enjoyed her time in

America in the Curtis cup this year. That has trundled up nicely.

Michelle's best finish in this Championship came here at Royal

Birkdale the first time she played as an amateur in 2005, when she

finished tied for third that week. I would imagine there are a few deep

breaths being taken on the 16th tee. Ever aggressive, she is out

breaths being taken on the 16th tee. driver. She has hit it a long way up

in the air and it looks pretty good to me. Perfect. Have you recovered

from the 15th? It was entertaining. Everything happened. Someone even

got a ruling because of a plant. Most peculiar. There was a stunned

disbelief of silence from the spectators. They are now laughing at

me. I think Tom is right. Stacy Lewis is not world number one for

nothing and the measure of a great player is how they bounce back from

adversity. So let's just watch her go over

these last three holes. regroup. That looks more like it.

Straight up the middle. Christina Kim from the back of 13.

The shoulder on the left-hand side will throw the ball to the right. In

fact she missed that shoulder. That was coming back t'other way. A

wonderful character. Effervescent but did admit last year to suffering

quite badly from depression and decided she would

quite badly from depression and about it to give those in the same

situation a bit of hope. She's a wonderful character.

Georgia Hall, the third shot to the back of the green. This for a bogey.

A little fist pump. You can tell how much it means for her. This is a

huge stage for Georgia Hall and she is right up there at the moment.

Just got to keep the doubles off the card. A good chance to finish with a

few birdies. A wee scuttler for Michelle. Nicely done. A linksy-type

shot, that one. I first saw Michelle playing in the Curtis cup in 2004 at

form by. She could play those little links-type shots even when she was

just a 14-year-old. Let's see if we can see who is going

to be with us at the weekend. Only the top 65 players and those who are

tied. Laura Davies safely under that cut line. At the moment it looks

like it is going be plus five or plus six. There's a lot of golf to

be played here at Royal Birkdale. Last night there was 12-and-a-half

hours of golf. It looks like we are going that way today. The

It's been a real battle in the sunshine here in Southport today,

particularly for Ayako Uehara. Approached the 16, trying to bounce

back, but that needs too hang on. That's going to be on the grass. It

is amazing what this game can do to you, Maureen. Yes, when it is not

going your way it doesn't seem to go your way. But the three of them

suddenly turned into other players on the 15th. It was suddenly as if

they had somebody else's arms on. Let's hope normal service is resumed

here. She's measuring the ball against the flag. That's why she

really does strike a glorious number of sound, crisp iron shots.

Stacey Lewis. From what I've seep, pretty much the best swing in cey

Lewis. From what I've seep, pretty much the best swing in the field --

from what I've seen. Good turn, late hit, balanced, powerful, she's got

110 to the pin. Probably playing 120 with this breeze.

Stacey has an incredible story. She suffered from scoliosis and wore a

back brace from 11 to 18. She underwent surgery to insert a rod in

her back,s which still there. She didn't know if she was going to be

able to walk again, let alone play the game. She said, I have to take

advantage of which all the opportunities I have because I don't

know how long I'm going to be able to play golf, and she's the world

number one. She had a metal rod and five screws into her back. I think

she sets off a few alarms at airports

-- at airports now. Needed another hop. The bunkers here

are very gathering. Shenshe, in on tour is known to her

friends as Jenny. The only Chinese player ever of the won a major on

any tour. That will do. She's a really fun

character. She speaks tremendous English. A very bubbly character.

Does she get as much adulation in China as the Japanese players get

this their home country? From talking to her, I think golf is

growing in China. The young chap to played in the Masters, and we have

another Chinese player on the LPGA Tour, who's been inspired by

Shenshen, in the run-up to the Olympics, that's going to inspire a

lot of players around the world. And it allows a lot of funding in

countries that only fund Olympic sports. Prior to golf brought into

the Olympics it wasn't funded in certain countries, but now it is in

the Olympics, you get Government funding. That is key. Third shot of

Uehara. You always need trailblazers to take the golf into new countries.

Feng is a great ambassador for China.

Wie trying to knock this one in on the 15th. This might be to get her

inside the cut line. You never quite know.

She flattened her putter by 4.5 degrees prior to the US Open. David

Leadbetter had been telling her to do that for about a month, but she

said, it takes me a month before I listen to David. He was dead right.

He must have the patience of a saint. He's been telling her things

all his golfing life. A wonderful coach.

Not bouncing back quite with a birdie. 14th hole. Georgia, a good

chance to save par. She hasn't played in this rarified atmosphere

too often, but she with Lydia Ko shared the salver last year and

seems to blossom in this environment. That was never going

anywhere else. She's fired up by that dropped shot at the last.

I'm not sure how long we've been on this hole but it can't be far off 25

minutes. 255 to the flag at 15. Wind is straight off the right. If she

hits it Sunday best she might scuttle it near the front edge. A

sweet hit. A beautiful shot. That must have been pretty near her

Sunday best, Ken. A lovely flight. Just enough cut on it to hold it

into the breeze. T caddy, his any more name is Rock. A big fella. He

used to caddy for Donald Trump. You minced her battle with

depression. It is pretty serious. She made an attempt to take her own

life. It was a serious problem she had, so it is great to see Christina

bouncing back to her usual safe. Uehara, a good save for par off that

15th hole. 68 on day one. She's fallen right back to a tie for 29th

at 3 over for the Championship. Apparently next week we are going to

find out how the Olympic teams will be put together, the qualifying will

be announced. It is quite a complicated procedure isn't it? Yes,

a lot of talk how they are going to do it, two players from each country

and they are going to use the world rankings. And then you will get

players like Stephanie Meadow in the same situation as Rory McIlroy.

Georgia. That was a shame after a very good bunker shot.

Level par for the Championship. Four holes left. A good test now to see

how she responds to back to back bogeys. The end of the course is

where you can make your score. Lift be interesting to see how she can

bounce back. Good news for her if she shines on the bigger stages.

Catriona Matthew partnered with Christina Kim in the final round in

2009 at Royal Lytham. Leading the applause for Matthew as she came up

the final hole. A very sporting player.

In the last few moments there's been a significant move in this

Championship. Just out of range of our cameras. Mo Martin has had an

eagle at the par fiver sixth and followed that with a birdie at the

7th. Suddenly out of nowhere it is a three-shot lead for the 31-year-old

from California. This is the player that uses the long putter. Always

has, and is renowned for her accuracy. This is only the third

time she's taken part in this great Championship. She's made a decisive

move. Back to our world number one, Stacey

Lewis. signalling is straight. Oh, dear.

That popped up and just settled at its own plug mark. She won't be

going far from there, that's for certain.

finish for state C Lewis. Unusual to see her compounding errors. --

Stacey Lewis. That will count as a fairway hit.

The stats of all Department of the game are kept by the Tours and the

players. -- departments of the game. She has some green to work with. I

think she is far enough back. The turf is not too bad over there.

Morgan Pressel has this for an eagle at the 15th.

We have not had an eagle yet at the 15th hole.

She got married in January to a tournament director. Where do you

get those chairs? He looks like he is out in the middle of nowhere.

Looks like he has a tournament sweater on. I hope he wasn't

supposed to be working. We may have just got him in trouble.

Anna Nordqvist, putting from off the green. Picking the ball out of the

hole. Saving a bogey, but at 6-over par,

that could be useful come the end of the round. She is right on the cut

line, one of the players battling with the golf course, trying to be

here for the weekend. I think that was actually Nordqvist birdieing 15.

They were on the par-5 with Morgan Pressel. Michelle Wie, we have

heard, has just had to take an unplayable lie. She is suspiciously

near Arnold Palmer's plaque. She has dropped under penalty. This will be

her third shot. Uphill to the table top green. The flag is 22 yards on,

hugging the left-hand side. You want to hit it centre of the green, not

left of centre. Well... Everything is a bit of a

struggle at the moment. Pressel, showing us how the 15th

should be played. Two glorious shots to the front edge of the green and

two putts. First birdie of the day. That will do very well. Didn't

expect to get up in two. Was laying up, in fact, to her favourite

pitching distance. The group ahead still on the 17th green.

Uehara has played her second shot and hit a utility club well short of

the green. 290 to the green, could not reach. The others are sizing up

their shots. 226 front for Stacey Lewis, 219 front for Charley Hull.

They are waiting for the group in front, who have had problems on this

hole, apparently. So it will be a couple of minutes. That is the

Alexey Thompson group ahead. Interesting to see how she finishes.

The right to line, but not running out enough. She will be very well

aware of the significant of this upcoming putt. -- the significance.

Would you take a level par at the end of the week, Maureen? Yes, I

would be very tempted to take that. I hear rumours that Sunday's weather