Rolex Series

Genesis Scottish Open - day two digest

Everything you need to know from the second round at The Renaissance Club.

Smith car

Smith's hole-in-one earned cars for both him and his caddie, while Tringale held onto his three-stroke lead despite challenging conditions on the second day of the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open.

Here is everything you need to know from day two at The Renaissance Club.

One ace, two cars

Jordan Smith's hole-in-one at the par-three 17th sparked a double celebration as he won a car each for him and his caddie Sam Matton. Smith used a 6-iron at the 186-yard hole and landed the ball 50 feet short before watching it follow the contours of the green all the way to the bottom of the cup. That swing earned him the keys to a Genesis Electrified GV70, courtesy of the tournament sponsor, while Matton is the proud new owner of an all-electric GV60. Smith admitted the puzzle of getting his prize home, with his own car in Scotland with him, was a nice problem to have. He said: "Might have to ship it back somehow. I'm over the moon."

Tringale still the man to catch

Despite Friday's second round being extremely different to his first, Cameron Tringale still leads by three going into the weekend after following up an opening 61 with a battling 72. After making three birdies and a single bogey in his opening six holes on day two, Tringale then carded four successive bogeys to slip backwards. After snapping that run, he made one more birdie and another bogey to head into the clubhouse on seven under par.

Fitz in the mix

Matt Fitzpatrick was thrilled on the back nine in North Berwick. He started at the tenth in tricky conditions and turned in 31 after five pars and four birdies. He picked up another couple on the front before two late bogeys but he was focusing on the positives after playing himself into contention with a 66. He said: "The wind died since this morning so to score what I did on the back nine I was absolutely delighted. I played really solid and made putts."

Matt Fitzpatrick

What was that, Jordan?

Jordan Spieth didn't sound happy after launching his tee-shot to the 114-yard, par-three sixth, saying "it's not even remotely close to getting 90 yards" while the ball was in the air. But he should never have doubted Michael Greller on the bag. "Oh my God, it did," said Spieth as the ball finished nine feet from the hole. He could only smile and look to the sky.

Schauffele still learning

American Xander Schauffele enjoyed himself despite his early start. He was off before 8am and five birdies and an eagle later he signed for a 65 - the best round of the day. But the Olympic Champion admitted he is still getting to grips with how to play the game in the Scottish summer. He said: "When you're into the wind, it's really strange. There's a lot of great examples but five or six, I think it's six, 110 yards and you're trying to figure out how to hit a 140-yard shot but not too low or too high because then it will end up in the wrong place. So I enjoy the challenge, and I've always enjoyed trying to tap the field a little bit more."

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