DJ Still Leads in Darkness-Suspended Open Championship


At the end of Friday, Dustin Johnson's name was still atop the leaderboard at a wet and windy Open Championship. But, because of a three-hour delay in the morning, he'll have to return Saturday morning to complete his second round after darkness enveloped the Old Course at St. Andrews.

The 31-year-old from South Carolina opened with a 7-under 65 and was 3-under through 13 holes before the suspension of play. His 10-under total was a stroke ahead of Englishman Danny Willett, who followed up his opening 66 with a 69.

Another two strokes back are Scotsman Paul Lawrie and Australia's Jason Day, who each opened with 66s and were 2-under through 12 and 11 holes, respectively.

Willett is bidding to become the first Brit winner of the Claret Jug since Nick Faldo in 1992. He joked to reporters that he got a text from his mother congratulating him on making the cut, projected to be even-par 144 with dozens of players still needing to finish up. "I just had a text message off my mum saying well done, you've made the cut," Willett told the European Tour's website.

"I'm sure there will be a few messages, I can feel my phone buzzing a little bit right now. But it might be a case tonight of turning the phone off and having a little bit of quiet time."

Seeing his name on the leaderboard was the thrill of a lifetime for the 27-year-old from Sheffield, but he knows there's a long way to go in the third major of the year. "It's a childhood dream and looking up there it's still a little bit surreal, but something I'm going to have to get used to, otherwise no point in being up there. It's something you need to embrace, otherwise you're going to have a pretty tough weekend if you don't like being there."

Another player who finished up was five-time Claret Jug winner Tom Watson, who played in his 40th - and final - Open Championship this week. Accompanied by playing partners Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker, Watson managed to complete 36 holes, posting rounds of 76 and 80.

On the famed 18th hole and its Swilcan Bridge, site of photographs by hundred of thousands golfers over the years, the trio and their caddies - with Watson's son Michael on his bag - posed for photos by the remaining cameramen. Watson then stood beside his son and waved to the few fans before standing alone on the iconic bridge and heading off into the gloaming to finish his final competitive round at the Birthplace of Golf.

Tied for fifth at 7-under are another Scotsman, Marc Warren, who shot a 69, Americans Zach Johnson and Robert Streb (who each had 71s), Australia's Adam Scott (67) and Louis Oosthuizen (through 11 holes).

Playing in same group as Dustin Johnson and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, Jordan Spieth opened with a 67 and was still at even-par and still 5-under through 13 holes. The 21-year-old for Dallas won the first two majors of the year and is vying to become the first player since Bobby Jones in 1930 to win the Grand Slam.

Matsuyama was on a roll before play stopped; the 23-year-old opened with a 72 but was 6-under through 13 holes Friday before the suspension.

Also at 6-under are Irish amateur Paul Dunne, who's carded a pair of 69s, South Africa's Retief Goosen (72), Luke Donald (70) and South African Charl Schwartzel (1-under through 15 holes).

2013 Open champion Phil Mickelson qualified for the weekend with rounds of 70 and 72, and the winner of last week's Scottish Open, Rickie Fowler, also moves on to the final two rounds after posting scores of 72 and 71.

For updated scores, visit http://www.theopen.com/leaderboard#!/traditional.