GALE-FORCE WINDS MAKE BLUE MONSTER EVEN TOUGHER

     Rory McIlroy, who hd a 74, in second-round action. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

EUROPEAN QUARTET ONE BEHIND 

FOUR JOINT LEADERS AT DORAL

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Welshman Jamie Donaldson posted the lowest round of the day in brutal second day conditions at the WGC - Cadillac Championship to sit alongside Northern Irish pair Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, and Italian Francesco Molinari, one shot behind the leaders in Miami.

With gusts of up to 36 mph swirling around the Blue Monster course at Trump National Doral, only three players were under par for the second round, with Donaldson posting a superb two under par round of 70.

McDowell was also part of that exclusive group to break par, battling to a 71 to sit alongside Donaldson on level par for the tournament, while McIlroy hit back after a front nine of 40 to card a two over par 74 and Molinari signed for a round of 75 to join them.

The European quartet share fifth position, just one shot behind Americans Dustin Johnson (74), Matt Kuchar (74), Hunter Mahan (74) and Patrick Reed (75), who are all tied for the lead on one under par.

Donaldson dropped his only shot of the day on the third hole but then birdied the eighth, 11th and 15th holes to move firmly into contention having been in a share of 33rd position after the first round.

He said: “I played nice. When it's like that, you've just got to control the spin of the ball and just try and keep it in play really.  I did that well, and missed a couple of greens, which you're going to, and I made a few good saves and then made a few good putts. Overall I was happy with the way I played.”

McDowell was similarly satisfied with his position at the halfway mark of the tournament, on a day when the scoring average for the field was 76.

The 2010 US Open Champion said: 

“I don't think I've played in conditions this difficult in America. It was an Open Championship day.  It was a real Friday afternoon at St. Andrews in 2010, before they called it.  

"It was hard out there, really, really hard, and part of me feels ecstatic to be off the golf course. Obviously I'm really happy with my 71.”

McDowell’s compatriot, McIlroy, said: “It was a day where you obviously couldn't win the golf tournament, but you could let it get away from you and you could rack up a few big numbers and play yourself out of contention, so I was very pleased just to play the back nine how I did, dig in, shoot a couple under par and be right there for the weekend.  It's good position to be in and I couldn't really ask for much more.”

Molinari added: “To shoot 75 in these conditions, I'm quite pleased with it.  It's playing really, really tough, as tough as you can imagine.  I hit a couple of loose tee shots in the water, but every shot is really, really hard to judge out there.  So I’m really happy with the score.”

American Chris Kirk (71) was the third player to break par, for a two over par total and a share of 11th position, while World Number One Tiger Woods posted a 73 to sit six shots off the pace in a share of 25th position.

Dustin Johnson, two under par overall on the 18th tee,  bogeyed the last hole, having driven into a bunker, and finished a tough day with a 74 for 143
Johnson is in a four-way tie for the lead at the halfway mark with three fellow-Americans.
Also on 143 at Patrick Reid (68-75), Matt Kuchar (69-74) and Hunter Mahan (69-74).

Certainly the Blue Monster is even more of a "monster," thanks to Donald Trump's instruction to toughen it up. When a wind of half-gale to gale proportions blows, even some big names have big scores.
Tiger Woods has scored 76 and 73 for 149. Adam Scott 75-73 for 148. Luke Donald soared to an 82 for 152.
Stephen Gallacher had a pair of 75s for 150. McDowell's one-under 71 was a brilliant score in the tough conditions and at 144 the Ulsterman is certainly in the mix.
CLUBHOUSE SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x7-2) players from USA unless stated
143 Patrick Reid 68 75, Dustin Johnson 68 75, Matt Kuchar 69 74, Hunter Mahan 69 74.
144 Francesco Molinari (Italy) 69 75, Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 73 71, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 70 74, Jamie Donaldson(Wales) 74 70.
145 Bubba Watson 73 72, Zach Johnson 70 75
146 Chris Kirk 75 71, Brandt Snedeker 73 73, Harris English 69 77, Hyung Sung-Kim (S Korea) 72 74, Charl Schwartzel (S Africa) 70 76, Jason Dufner 69 77.
147 Thonchai Jaidee (Thailand) 73 74, Nick Watney 72 75, Richard Sterne (S Africa) 74 73. Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 70 77(T17)

SELECTED SCORES
148 Adam Scott (Australia) 75 73 (T21)
149 Tiger Woods 76 73. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 73 76, Ian Poulter (England) 71 78, Phil Mickelson 74 75 (T25)
150 Stephen Gallacher (Scorland) 75 75, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 74 76, Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 75 75, Russell Henley 72 78 (T34)
151 Justin Rose (England) 74 77 (T40)
152 Matteo Manassero (Italy) 76 76, Luke Donald (England) 70 82, Jordan Spieth 73 79  (T50)
153 Ernie Els (S Africa) 75 78, Victor Dubuisson(France) 72 81 (T54)
154 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 77 77, Lee Westwood (England) 75 79 (T57)
155 Jim Furyk 78 77, Martin Kaymer (Germany) 75 80 (T59)
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