LYTHAM ST ANNES, England (Reuters) – Golfing great Gary Player says British Open organizers should ditch their policy of allowing mobile phones on site, which is irritating players and marshals.

Crowds following 14-times major champion Tiger Woods around Lytham on Friday forced the American to back off several shots during his second round, much to the dismay of South African Player.

LYTHAM ST ANNES, England, July 21 (Reuters) – Golfing great
Gary Player says British Open organisers should ditch their
policy of allowing mobile phones on site, which is irritating
players and marshals.

Crowds following 14-times major champion Tiger Woods around
Lytham on Friday forced the American to back off several shots
during his second round, much to the dismay of South African
Player.

LYTHAM ST ANNES, England (Reuters) – Tiger Woods’s second round at the British Open was progressing in a very predictable manner on a warm and still Friday afternoon until he reached the 16th hole.

Iron into fairway, iron on to green and two putts was the former world number one’s favored routine as he plotted his way carefully around the Lytham links.

LYTHAM ST ANNES, England, July 20 (Reuters) – There was no
breaking Phil Mickelson’s spirit but he was at a loss for words
after slumping to a woeful eight-over-par 78 to miss the British
Open cut on Friday.

The friendly American, smiling while scratching his head in
bemusement as he struggled to explain his poor showing, even had
a pen handy to sign a host of autographs in the drizzling rain.

LYTHAM ST ANNES (Reuters) – Expect low scores on the rain-softened Lytham links at the British Open this week, 1996 champion Tom Lehman said on Friday.

“If it stays like this they’re going to shoot the grass off the course,” the former world number one told Reuters after a two-over-par 72 in the second round for a five-over total of 145.

LYTHAM ST ANNES, England, July 20 (Reuters) – Expect low
scores on the rain-softened Lytham links at the British Open
this week, 1996 champion Tom Lehman said on Friday.

“If it stays like this they’re going to shoot the grass off
the course,” the former world number one told Reuters after a
two-over-par 72 in the second round for a five-over total of
145.

LYTHAM ST ANNES, England (Reuters) – Albatross, double-eagle, call it what you will. They do not happen very often.

American Brandt Snedeker aced the par-four 16th hole at Lytham in practice for this week’s British Open and after carding an opening four-under 66 to lie two off the lead on Thursday, he rued hitting the stroke when it did not count.

LYTHAM ST ANNES, England (Reuters) – Winning the British Open would give Peter Hanson more pleasure than victory at the Masters, the Swede said after a first-round 67 at Lytham on Thursday left him three shots off the pace.

Hanson, who held a one-shot lead after 54 holes in this year’s Masters but ended up tied-third, has become one of Europe’s most consistent performers in recent years.