Strong winds temporarily disrupted play in the second round of the Open Championship on the Old Course today. Gusts of up to 40 miles per hour forced the R&A to bring play to a halt until the wind subsided. Play resumed at 3.40pm but the delays meant some of the leaders would be playing late into the evening.
First round leader Rory McIlroy and big names such as Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Ernie Els were among those affected with Woods having to walk back to the R&A Clubhouse from the first green when the klaxon sounded.
The strong winds made the conditions more difficult for the later starters with McIlroy dropping four shots in the first eight holes and Woods bogeying his first two holes.
The main beneficiary of the stregthening wind was 27 year old South African Louis Oosthuizen who was safely back in the clubhouse after a five under par 67 in the morning which took him into the outright lead on 12 under.
Former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia matched his 67 to sit on seven under and Ryder Cup man Paul Casey finished on six under after a 69 but his round was marred by a triple bogey seven on the Road Hole. US Open champion Graeme McDowell (pictured) moved into contention with a four under par 68 taking him to five under for the championship.
A satsified Oosthuizen said, "It's probably the position anyone wants to be in playing a major at the weekend and I think it's what we work to achieve. I'm just very happy with the two rounds I put together.
"St Andrews is where it all started and I think it's everyone dream to win the Open Championship but to do it at St Andrews is just something that you never really think will happen."
For live scoring from the second round click here.