The British Open 2012: Progress Report at the Halfway Mark

  As William Blake might have said if he were a golf commentator at Royal Lytham this week, the course is playing like a lamb, not a tiger. However, Tiger is playing like a tiger. Sure, the rough is treacherous, the fairways narrow, and the pot bunkers deep. Yet the overnight rains have made the fairways and greens more manageable, and the lack of trademark blustery winds has led to some very low scores indeed. The mild weather has given the Americans a huge edge. It has thrown off some of my predictions. Some, not all. 
  First, I said Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, and Dustin Johnson would wilt under pressure, while Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, and Darren Clarke would thrive. What actually happened? The "wilters" all made the cut, including an imperious third-place standing for Woods at this point. Only one "thriver"-- McIlroy--made the cut, and he's 12 shots behind the leader.
  Second, I said a non-American would win. After two rounds, an American--Brandt Snedeker--leads at 10 under par, and five other Yanks are in the top 15, including a surprisingly determined Woods.
  Third, I said Jim Furyk would bounce back from his U. S. Open meltdown and make the cut. He did.
  Fourth, I said Woods would miss a top ten finish. Based on his weekend troubles at the Olympic, one shouldn't be too confident of his torrid pace continuing. However, if the weather remains benevolent, Tiger should be top ten, top five, perhaps even numero uno. If the winds kick up, expect the worst and a more accurate prediction on my part.
  Fifth, I said at least one over-40 golfer would enjoy a top five finish. At this point, 43-year-old Paul Lawrie is tied for fifth. Ernie Els and Steve Stricker are close behind, but better storylines would come from Tom Watson (62), Mark Calcavecchia (52), or John Daly (46) making a run on Sunday.
  Finally, I said the winner would come from a carefully culled list of 24 golfers. How am I doing? The bad news is that seven (Kaymer, Schwartzel, Rose, Mickelson, Garcia, Love III, and Darren Clarke) won't be playing this weekend, leaving me with 17 possibilities. The good news is that, apart from cinderellas Snedecker, Thorbjorn Olesen, and Thomas Aiken, and surprisingly steady (so far) Tiger Woods, six of my picks are in the top ten (to this point, anyway): Adam Scott, Jason Dufner, Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar, Paul Lawrie, and Ernie Els.
  Who will crumple and fold? Who will rise and triumph? Here's hoping for weather foul, play inspiring, and leads interchangeable. Here's hoping the scores will fall back towards even par overall. Here's hoping an American like Calcavecchia, Furyk, Stricker, and new "kid" on the block Ted Potter, Jr., makes things interesting on Sunday. Here's hoping a Brit like Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie, or Ian Poulter keeps the hometown crowds engaged until the last putt on the last hole Sunday. Golf needs drama. In the land of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Shaw, and Stoppard, the British Open needs great drama.