Fleetwood charges in open competition as Kisner and Johnson set the tone | sport

It was almost as if the clouds were calling the stars. The impulse of this Open Championship came under the most unlikely circumstances, while the offensive second-round conditions formed a backdrop for a much needed cavalry charge. The R & A, about as receptive to criticism as Muirfield's membership to a Quaker lunch request, might breathe a sigh of relief. The third major of the year, a slow burner, has a beating heart.

Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy and Zach Johnson warmed up the atmosphere of the Carnoustie galleries that were rehabilitated on a cold and wet Scottish summer morning. Johnson and Kevin Kisner share the lead in the 36-hole six-under-par standings. Fleetwood, Pat Perez and Xander Schauffele are behind. A ranking stacked with modern golf royalty equals an open championship.

Whoever claims that the Claret Jug Sunday night will not be accused of a lack of versatility. Day two had seen the return of Carnasty until the afternoon wave was allowed.

At the end of the game Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar could be added to a delicious mix. Spieth – who got a card of 67 – and Fowler are in the three-under-par group with Kuchar, a better shot thanks to a birdie putt converted 30 feet into the 18th. Tiger Woods, on which a series of question marks still hangs, can not be dismissed when six years later.

Kisner was perfectly happy that attention was diverted elsewhere. He was perfectly happy, period, until the 18th hole. After the departure of Fleetwood, McIlroy, Johnson and Woods, Kisner reached eight points under par before launching his approach shot of the day in the Barry Burn. Kisner's reckless mistake meant a double bogey and a 70. [65]

Fleetwood's 65, six under par and for a total of five, was scoreless from scorecard. An inner half of 32 people laughed in the face of those who strive to assert just how perfidious the end of Carnoustie is. In describing this as a "fiery effort", Fleetwood was guilty of no blatant euphemism. It was the turn of the day by far.

Fleetwood's prominence is hardly a shock, even if his first round of 72 was. There is inevitably a connection with the Southport man who has broken his major expectation, a feeling that has only improved with the Sunday of the US Open, last month . Carnoustie is of particular importance in the context of Fleetwood, given his track record 63 produced here in the 2017 Dunhill Links Championship.

McIlroy is a four-time champion. Johnson has two in his name. Both won the Open and Spieth defends Jug Claret; all three will be fully aware of Fleetwood's threat level over the last 36 holes of the 147th championship. The man himself had to adapt to personal circumstances.

"You still have expectations about yourself," Fleetwood said. "It's just a given really, but the rest is something you get used to and something you need to learn.At the same time, it's a lot nicer than not having to d & # 39; eyes on you. "

Fleetwood has no problem putting the final game out of the way. "Thirty-six holes, it's long," he added. The Englishman hopes this spell will keep him on the greens, having used the putter only 26 times on Friday.

Johnson probably does not have the respect that he deserves to be not only a Masters champion, but a winner of the Open at St. Andrews. What he lacks in panache at the 42-year-old man, he makes up for it in strength.

As a general rule, Johnson's 67 was overshadowed by Fleetwood's exploits. Yet Johnson's total is the best of the pair; he has now made 11 Cups in a row, with eyes once again on a bigger prize. Johnson said: "The reverence that I have for this championship and specifically this trophy, this Claret Jug … I'm not suggesting that someone does not have a higher bow for that, but I would discuss with them. "

It was a time when McIlroy would not have handled the nastiness that the elements had to throw him. The question of knowing he is now enjoying the bad weather does not quite have a wrongful deal. "I would not say I like it," McIlroy said. The main fact, however, is the ability of the Northern Irish to perform in a variety of circumstances. He had signed for a 69, which means four cents for the tournament. McIlroy, who seems to have gained renewed confidence on the greens, had reached five under par by making birdies in the 13th and 14th. The surrender of a shot on the course, on the 15th, was far from disastrous. The last time McIlroy started the Omnium with successive rounds under 70, it was in 2014; he duly won at Hoylake