Willett takes clubhouse lead at St Andrews

Danny Willett shot 69, three under par, in the second round of the 2015 Open today, to earn the clubhouse lead on nine under par.

Danny Willett has taken the clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the 2015 Open, having shot 69, three under par, to give the Yorkshireman a 36-hole total of 135, nine under par.

At the time of writing Willett holds a share of the overall lead with Dustin Johnson, who shot 65 yesterday to top the first-round leaderboard, and who is midway through his second round, two under par for the day so far.

“Two really solid rounds of golf,” said Willet, 27, after his round. “Some really good, solid shots on the back nine is what’s done it, without putting ourselves in too much trouble and under too much stress.

“The Old Course kind of suits a fader. You kind of hit it to the middle of the golf course and fade it back down your fairway. Ball flight control I’ve done pretty good around links golf courses throughout my career.”

Willett can now sit back and watch as the day’s late starters put on their chase. The winds are strengthening over the Old Course and after it was water-logged by incessant rain this morning, a delay of three and a half hours will force many of the last groups to play late this evening and return first thing in the morning to complete their second rounds. No such inconvenience for Willett. The luck of the Open draw and his fine form have combined to deal him a lie-in, if he can take advantage of it while his mind races with the anticipation of being – perhaps – the over-night leader in the Open.

A Yorshireman has never won the Open either, which might not ease his nerves.

“It’s a childhood dream [to lead The Open],” said Willett, a former amateur world number one. “Looking up to the leaderboard is still a little bit surreal, but something I am going to have to get used to, otherwise there is no point being up there.”

And just in case he gets ahead of himself, his mum Elizabeth texted Willett after his round. Willett said: “I just had a text message off my mum saying ‘Well done, you’ve made the cut’”.

Robin Barwick travelled to The Open with Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz is Proud Patron and Official Car of The Open.