APPARENTLY, Friday was World Smile Day. It was also Heritage Awareness Day. You could say David Drysdale involved himself in both during the second round of the Dunhill Links Championship.
He had plenty to smile about after a five-under 67 at Kingsbarns hoisted him up into a share of sixth on an eight-under aggregate. And on the heritage front? Well, that came from the fact that he was partnering veteran Genesis musician, Mike Rutherford, in the Pro-Am team contest.
“I’m not really a Genesis fan but he’s good fun,” said Drysdale. “He’s still touring and was actually in Berlin on Tuesday night before this. I’ve had some good guys this week. We were with Tico Torres, the drummer from Bon Jovi. They’ve been going for 35 years and had a No 1 album again this year, which is quite incredible.
“It’s great in between shots. You find yourself chatting about so many different things. They’ve a few stories to tell, but a lot of them are unrepeatable. They’re in their 60s but are still going strong. I don’t think I’ll still be doing this when I’m 60.”
A couple of years ago, Drysdale arrived at the Dunhill Links nursing a calf injury and facing a battle to keep his tour card but a ninth place finish safeguarded his spot at the top table.
This week is slightly more comfortable for Drysdale on both fronts. He has no injury concerns and he is handily placed at 49th on the Race to Dubai rankings.
“I’m far more relaxed than I was two years ago, that’s for sure,” said Drysdale, who conjured a fine late surge and birdied five of his last seven holes to leap up the order.
“A couple of times in the last few years I’ve needed a result here. It’s nice not to be in that position this year. I can just focus more on the tournament.”
On a decent day for the Scottish contingent, Stephen Gallacher, the Dunhill Links champion back in 2004, posted a neatly assembled five-under 67 on the Old Course as he moved onto the five-under mark.
A putt of 30-feet for birdie on the first got him up and running but, having created a number of other birdie chances, Gallacher was left to reflect on the opportunities that got away.
“It could have been a 60,” he declared. “I missed about five birdie putts from inside 12-feet. I’m happy though. Given I was three-over at the turn on day one, this is not a bad position to be in.”
Scott Jamieson (four-under) and Marc Warren (three-under) are ticking along while rookie duo Connor Syme and Liam Johnston both finished on two-under aggregates.
Paul Lawrie’s season could be over, though, as he withdrew with an on-going foot injury.
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