ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Until the golf writers put the finishing touches to our groundbreaking teleportation pod – we’ve lost the Allen Key and can’t tighten the screws – the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will always remain something of a guddle.
You can’t, after all, be in two places at one time, let alone three. So, you decide to base yourself at the Old Course in St. Andrews but then something starts brewing at Kingsbarns and you opt to tootle off there before news filters through of a dazzling development at Carnoustie.
By that point, of course, you’re halfway between St. Andrews and Kingsbarns with no chance of getting to Carnoustie and you end up birling about in a flustered fankle like the Keystone Cops on a dodgem ride. How’s that teleportation pod doing again, lads?
Alex Fitzpatrick putts on the third green during day two of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Kingsbarns Golf Links. (Luke Walker/Getty Images)
In this here, there and everywhere palaver, at least Scotsman David Law is exactly where he wants to be heading into the weekend’s action.
A tidy five-under 67 for a 13-under aggregate left the Aberdonian in a share of third, just a shot off the lead held by Australia’s Cameron John and Belgium’s former Ryder Cup player, Nicolas Colsaerts.
It’s been a season of toil and trouble on the course for Law. In this game of fine margins, though, the small things can make a big difference.
For a casual observer, a share of 29th in last week’s Spanish Open may not have been a cause to hang out the bunting.
For Law, however, that morale-boosting result has given him the kind of shot in the arm that used to come in a blue envelope from the NHS.
He needs an injection of something, of course. At 141st on the DP World Tour rankings, and with events running out, Law is desperate to pull a big finish out of the bag soon to vault into the safety zone of the top 115.
On home turf this week, it’s a case of so far, so good.
“Tied 29th (in Spain) may not sound like a great week but the way things had been going, it was,” said Law, who has made just nine cuts in 24 events this season.
“It’s an amazing game. Something like that can just kick start you. Flying back from Spain, there was a feeling of optimism and momentum. And that’s something I’ve not felt this year at all.
“When you’re not playing well, you try to do everything perfectly. I’d been travelling a little bit earlier to events and playing more holes in practice.
“But it wasn’t working. So, last week, I pitched up on the Tuesday, played nine holes and that was me. I’ve done the same this week.”
Owner of Utah Jazz Ryan Smith tees off on the third hole during day two of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Kingsbarns Golf Links. (Warren Little/Getty Images)
After his 64 at Kingsbarns on Thursday, Law fortified his position in the upper echelons with a bogey-free effort around the Old Course. Starting on the 10th, the 33-year-old reeled off three birdies in a row to get himself up and running.
Hopefully, it’s onwards and upwards.
“I’m not enjoying being where I am at all,” he said of his perilous position on the rankings. “But as much as I’d love to be 115 just now, at least I’m not looking over my shoulder. I’m looking up and that has to be the mindset. Be positive.
“First and foremost, I’m looking to secure my job for next year. The easiest way to do that is win this tournament. Failing that, it’s about finishing as high up as possible. I’m in a great place just now.”
Co-leaders set the pace
Colsaerts and John are both in a pretty good place too. The leading duo’s combined world ranking may be a lowly 1,702 but they’re the No. 1s here in the cradle of the game after 36 holes.
Colsaerts began his second round at Carnoustie with a bogey on the third but roared back with a bag of eight birdies as he posted a best-of-the-day 65 – his second 65 in a row – to surge to the summit.
In his own words, Colsaerts suggested that the early bogey left him “agitated.” He took his frustrations out on the treasured Angus links with a pounding that just about left it nursing a bruise.
“I’m just happy to be here,” said the 41-year-old, who is moving towards more television commentary than competing these days.
John, a winner on the east coast back in 2016 when he landed the Scottish Amateur Open Strokeplay title at Gullane, repaired the damage caused by a double-bogey on the fifth hole of the Old Course with a haul of six-birdies in a four-under 68.
John earned his first pro win in his native Australia this year but this outing in Scotland is just his seventh start on the DP World Tour.
Actor and comedian Bill Murray throws his club during day two of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 at Kingsbarns Golf Links. (Luke Walker/Getty Images)
“If you’d told me before that I’d be leading, I’d have said you were being a bit far-fetched,” he said with a smile.
Fife’s Connor Syme, who made his debut in the Dunhill Links 10 years ago as an amateur, kept ticking along nicely with a 67 for 10-under but Glasgow’s Scott Jamieson came a cropper at the Road Hole and leaked three shots in a 72 for nine-under.
Rory McIlroy is back on six-under after a 69 at Kingsbarns which included a mighty drive on the 14th which rolled onto the green as Robert MacIntyre was putting.
The Scot was nae happy. A double-bogey on the 18th, in a 72 for 5 under, didn’t do much to lighten the mood.