Ice-cool Vaughan takes charge at Troon

AMERICAN Bruce Vaughan will enter unchartered territory after his level par 71 gave him the lead at the halfway mark of The Senior Open Championship, presented by MasterCard — the first time he has topped a leaderboard going into the weekend.

The joint overnight leader is a shot clear of compatriot John Cook and two ahead of Bernhard Langer,

Eduardo Romero and champion Tom Watson at Royal Troon Golf Club.

Vaughan, whose best career finish was second at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in 2007, carded a bogey on the third hole but immediately recovered with a birdie on the fourth, before repeating the bogey-birdie sequence on the 15th and 16th holes.

The 51-year-old needed ice treatment on his left knee — which he has had six operations on in the past two years — after feeling pain on the fourth tee.

As well as his knee problems, Vaughan will have to contend with the new experience of leading a tournament at this stage for the first time, after finishing his second round with a three under par total.

Vaughan said: “I played okay, not as good as yesterday, obviously, but I hit some decent shots. My knee was hurting a little bit out there. I had a work out this morning but I felt I stepped a little bit funny on the fourth tee and it was hurting after that.”

Cook also carded two birdies and two bogeys en route to his level par 71 to stay on two under par for the Championship.

He said: “Any time you’re under par at a major championship, you have to be pleased. I played very well. I hit a lot of very, very solid shots.

“I’ve been paired with Bruce I think once in America and I’ve known him for years, not very well, but I’ve known Bruce. He’s had to play as hard as he could everywhere. Nothing was really ever given to him, and he’s battling, and it’s great to see. He’s a good story.”

If Vaughan can keep up his momentum it certainly could create more than one good story, as he could be paired with fellow Kansas player Tom Watson over the weekend after the three-time champion stayed at one under par with a level par 71.

Watson said: “He’s a good player, Bruce, he’s a very good player. I like his action. He’s very solid. I’m not saying that lightly; I’m just saying that factually.

“I’m still right in the tournament. I had a very good break at the 11th to keep me in it when I hit the ball in the bush and took an unplayable.”

Argentine Romero, who had shared the lead with Vaughan overnight, had slipped back in the early windy conditions and carded a two over par round of 73 while former Ryder Cup captain Langer finished with a level par 71.

“It was really difficult,” said Langer. “The wind was blowing and, hence, I was hitting three to four clubs more than the yardage. It was pretty tough going out, because everything was into the wind off the left.

“Generally I hit a couple of wayward shots today, two or three that cost me but otherwise the short game was pretty good.”

Greg Norman’s Open Championship hangover continued as he struggled again early on but The Great White Shark finished with an eagle on the 16th and a birdie on the last for a one over par round of 72 to play himself back into the Championship on five over par — eight shots off the lead.

European Seniors Tour Order of Merit leader Ian Woosnam finished with a two over par round of 73 to move to six over par for the Championship.