Golf: Daly outdone but not downhearted

John Daly contented himself with another score in the mid-60s today after finding Retief Goosen his match at the Scottish Open.

Daly was the only one of the 14 closest challengers to Goosen at halfway to match the South African’s 66.

He is still five behind as a result but, without a win since the 1995 Open, he said: ‘‘It’s just good to be playing this well and hopefully I can get a good Sunday round in and go with confidence to the British Open.’’

Only one of Daly’s last 12 rounds has been over 70 and he puts part of his recovery down to the fact that he has stopped taking medication prescribed to help him to combat depression.

‘‘Tomorrow I’m going to have to go out and play a little bit better to catch Goosen. He’s not going to fold.’’