Funk happy after hating British Open

American Fred Funk shot a dazzling 62 in the second round of the NEC world championship in Akron today – and then let everybody know what he thought of the British Open last month.

The 47-year-old, who in an inspired display sank a 120-yard pitch shot on the first and then holed a bunker shot at the short 15th, had moved all the way from joint 49th into a share of top spot by the time joint overnight leaders Ben Curtis and Sergio Garcia teed off again.

Curtis took away happy memories from Royal St George’s, of course, after winning the very first major he had played in. But Funk’s thoughts about the place are slightly different.

“I shouldn’t say I hated the golf course, but I hated the golf course,” he said.

“When I played six holes in Sunday’s practice round I wanted to get back on the plane again.

“I was standing on the tee and didn’t know where to aim it. It didn’t reward good golf shots, I thought.

“When you had fairways like one, nine, 17 and 18 it really was nearly impossible to keep a ball in the fairway. I just don’t understand that concept of design.

“I don’t understand how they could think that’s golf to me.”

Funk shot rounds of 75 and 80 and missed the halfway cut, but such has been his form since that on Sunday night Jack Nicklaus gave him one of his two wild cards for the United States team at the Presidents Cup in South African in November.

He was paired today with England’s Paul Casey, another highly critical of the Sandwich lay-out after scoring a first round 85, and Casey also looked a much happier man in Ohio after coming in with a 66.

Four over par after 16 holes of his first round Casey birdied the last two holes and then resumed this morning with two more.

After reaching halfway on the two under par mark he thanked New Zealander Michael Campbell for a putting tip.

“Cambo is the new putting guru,” he commented.

“I didn’t hit it that great, but the work I did with Michael paid off.”

Ireland's Darren Clarke, joint third only one off the lead after his opening 65, set off again with a par four, but playing partner Tiger Woods hit an iron into sand off the first tee, bogeyed and slipped to four under.

By then world number two Ernie Els had made it a four-way tie at the top on six under by starting birdie-eagle.

Colin Montgomerie’s three straight pars for openers kept him alongside Casey at two under, but Phillip Price, also round in 68 yesterday, had three bogeys and a birdie in his first five holes.

One further back on one over were Ian Poulter, Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood - Poulter after a 68, Faldo a 67 and Westwood after 10 holes.

Padraig Harrington’s 71 left him four over and Phil Golding’s 69 put him on five over along with Justin Rose, who could do no better than a 73.

With a restricted field of only 85 players there was no halfway cut for any of the tail-enders to worry about.