For only second time, British Open to end on Monday

Anirban Lahiri

St. Andrews (Scotland), July 18 (IANS)

The British Open golf championship will be decided on Monday for only the second time in its 144 years of existence as the second round is expected to be completed on Saturday due to inclement weather. The tournament traditionally ends on Sunday.

This will mark the first Monday finish at the Open since 1988 as several golfers, including overnight leader Dustin Johnson and reigning Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth are yet to complete their second round action.

“The intention is to complete the second round today with R3 to be played on Sunday and the final round to be played on Monday,” the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, the organisers of the oldest Major, announced on Monday.

Second-round play did resume briefly on Saturday morning, as heavy winds blew through the Old Course.

However, India's Anirban Lahiri completed his second round on Friday. The current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, who scored three-under 69 on Thursday, took his total to five-under 139 with a two-under 70. He played a bogey-less round.

The 28-year-old Bengaluru-based golfer got birdies on the par-four first and par-five 14th holes to get a 70 in the second round of the oldest Major.