TROON, Scotland -- While Thursday's grades didn't have a curve, Friday's grades will -- big time. Why would I grade on a curve? Because I'm fair, and there's a large difference between golfing in an 8-mph breeze and a 23-mph wind. Only three guys in the top 10 shot under par on Friday. How'd they grade? Let's get to it ...
Grade: B+
World ranking: No. 1
Score: 73, 70 (+1)
After a bogey at the first hole, Jason went minus-4 in his next six holes. The two bogeys on the back nine are part of the "curve" as the conditions Day faced were torrid. I'm glad at plus-1 we get to see Day for the weekend, but I'm disappointed he won't be contending.
Grade: C
World ranking: No. 2
Score: 71, 69 (-2)
Making a double bogey on the 11th hole I can forgive, also making a double on the seventh hole in benign conditions when it played outside the top 10 in toughness I will not forgive. That being said, DJ still made six birdies and shot under par overall for the day.
Grade: C
World ranking: No. 3
Score: 71, 75 (+4)
In normal conditions this would have been an easy fail grade, but Spieth did not play in the morning conditions. What he also did not do, however, was control his golf ball from the tee, which is where many of his other problems originated. He must be a little surprised he'll be playing the weekend, but since he is I expect improvement.
Grade: B
World ranking: No. 4
Score: 69, 71 (-2)
He got the worst of the day thrown at him, and while his playing competitors were throwing up on their collective spikes, Rory was doing something I loved seeing -- grinding. Even through the middle of the round when he was making bogeys I could see him grinding. What could have been a crash and burn now gives him at least a shot at making a move this weekend.
Grade: F+
World ranking: No. 5
Score: 70, 76 (+4)
No matter how big a curve I give, when you're the worst score of the world's top 10 players you failed. The plus is because Bubba made birdie on the last hole to make the cut and I believe he was trying hard regardless of whether he knew it was to make the cut or not.
Grade: A
World ranking: No. 6
Score: 68, 65 (-9)
With only one bogey on the card, Stenson was fortunate enough to get the good side of the weather draw but making seven birdies on this course -- including three on the back nine, regardless of conditions -- is playing really good golf.
Grade: C+
World ranking: No. 7
Score: 69, 72 (-1)
Proof that the putter is the great equalizer, Fowler hit only eight GIRs but with 28 putts managed to shoot plus-1 playing in those terrible weather conditions. A clean front nine that had two birdies gave Fowler the wiggle room for the three bogeys on the back when the weather went sideways. Doubtful he can win but I'm believing Rickie can still get top five.
Grade: D
World ranking: No. 8
Score: 69, 73 (E)
I was afraid of what would happen if Scott's putter didn't work. And 32 putts on the day proved it didn't. The other reason he doesn't get a passing grade is because he played with Stenson and should have found a way to feed off the Swede's good vibe. The good news is he has the weekend to get himself in contention, the bad news is he is going to need help.
Grade: C
World ranking: No. 9
Score: 71, 75 (+4)
Because shooting plus-4 in bad weather and having only 27 official putts, for me shows just how hard Willett was grinding. Four bogeys and a double were not completely offset by the two birdies, but boy did they save Danny from going home early.
Grade: D+
World ranking: No. 10
Score: 70, 74 (+2)
This was the hardest of all the grades because Branden got the weather right when it started getting squirrelly. The thing about his grade is that he played the front nine in conditions that weren't horrible and he still shot over par. The irony is in really nasty conditions Grace made two birdies coming to the house to salvage what had become a nightmare round.
Grade: A+
This is exactly what I expect when I think of The Open in Scotland. Wind from three directions, rain coming in sideways, then sunshine with enough temperature fluctuations to confuse any weatherman had me walking around outside in full rain gear no hat and no umbrella. I was grinning from ear to ear as people would ask, "Don't you want an umbrella?!" Nope, I love this.
Grade: B+
World ranking:No. 21
Score: 72, 66 (-4)
Only one shot worse than Stenson on the scorecard, Schwartzel made a huge leap up the leaderboard even with two bogeys during the round. Eight birdies on 24 putts must have felt like he was back at the Masters in 2011. I'm not giving him the A though, because he played in the morning.
Grade: F
World ranking:No. 63
Score: 67, 85 (+10)
While the conditions Horschel was forced to play in were bad, but how do you go from a 67 in Round 1 ... to an 85? I love the guy, but he looked like he was late for his flight from about the 13th tee onward. If you're not hurt or you're not forced to use a mixed rental set, a better example has to be shown to the kids who are out in that nasty weather watching you, because they might not want to be there either.