[madsteve]

I have just four player through to the final two rounds but three of them are in contention so I still have great hope of a profit for the week.

Danny Willett -9 2nd
Louis Oosterhuizen -7 Tied 4th
Jordan Speith -5 Tied 14th
Ernie Els Par Tied 61st
...........................................
Tommy Fleetwood +1
Shane Lowry +1
Victor Dubuisson +1
Danny Lee +3

Disappointed to see Fleetwood, Lowry & Dubuisson all miss the cut by a single shot.

Els is too far behind to win it but might just hang in there to pick up a place particularly in windy conditions.

Willett has done well so far. It will be tough for him but if he can hang on to Dustin's shirt tails, he could get a place here.

Oosterhuizen has played well and looks ideally placed to contend over the next two days.

Speith hasn't quite hit his best form yet and while I rate him the best player in the world, I am not sure that he can give Dustin five shots start & beat him over two rounds. No-one has come back from more than two shots back in an Open at St Andrews to win, apart from Jack Nicholas, so it is probably between Dustin, Willett & Lawrie with Oosterhuizen, Day, Streb, Scott, Zach & Warren as outsiders.

You can still get four places so there might be some value in the each way market by backing a player to come out of the pack. Maybe the most likely options are Warren (35/1), Matsuyama (28/1), Donald (40/1), Schwartzel (75/1), Fowler (100/1), Pepperill (750/1) & Scott (17/2).

Dustin Johnson has been outstanding and it is his to lose now. He has been consistent for some time and there appears to be no hangover from his narrow loss at the US Open. He still has a few questions to answer if it comes down to a close finish but my gut feeling is that he will extend his lead today and go on to win comfortably. I am kicking myself for not sticking with him here.