Deadly Des Smyth shot a super 69 to move into contention for the Open and announced - I'll give it a lash if I get the chance.

Smyth is hoping for a second bite at the Open cherry, 20 years after his fourth place finish behind Tom Watson at Royal Troon.

And at five under par, arrow-straight Des is still in with a chance of mounting a challenge at the age of 49.

Said Smyth: "I'm lapping it up. I set my target to make the cut and I've done that. But I'm old enough to know that it's all going to happen on the back nine on Sunday afternoon.

"If you're close enough, you have a chance. I'm not saying I'll have a chance this week but if I do have a chance I'll go for it again."

Smyth's golden opportunity came at Troon in 1982 when he went for everything coming down the stretch but finished two shots behind Watson.

But he admits that he will go for it again if he gets the chance after another fantastic display of tactical golf yesterday when he hit 14 greens in regulation and 10 out of 14 fairways.

And he admitted that although he struggled at times, it was for crooked hitting rather than a lack of power.

Said Des: "A lot of the courses we play on tour give such an advantage to the power hitters. I hit the ball a decent distance, 270 or 280 yards, but when you're standing next to a guy that hits it 315 yards and he's hitting a six iron to a par five and you can't reach it, it's a huge advantage.

"There is no advantage for them here. If they want to take a driver they are taking a chance of hitting it in the rough and that's a bogey.

"It makes a hell of a difference so it plays right into the hands of the straight hitters. That's nice for a change."

The man from Mornington near Drogheda got off to a solid start and then birdied the par five fifth and the par three seventh to go five under par.

After a great par save on the eighth, where he missed the green, he took the championship lead at the par five ninth when his two-iron approach finished just off the fringe and he two-putted from 35 feet.

Although he struggled at times on the back nine, Smyth was still beaming 20 minutes after coming off the 18th green.

He said: "I played trouble free golf on the first day but today was a little different. For the first seven holes I was two under par and I could easily have been four or five under they way I played.

"Then a few cracks started to appear. I went into the heavy rough at eight and made a great par. Got my birdie at nine, which I played very well.

"Then I pushed my drive at ten and made a fantastic par again. When I stood up on the 11th I decided to go with a three wood because there is a bunker there at 287 and it was left to right helping and I ended up with a bogey.

"Again I bunkered it at the 14th and made a great par so I really worked hard today.

"I'm quite happy in the end with a 69. It was a difficult day but I've jumped the hurdle and made it to the weekend. Now to finish in the top 15 and greet an exemption for the next year. Anything else is a bonus."

On 14th caddie Ray Latchford advised him to hit a two iron but Smyth fancied his chances with the three wood and found a fairway trap.

He blasted out and then got up and down for his power, clenching his first in delight as he holed from 12 feet for a fine four before parring his way to the final tee.

Needing to birdie the 18th to tie for the lead, Smyth covered the 449-yard hole with a two iron off the tee and a five iron to 18 feet before leaving his birdie putt inches short of the target.

But after missing the cut at the K Club because of poor iron play, Smyth is delighted with that area of his game this week.

"I've played better. It was my iron play that was causing me problems but the last few days I have hit great irons shots," he said.

"On the seventh I really nailed a four iron at the flag and made birdie and at the 18th I did the same.

"But mentally it is more exhausting to play strategic golf. You would love to walk on the tee and pull out your driver and go but you know it is not the right play."

As for his chances of a fairytale victory, Smyth is making no rash predictions after the disappointment of 1982.

"Can I win? I had a chance once-upon-a-time in 1982. I said once upon a time because that's normally the start of old stories and 1982 is once-upon-a-time.

"I remember being on the 12th fairway and there's only a couple of shots off the leader at that time and I'm minus four and I said to my caddie, I'm going for everything form here on in.

"Now in hindsight it was the wrong decision. I had a chance and I went for it. I'd do it again and if I am there on Sunday evening I'll assess the situation and probably got for it too."

As for the Seniors tour, Smyth can't wait to turn 50 in February next year.

"I'm tired of playing against these young guys," he confessed. "As I said about the 315 yard drive, I'm fed up with it and I'm quite happy to move on to the Seniors."

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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