Calcavecchia anxious to get going on Friday

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Mark Calcavecchia is ordinarily an early riser. In 2005, when he had the 6:30 a.m. opening tee time at the British Open at St. Andrews, he told reporters afterward he was accidentally awakened by his wife at 2:30 a.m., but was going to get up around then anyway.

Not sure if it was the same thing today, but when the 1989 British Open champion stood on the first tee at 6:30 Friday morning as part of the first threesome to play in the second round, he made no secret that he was anxious to get going.

"I would have been ready to tee off a half hour ago," Calcavecchia joked with venerable starter Ivor Robson. "We'd be done with the third hole by now."

Perhaps the comments were made in part because of the sunny skies greeting the golfers at the early hour. Having played in the worst of the weather conditions Thursday, Calcavecchia was hoping things might even out Friday, although the forecast suggested that rain and winds were on their way.

Sure enough, less than an hour after Calcavecchia teed off, the first of a series of showers began.

All that said, the rain didn't seem to harm the 50-year-old's play. Through 14 holes, he was four under for the day and six under for the tournament, sitting in a tie for fourth.

-- *Ryan Herrington