KJ Choi leads Senior British Open, Angel Cabrera is five shots back after 36 holes at Carnoustie

KJ Choi has a pair of 69s at Carnoustie Golf Links this week, the only golfer in the field at the 2024 Senior Open with two sub-70 rounds. In fact, he has two of the just eight rounds in the 60s so far out of the 304 scores that have been posted over two days at the Scottish links.

Choi has the solo lead at six under, up two on the field halfway through the final senior men’s major of 2024.

Choi bogeyed the 18th hole for a second day in a row but offset three overall second-round bogeys with four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 12th hole.

Choi, 54, hasn’t won a senior tour event since 2020 and has never won a major on any tour but he’s in good position now to break that streak.

Meanwhile, the comeback story of Angel Cabrera continues. Cabrera, 54, was in prison in Brazil and Argentina 2 ½ years for domestic violence and other lesser charges. In May, he was granted a visa. In June, he made his PGA Tour Champions return in Wisconsin. Two weeks after that, he won a match play event in England, his first professional victory after four years away from the game.

Now, he’s contending at a major. He opened with a 73 but posted a 1-under 70 on Friday to climb into a tie for sixth. He’s one of just nine golfers in the field under par after 36 holes.

Stephen Ames is solo second at 4 under. Richard Green and Padraig Harrington are tied for third at 3 under. Miguel Angel Martin is solo fifth at 2 under. Cabrera is in a group of five golfers tied for sixth at 1 under, alongside Darren Clarke, Peter Baker, Arjun Atwal and Paul Broadhurst, who became a viral hit in the first round after whiffing on a putt from two inches away from the cup.

Three golfers are tied for 11th at even par: Bernhard Langer, Steven Alker and Thomas Bjorn, who will serve as a vice captain for the European Ryder Cup team in 2025.

The cut came in at 7 over. Among those not advancing to the weekend include Justin Leonard, Tim Herron, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jerry Kelly.