Schwartzel left jilted after beautiful Birkdale spurns his advancesCharl Schwartzel briefly held a share of the lead during his second round at The Open, but he was left broken by cross winds and bad fortune. Warren Little/R&A/R&A via Getty ImagesFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment4:09 PM ETMatt CooperSpecial to ESPN.com CloseMatt Cooper is a golf writer from the United Kingdom who has worked for SkySports.com and SportingLife.com. He is a writer for Golf365.com and a number of print magazines.FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — Charl Schwartzel cut a sorry figure at the conclusion of his second-round 78 that promised so much more.
Royal Birkdale hadn't so much broken him as broken up with him. This weekend at the Open Championship — his 4-over total leaves him just on the favorable side of the expected cut line — he will be like the boyfriend who has to attend a weekend family get-together with the girlfriend who just dumpe..