Stenson closes in on lead at British Open

Willett said: “Usually at an Open when you make the cut on a good week, you can push up there. I made one or two bad swings that led to bogeys but for the most part kept the ball in play”.

Patrick Reed of the United States was unable to build on his performance yesterday as he carded a three-over 74 to join McIlroy and five other players in joint 15th position on the leaderboard. I thought it was a good round to back up the low round yesterday.

“I feel stronger and in a better condition than I have ever been”.

“It was a tough day, and anybody on our side of the draw that was under-par has played some great golf”, he said. “I don’t like wearing too many layers – I said to my caddie, ‘I don’t mind if I get a bit wet.’ As long as the clubs are dry and my hands are dry, I’m happy”.

“I went to go get it, I had that surge of adrenaline that I had just shot 62, and then I had the heartbreak that I didn’t and watched that ball lip out. I would love to add to it, but having already done that was big”.

Horschel, who began the second round at 4 under, made four double bogeys or worse and shot the high score of the day, 14-over 85. Soren Kjeldsen and Keegan Bradley each shot 68 and were three shots behind.

In fact, Sordet was in Scotland for the British Open at Royal Troon, but his girlfriend, Marie, and her family were in Nice and celebrating Bastille Day when a truck plowed through revelers gathered along the Riviera city’s waterfront promenade.

“We’re only halfway done with the tournament so it’s too far off to start thinking like that, but certainly there is nothing more than I would love to add another Claret Jug”, said the 46-year-old, who would become the fourth oldest victor of any major and the oldest in the Open since 1867. Colin Montgomerie, playing at his home course, looked set for an early exit until the cut line inched up and the 53-year-old made it on the limit.

Patrick Reed, who started the day three shots off leader Mickelson, fell to two under, with Jordan Spieth among those most affected by the wind and rain that swept through west Scotland in the late afternoon.

Jason Day bucked the trend on Friday afternoon, completing his round in 70 to be the only man in the second half of the draw to finish with an under-par total.

Among the highlights of Mickelson’s second round was his tee shot on No. 8, the famous par-3 nicknamed the “Postage Stamp”, that rolled to within inches of the cup for a birdie.

After coming within inches of making major history in his opening round on Thursday (14 July), Mickelson carded two under-par 69 on Friday to extend his lead.

Only two other players have started a major with rounds of 63-69. One was Raymond Floyd, who went on to a wire-to-wire victory at Southern Hills in the 1982 PGA Championship.

Johnson also struggled on the par-5 16th as he didn’t make precise contact with his third shot, a wedge, and left it a good 25 feet short.

Another bogey followed on four but he clawed the shot back on seven.