Day 2 Highlights

:00:28. > :00:34.Hello, if it is true innovation you are after at the Open Championship,

:00:35. > :00:38.Phil Mickelson almost gave us some of that yesterday. The left-hander

:00:39. > :00:46.was millimetres away from a landmark achievement, a 62 in a men's Major.

:00:47. > :00:49.Something that has been described as golf's four-minute mile. Phil was

:00:50. > :00:53.doing his best Roger Bannister impressions on an opening day that

:00:54. > :01:01.was dominated, as they so often are here at Royal Troon, by the US of A.

:01:02. > :01:06.They have always done well at Troon, those from the other side of the

:01:07. > :01:13.Atlantic, this year there are more in the California sun on the further

:01:14. > :01:19.Clyde. Others like Steve Stricker who have seen it many times before

:01:20. > :01:21.are all 4-under with eight Americans in the top ten. Yes, there are

:01:22. > :01:29.others who didn't find the going quite so easy. Bubba Watson has not

:01:30. > :01:34.enjoyed Opens past. Jordan Spieth, so close at St Andrews last year,

:01:35. > :01:38.was a shot further behind. It was feisty Patrick Reed, so long the

:01:39. > :01:42.standard-bearer, finishing 5-under and leading the way. Zach Johnson

:01:43. > :01:45.showed a fierce determination to hold onto his Claret Jug, reaching

:01:46. > :01:51.six and before letting slip two shots on the final to my calls. But

:01:52. > :01:54.what Americans stole the show, as he so often can. By the time Phil

:01:55. > :02:01.Mickelson reach the final hole, you had eight birdies and a chance of a

:02:02. > :02:07.record-breaking mark. Never in men's Majors has a 60 to be managed, and

:02:08. > :02:14.Mickelson came as close as any. On another grand day at Troon for the

:02:15. > :02:17.stars and stripes. He might have been heartbroken, but Mickelson is

:02:18. > :02:25.still only the ninth man ever to shoot 63. The Muirfield champion

:02:26. > :02:30.takes a three shot lead, the largest after an opening round for 15 years.

:02:31. > :02:39.Patrick Reed and two-time major winner Martin Kaymer of closest to

:02:40. > :02:44.it. -- are closest to it. Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia

:02:45. > :02:48.amongst those at 3-under, whilst Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott six

:02:49. > :02:54.behind Jordan Spieth, reigning US Open champion Dustin Johnson all

:02:55. > :02:59.eight adrift whilst the world number one, Jason Day, lacking ten shots

:03:00. > :03:05.behind. It could be all change on the second day. We might be it about

:03:06. > :03:09.to go from sun splashed to just splash. Rain, we understand, is on

:03:10. > :03:14.the way. The wind is coming in from the south, meaning that is into the

:03:15. > :03:17.players' faces on the front nine holes and potentially helping them

:03:18. > :03:24.home. That might be a moot point with gusts of up to 25 mph coming in

:03:25. > :03:27.in the afternoon. It might be a day for Phil Mickelson to dig out the

:03:28. > :03:33.all-weather gloves that he has taken to wearing on occasions like this.

:03:34. > :03:39.We couldn't take our eyes off him yesterday, and Ken Brown had him on

:03:40. > :03:43.his radar earlier this morning. Phil Mickelson, just wondering passed the

:03:44. > :03:48.18th green, wistfully looking, morning, Phil, how on earth did that

:03:49. > :03:54.putt slip past the edge of the whole yesterday, unbelievable for a 62. He

:03:55. > :03:57.is getting the feel of the putting servers this morning, it is a very

:03:58. > :04:02.different day. It is chilly, the wind has turned from 180 degrees.

:04:03. > :04:07.The greens are a little bit slower. It will be interesting to see how

:04:08. > :04:11.Phil does. It is chilly and everybody is wrapped up this

:04:12. > :04:18.morning. Phil is ready for action. What a day was for him yesterday.

:04:19. > :04:21.Something very special. Mixing with the stars again! Phil and his

:04:22. > :04:24.playing partners, Ernie Els and Lee Westwood, might have some of the

:04:25. > :04:30.better conditions morning thanks to their early tea-time. Golf's man of

:04:31. > :04:37.the summer, Dustin Johnson, was rather upstaged by my think I'm up

:04:38. > :04:47.Spike bogey 366 today. Russell Knox starting on over. -- Dustin

:04:48. > :04:51.Johnson's bogey free 63. Henson and Scott enjoyed solid starts.

:04:52. > :04:59.Denmark's 41 you rolled Soren Kjeldsen has enjoyed a newly single

:05:00. > :05:04.golf life. He moved to 5-under. Right behind him, all eyes on

:05:05. > :05:10.46-year-old Mickelson leading this putting touch to save par here at

:05:11. > :05:16.the 2nd. Job done. Yeltsin again, taking advantage of the par-5 at the

:05:17. > :05:21.6th. Further gain therefore the Dane, who won at the Irish Open last

:05:22. > :05:25.year to behind Mickelson. It didn't take the Muirfield champion logs

:05:26. > :05:32.reassert himself. His ninth birdie at the 4th, now 9-under par, and

:05:33. > :05:38.three in front once again. Here is the picture as we join it on day two

:05:39. > :05:42.of the opening Championship. Mickelson three shots ahead of

:05:43. > :05:47.Kjeldsen, who has made significant progress, two on today. Bill Haas

:05:48. > :05:52.going well in that group at 4-under par. The greatest gains have been

:05:53. > :05:56.made by Charl Schwartzel, the former Masters winner from South Africa. He

:05:57. > :06:00.has picked up shots and the first three birdies in a row at the 3rd

:06:01. > :06:09.number seven. He is on the march, as we join Ken Brown, Mark James,

:06:10. > :06:15.Andrew Cotter and Peter Alliss. A very different day from yesterday as

:06:16. > :06:20.we look down across the links eh at Royal Troon. The water looks pretty

:06:21. > :06:28.calm. There is a hint of rain in the air, but we have more to come. Here

:06:29. > :06:33.we are looking back to the tee at the 1st. Yesterday's here are,

:06:34. > :06:38.Mickelson, about to hit his tee shot.

:06:39. > :06:55.Bones and filled together. You would think they would have exhausted

:06:56. > :07:01.every possible discussion on every club and every shot. It is lovely,

:07:02. > :07:09.like newlyweds! He drilled that, didn't he?! Oh, I say!

:07:10. > :07:20.APPLAUSE I do say, that was wonderful.

:07:21. > :07:27.Ciman had some problems on the second to save par.

:07:28. > :07:36.Getting in, they cry, but it doesn't today. The shot goes, different

:07:37. > :07:40.prospect there. After that beautiful tee shot at the 5th, Mickelson. He

:07:41. > :07:50.has a putt for a two. Oh! Not to be, so close. One birdie,

:07:51. > :08:17.and all passed so far. -- all par. Second hole catching a few players

:08:18. > :08:23.out today. Bird shot for Johnson. Not counting Zach Johnson out. That

:08:24. > :08:24.is a way to bogey the second. He bogeyed the 18th to finish

:08:25. > :08:39.yesterday, Johnson. 5-under. Schwartzel has made a sensational

:08:40. > :08:42.start to his round. He is swinging beautifully, putting fine, and

:08:43. > :08:46.another one rattled friend. He really is on a roll. Better things

:08:47. > :08:55.from him today than yesterday. Mickelson, a long way at the 6th

:08:56. > :09:10.hole today. Third shot to the par-5. A little bit of zip there.

:09:11. > :09:23.APPLAUSE Stay...

:09:24. > :09:31.Andy Sullivan at the 5th. 3-under par, this for a birdie. Looks

:09:32. > :09:37.good... APPLAUSE

:09:38. > :09:42.My golly, it is good, well done. What a revelation he has been over

:09:43. > :09:49.the last couple of seasons. Conditions still pretty good for the

:09:50. > :09:57.morning starters. Mickelson, birdie opportunity at the par-5 6th. It

:09:58. > :10:01.will press forward, local press forward of the hands. Watching it

:10:02. > :10:09.all the way, run on, watching get to judge the break. -- watching it.

:10:10. > :10:37.Martin Kime for a birdie. At the 4th. -- Kaymer. Sweetly done.

:10:38. > :10:47.A more conventional putting grip for this one. Then he searches. He is

:10:48. > :10:49.rolling the ball very nicely, nice and steady. One and on for the first

:10:50. > :11:21.six, par here at six. And another superb... Oh, it was.

:11:22. > :11:25.Now it is just OK. Mickelson, seventh hole, second shot. 135

:11:26. > :11:30.yards, over the back and closed in the pin. Walter Little beauty. It

:11:31. > :11:45.did the salsa around the hole there. -- what a little beauty. Stenson on

:11:46. > :11:53.the par-5. Actor back birdies to 5-under he goes. -- back-to-back

:11:54. > :11:58.birdies. This was a wonderful second shot for Mickelson on the seventh.

:11:59. > :12:08.He was blind, spun it back to here. A birdie chance. Oh, only just but

:12:09. > :12:15.he has done it! Second birdie for Mickelson. And he moves to 10-under

:12:16. > :12:23.double figures. At the moment coming he is running away with things.

:12:24. > :12:30.Zach Johnson for his birdie at the par-5 4th. That is two of the first

:12:31. > :12:47.four. Johnson moves 6-under. Mickelson on the dangerous eighth

:12:48. > :12:53.hole. It is only small, but it packs a punch. Another super shot from

:12:54. > :12:58.Mickelson. Could it going? Might it? APPLAUSE

:12:59. > :13:07.He is like that for the Dynamo, magic.

:13:08. > :13:17.Henrik Stenson on the fifth, birdies on the third and fourth. Still quite

:13:18. > :13:23.still out there, close to those left-hand bunkers, pin here. Just

:13:24. > :13:32.about there, coming down off the shoulder. What a result, great

:13:33. > :13:39.birdie chance to come. Charl Schwartzel, what a run he is on.

:13:40. > :13:43.Would it end here? First bogey of the day was out on 31 with five

:13:44. > :13:47.bogeys, a bogey on the 10th, back to 3-under.

:13:48. > :13:58.What a shot black Johnson. Downslope to land it on, that is as good as he

:13:59. > :14:00.could have done. Superb shot from Zach Johnson. The rain is coming

:14:01. > :14:16.down a bit more steadily now. Keegan Bradley at the 3rd. His third

:14:17. > :14:26.shot, birdie putt, big swing. Here it comes, Lookout! Leapt into the

:14:27. > :14:33.hole for Sanctuary. 5-under par. Zach Johnson, fairly still waters

:14:34. > :14:41.behind him. This will be a wonderful up and down. Conditional tense, it

:14:42. > :14:45.wasn't, what a shame. He usually rolls those in so well. Shot goes on

:14:46. > :14:52.the fifth. Back to the group in 5-under.

:14:53. > :14:58.What a difference a day makes in these conditions. All rather damp at

:14:59. > :15:14.the moment. Stenson, putt for a two. In it goes, three birdies in a row,

:15:15. > :15:22.the man who was so close to Mickelson at Muirfield three years

:15:23. > :15:27.ago has done well again. Bones keeps the ball dry for his boss,

:15:28. > :15:32.Mickelson. Two clubs on today with that arthritic condition he has,

:15:33. > :15:36.keep the hands warm and a bogey of the cards coming he hasn't had one

:15:37. > :15:43.yet in this Championship -- two gloves on.

:15:44. > :15:55.And he still hasn't. Right in the middle it went. Mickelson remains

:15:56. > :16:01.11-under, 33 to the term. -- turn. Zach Johnson on the Spectator

:16:02. > :16:07.crosswalk, a little punch in it, he holds that after just zipping it in.

:16:08. > :16:15.Johnson, another birdie opportunity to come. Mickelson on the 10th hole,

:16:16. > :16:19.brollies or out and the rain is down. Before the rain came down, Ken

:16:20. > :16:28.Brown without having a look at this hole. -- was out. The 10th turns

:16:29. > :16:32.back into the prevailing wind, 451 yards from right to left. The

:16:33. > :16:37.fairways totally on-site it, you have no idea where it is over the

:16:38. > :16:40.mound. -- and cited. It is an undulating fairway, the ball tends

:16:41. > :16:44.to keep from left to right. The ball is played uphill to an elevated

:16:45. > :16:48.green, club selection is not easy, trying to keep it under the breeze

:16:49. > :16:51.because you are uphill. Up here on the putting surface on the 10th

:16:52. > :16:57.green, to the left of it is a huge bank with vengeful long grass, you

:16:58. > :17:00.don't want to go in there. If you drift down the right, watch what

:17:01. > :17:06.happens, the ball trickle is off into the green. And she's gone! Down

:17:07. > :17:09.the slope! And the problem here is when it goes down the slope here,

:17:10. > :17:15.lots of people have done the same thing, just have a look. All these

:17:16. > :17:19.divots, terrible pivots. You come down the bank, hopefully the ball it

:17:20. > :17:23.in a different place. Look what you are left with? And awful little

:17:24. > :17:31.chip, you could find the hole line. This is interesting, no bunkers, but

:17:32. > :17:40.my goodness... Looking down from on high at the terrifying T-shirt on

:17:41. > :17:44.the 10th. -- tee-shot. Pick a line. Heading right, there is thick stuff

:17:45. > :17:47.down there. He might have avoided the worst of it. We will see it

:17:48. > :17:59.plainly enough. Keegan Bradley at the 4th hole,

:18:00. > :18:03.third shot. Pitch over that bank, scuttles along. Pretty nicely

:18:04. > :18:11.judged, too. APPLAUSE

:18:12. > :18:21.The caddy exits. Zach Johnson in for his birdie.

:18:22. > :18:23.APPLAUSE That Johnson goes back to 6-under,

:18:24. > :18:38.joined his playing partner, Stenson. Third shot from Mickelson here. He

:18:39. > :18:42.has parted quite beautifully so far. -- parted. He has struck the ball

:18:43. > :18:45.beautifully, got a nice pace. A little bit shy on the one. Again,

:18:46. > :19:03.nice, easy role. Safe par. More than happy with that off that

:19:04. > :19:09.he shot. The fun of the 11th to come. -- off that tee-shot. Even

:19:10. > :19:14.with his great height, spends and can't see much of the target.

:19:15. > :19:28.Straight over the camera tower I suggest is more or less in line.

:19:29. > :19:31.Stop, stop, stop... Yes! He has no idea at this moment how good that

:19:32. > :19:43.is. Bradley out for that very good chip,

:19:44. > :19:49.birdie putt on the ball. Well done. -- on the fourth.

:19:50. > :19:59.Five shot lead for Phil Mickelson. A Scandinavian assault, Danish and

:20:00. > :20:04.Swedish. Soren Kjeldsen, Henrik Stenson. Zach Johnson, the defending

:20:05. > :20:14.champion, as well. Martin Kaymer is further adrift.

:20:15. > :20:21.Martin Kaymer at this very, very annoying, beautifully attractive in

:20:22. > :20:25.a weird sort of way, eighth hole. And he has made it look like there

:20:26. > :20:29.is nothing to its... O! I thought there was going to be a point of

:20:30. > :20:30.Shandy brought there, but it wasn't to be.

:20:31. > :20:37.APPLAUSE Stenson makes it! That was pretty

:20:38. > :21:00.from Stenson. Nice commercial shot from Soren

:21:01. > :21:02.Kjeldsen, in the middle of the fourth green, putting upslope,

:21:03. > :21:15.uphill for a two. Delightful touch putter, he has hold

:21:16. > :21:20.some good ones today as well. -- he has hole.

:21:21. > :21:28.Stenson on the eighth tee, playing 125 yards, hardly a breath of wind.

:21:29. > :21:32.I put my head out a minute ago, nothing around the clubhouse at all.

:21:33. > :21:37.The forecast was for it to be horrific this morning.

:21:38. > :21:45.A lot of spin on the ball. It lands very softly. The flag is hardly

:21:46. > :21:52.moving. This side of the draw might get a huge break. One of the best

:21:53. > :21:56.wedge players in the game, Ken. A strong grip, holds the face open,

:21:57. > :22:05.pushes with the follow-through. He is a good wedge man. A lot of spin,

:22:06. > :22:12.delightful. Soft greens and not much breeze makes this shot a little bit

:22:13. > :22:22.easier. Second shot of Mickelson at the 11th.

:22:23. > :22:31.Fabulous irons, superbly struck. Some very high quality golf today,

:22:32. > :23:01.beautiful golf yesterday, and Phil has had one heck of a career.

:23:02. > :23:11.Charl Schwartzel, he had a heck of a start, five birdies on the front

:23:12. > :23:13.nine, slowed down a bit since. Here at the 13th, Schwartzel now to

:23:14. > :23:34.3-under. Henrik Stenson, for his two. Adam

:23:35. > :23:37.Scott's Marco looked -- Marco looks almost at his line, and he knows it

:23:38. > :23:49.is pretty slow. -- marker. You think he is very capable of

:23:50. > :23:51.winning Major titles, no doubt about that. Par at the 8th for Stenson,

:23:52. > :24:07.stays at 7-under. Came to the ninth. Blind shot. --

:24:08. > :24:14.Martin Kaymer. Pin at the back of the green today. You have to judge

:24:15. > :24:22.the grass. That is not great, but it hit nice and soft. Two for the chip

:24:23. > :24:27.now. Did you have a putt with all-weather gloves on, Ken? It is

:24:28. > :24:30.like wearing divan gloves. He needs to keep his touch. This will be a

:24:31. > :24:40.massive birdie... O! He tried. Just a par for Phil. Very, very tidy

:24:41. > :25:04.golf. Just a little tasty one left,

:25:05. > :25:19.unusual putting grip. Nicely done, Tony. 33.71 today to go with the 67

:25:20. > :25:24.yesterday. Martin Kaymer uses the Texas wedge, the putter from the

:25:25. > :25:31.green, more often than most. He has got a chance... In she goes! What a

:25:32. > :25:35.beauty! Bit of a push with the second and comes up with a nice

:25:36. > :25:43.finish on the front line holes. -- front nine holes. 7-under. Good

:25:44. > :25:47.wedge from the tee of this eighth hole, the Postage Stamp. Zach

:25:48. > :25:53.Johnson to get to seven. A beautiful putt from Johnson. A 3-way tie for

:25:54. > :26:00.second. Martin Kaymer, Johnson and Stenson.

:26:01. > :26:11.Interesting play from Mickelson. He needs a bit of luck. It looks like

:26:12. > :26:18.he has avoided the course over there.

:26:19. > :26:21.STUDIO: Phil Mickelson with a four shot advantage, but they are

:26:22. > :26:25.gaining. Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson and Zach Johnson all moving

:26:26. > :26:31.to 7-under par now, this leaderboard is no longer resembling quite the

:26:32. > :26:36.51st State of the USA that it did last night. Gorgeous yesterday, but

:26:37. > :26:41.every beautiful day in Scotland its acts a penalty. Tony Finau is

:26:42. > :26:46.certainly enjoying his first taste of the Open. Tony, you are getting a

:26:47. > :26:51.proper Scottish welcome. Weather has turned. What you make of it? It is

:26:52. > :26:55.what I expected. When I keyed off, it was chilly this morning, the

:26:56. > :27:00.weather was up and it started to rain. I felt like we were in for a

:27:01. > :27:04.long day. After the first few holes I was able to manage out there. How

:27:05. > :27:12.pleased are you with the Lovell part to date? -- level par today? I try

:27:13. > :27:16.to keep my head down and play, I was able to do that nicely. I did and

:27:17. > :27:18.have the best front nine but I was able to have ice back nine and keep

:27:19. > :27:32.myself in the mix. Not easy, this. Phil is undecided to

:27:33. > :27:34.the green, hasn't got the greatest lie, could be worse. -- on the

:27:35. > :27:53.cited. Well, OK, he is going to have a

:27:54. > :27:59.pitch in a putt to save his par. Stenson second on the ninth. Can he

:28:00. > :28:08.fire on up and get it to land softly? He had the distance right,

:28:09. > :28:15.but he is in Martin Kaymer country. Mickelson has just got a very

:28:16. > :28:23.playable tight lie. Played two, just taking a tee shot into the right

:28:24. > :28:24.rough. Can he save par? The Mickelson magic is spinning a lot,

:28:25. > :28:37.maybe too much. When you invade my personal space,

:28:38. > :28:46.you're affecting my ability to concentrate.

:28:47. > :28:52.Martin Kaymer couldn't get the club on the back of the ball. Wouldn't go

:28:53. > :29:00.in a give it. Where has it gone this time? -- didn't go in a divot.

:29:01. > :29:10.Mickelson to save his par. He hasn't dropped a stroke yet this week. His

:29:11. > :29:14.first stroke here at the 12th. Errant tee shot with an iron got him

:29:15. > :29:20.into Walsall is of trouble, couldn't reach the green in two. -- got him

:29:21. > :29:25.into all sorts of trouble. There is hope, just leaves by three.

:29:26. > :29:32.STUDIO: That is the first bogey for Phil Mickelson since the 13th hole

:29:33. > :29:38.of the last round and 2004. After that shocking first chip he has

:29:39. > :29:42.another chance. That didn't really look as though he knew what was

:29:43. > :29:56.going on there either. That is just a dreadful cap. -- chip.

:29:57. > :30:04.Keegan Bradley off the tee, dodged the bunker. Should have a bit of

:30:05. > :30:12.spin on it, struck it so well. Good chance of the birdie. Stenson to

:30:13. > :30:17.save par at nine, played the chip well, came up a little shot from the

:30:18. > :30:26.right. That was not a good putt. Left off the clubhead. Stenson slips

:30:27. > :30:33.back to minus six. Still a heck of a front line, though. -- front nine.

:30:34. > :30:41.Martin Kaymer chipped through hole ten. There he was obviously nervous

:30:42. > :30:46.and flushing it and going back down where the previous chip was. Third

:30:47. > :30:51.shot, 16 foot Yeltsin. Chance the birdie here. A good touch around the

:30:52. > :30:53.greens. -- Soren Kjeldsen. Beautifully played. Realistic

:30:54. > :31:13.chance. Kaymer, for a six. It's a shame,

:31:14. > :31:19.after all that good work today. A tasty one he for Kjeldsen. Oh!

:31:20. > :31:24.Par-5, it's going to be a five, after such a delightful chip

:31:25. > :31:31.opportunity missed. All piles on the back nine, he stays at 6-under.

:31:32. > :31:39.Keegan Bradley, a little bit of right-to-left on this. This is for

:31:40. > :31:43.birdie. Not that much to right-to-left, surely not! There is,

:31:44. > :32:01.good lord, what a three! Just about to drop supplies to the

:32:02. > :32:06.Caddis. Phil has a plain like that, not quite as big as that, flies his

:32:07. > :32:10.own plane. Have you been on it? I know you and him are pretty tight. I

:32:11. > :32:20.haven't been on Phil's aeroplane as yet. It's impressive to have your

:32:21. > :32:36.own aeroplane. Pretty much straight downwind, pin from left.

:32:37. > :32:52.Safe, down the right side. At 6-under par, Kjeldsen, 17th green.

:32:53. > :32:58.An outside chance of a two. I will! That's a little bonus.

:32:59. > :33:03.Well, he'll be looking forward to getting in the clubhouse. Three

:33:04. > :33:20.birdies, no bogeys, 7-under. Phil Mickelson, get it in the hole.

:33:21. > :33:24.It doesn't sound as the same in a strange foreign accent, it should be

:33:25. > :33:32.an American, getting the hole. Trickle bogey on ten, off the green,

:33:33. > :33:40.in the rough. -- triple bogey. Has he hit it? No, he hasn't, another

:33:41. > :33:44.one goes for Kaymer. 14th tee, playing 178, pin right side of the

:33:45. > :33:54.green. He's trying to shape it there. Oh, Philip, Philip, Philip, a

:33:55. > :33:59.massive break. There was a 50-50 chance it plugs and he's right in

:34:00. > :34:02.the middle of the green. HAZEL IRVINE:

:34:03. > :34:06.Phil Mickelson whether three shot advantage, a four way tie for

:34:07. > :34:11.second. Interesting to see Keegan Bradley up there. This is the man

:34:12. > :34:15.who won the first-ever major he entered at the USPGA Championship in

:34:16. > :34:20.2011, he's really struggled since the anchoring ban came into force

:34:21. > :34:27.this year. He's missed 11 out of 19 cuts, but a real sign of improvement

:34:28. > :34:28.for the American here. COMMENTATOR:

:34:29. > :34:44.Kjeldsen on the final hole, 7-under. Maybe heading for a Ryder Cup place.

:34:45. > :34:52.And a beautiful little drive down two of them, side-by-side. Well, we

:34:53. > :34:56.saw Zach Johnson hitters tee shot away to the right into trouble. Ken

:34:57. > :35:03.was down there earlier before it started to rain, I hasten to add.

:35:04. > :35:07.Here's what he thought. The rough was always about the open but how

:35:08. > :35:12.deep was it this week at Troon? The first cut, it isn't really rough,

:35:13. > :35:15.it's a semi, it's about three wide, two yards of reasonable stuff and

:35:16. > :35:19.then into the deep stuff and if the ball goes in here you can find some

:35:20. > :35:25.terrible lies. You will do well to hack that out. Also hidden there

:35:26. > :35:30.sometimes is a nasty bit of Heather, as the train goes by. Let's see how

:35:31. > :35:36.deep it is. It's a goods train as well. Put a tape measure in, it's

:35:37. > :35:40.always interesting. This has got to be just about 20 inches deep. So if

:35:41. > :35:44.you venture off line here and get unlucky you could get in some tough

:35:45. > :35:54.stuff. The key this week is keep out of the rough. Wise words on any

:35:55. > :35:59.course. After a brilliant break of the tee coming off the edge of the

:36:00. > :36:05.bunker, Nicholson to extend his lead for a two, he had 32-macros

:36:06. > :36:13.yesterday. -- Mickelson. Another one finds the bottom of the cut,

:36:14. > :36:23.11-under. Impressive stuff, Peter. Yes, it is, it's quite remarkable. A

:36:24. > :36:27.joy to watch. There will be a big cheer if this finds the bottom of

:36:28. > :36:32.the cup. Kjeldsen, the 18th, he could be his final putt. Wondering

:36:33. > :36:37.left to right. A wonderful day on the links for Soren Kjeldsen, the

:36:38. > :36:44.clubhouse lead at 7-under par. 68, two rounds of 38 -- 34, that's a

:36:45. > :36:48.wonderful round of golf. HAZEL IRVINE:

:36:49. > :36:54.Rounds of 67 and 68 today have put Soren Kjeldsen firmly in contention

:36:55. > :36:58.in this Open Championship. It was a tied seventh place at the Masters in

:36:59. > :37:02.April and three months on his contending once more. Let's hear

:37:03. > :37:07.from the Dane. -7 going into the weekend, you must

:37:08. > :37:10.be over the moon with that? I'm very happy with that, I played really

:37:11. > :37:14.well yesterday and we expected really tough conditions today. I

:37:15. > :37:18.think generally we got pretty lucky. It wasn't great conditions, by no

:37:19. > :37:23.means, but they weren't too bad and I hit a lot of quality shots again,

:37:24. > :37:30.made putts when I needed to make putts and saved some good pars and

:37:31. > :37:34.it was a really nice round. Into big spectators braving all to look down

:37:35. > :37:39.on Mickelson, who has found a reasonable lie, some sit forward --

:37:40. > :37:47.intrepid spectators. Mrs all the trouble. The rain is gentle, he has

:37:48. > :37:52.two gloves on now, maybe these waterproof variety you may have read

:37:53. > :37:57.about but I'm told on good authority, washing-up gloves, if you

:37:58. > :38:04.pull them over the top of those, are absolutely waterproof and do a job

:38:05. > :38:05.very well. Johnson, who found the right Russ-macro -- the right rough

:38:06. > :38:19.off the tee. Fortunately it's not blowing very

:38:20. > :38:24.hard, this is quite heavy rain coming down. A little unpleasant.

:38:25. > :38:40.Back to 6-under. There's how the leaderboard looks,

:38:41. > :38:43.he leads by four does Phil Mickelson, 15 since three, the

:38:44. > :38:48.par-4, and a lovely setup routine. He looks from behind, he's picturing

:38:49. > :38:52.the line, where the going to start the ball? At what pace? Get a clear

:38:53. > :38:59.image of that. Steps up to it, not too fast. If you rush into it you

:39:00. > :39:02.tend to have a rushed stroke, practice the soft ones. Those

:39:03. > :39:06.gloves, they might lose a bit of feel with them. Interesting, he's

:39:07. > :39:14.not afraid of getting them wet, that's the thing that intrigues me.

:39:15. > :39:21.Fine, thin leather, like grip on the shaft and push it back and through,

:39:22. > :39:30.and that's the second bogey, second bogey today, second bogey since we

:39:31. > :39:40.started. Just found the rough off the tee and it cost him.

:39:41. > :39:50.A first look at Andrew Johnson. The Middlesex golf club, they'll be

:39:51. > :39:54.cheering in the clubhouse for that one. Was a little gem, he's been

:39:55. > :40:03.playing some good golf recently, the Spanish open winner. Nicknamed Beef.

:40:04. > :40:09.The green running away from him, decent lie, longs better than

:40:10. > :40:15.shorts. That's the beauty, that is as good as you can go. How about

:40:16. > :40:19.that one? That could well be one of the shots of the week. Nerve, you

:40:20. > :40:24.see, you have to keep your nerve, and he did it beautifully. I find

:40:25. > :40:29.this Zach Johnson style of chipping and pitching intriguing, Ken. He

:40:30. > :40:34.sort of looks at it for a while and once he steps up to the ball it's

:40:35. > :40:39.all very quick. You watch now, he just goes up, just a second or two

:40:40. > :40:44.and clips it away, very stiff wrist, stiff arm. Pretty darned good. You

:40:45. > :40:51.been amazing, he has the clubface wide open, he hit one up the tee.

:40:52. > :40:55.Could do with a bit more source on those gloves. After the most

:40:56. > :41:03.delightful little chip, this would be unlikely par, or an easy par.

:41:04. > :41:08.Yes. Superb, 66, with a couple of bogeys on it. Look at those red

:41:09. > :41:14.figures, out in 31, 35 back and right in the Championship, former

:41:15. > :41:18.Masters champion as well, 2011. HAZEL IRVINE:

:41:19. > :41:22.Phil Mickelson began the day with an advantage, still has it but the

:41:23. > :41:25.chasing pack is changed a bit. Soren Kjeldsen already in with the round

:41:26. > :41:30.of 68 and Charl Schwartzel, the Masters champion five years ago,

:41:31. > :41:34.home with a 66, delightful touches in that round as well. Let's hear

:41:35. > :41:38.from him. 66, that equals your best running

:41:39. > :41:44.your open career so far. How good was it? This one was probably the

:41:45. > :41:49.best out of the 66s I have made. The front line was very difficult, thank

:41:50. > :41:54.the very first hole, I had a yards for my second which normally I wage

:41:55. > :41:59.from 79, and basically played like that all the way out, then when I

:42:00. > :42:04.returned it started raining and it rained hard, so it was a big

:42:05. > :42:06.challenge but I'm very happy the way I played today.

:42:07. > :42:11.COMMENTATOR: Mickelson, long putt for a birdie.

:42:12. > :42:18.Had a couple of bogeys, dropped a couple of shots so far in this

:42:19. > :42:24.round. But two putts will be okayed, one, no, good effort, but oh, a

:42:25. > :42:35.little bit more than I'm sure he hoped for. Johnson, birdie putt. I

:42:36. > :42:45.like the cut of his jib. Well done. APPLAUSE

:42:46. > :42:52.A little bit of chicken on the bone here, Peter. There is, there's a bit

:42:53. > :42:56.of movement here. If he's to the right of centre or towards the right

:42:57. > :43:01.edge, he's going to miss this. Just needs to be inside left edge. Inside

:43:02. > :43:07.the left edge, with a little bit of pace. He's played before. He knows

:43:08. > :43:19.how to do it. APPLAUSE

:43:20. > :43:24.Now Stenson. He was in great shape years ago, then he had two or three

:43:25. > :43:29.years when he really was in the doldrums, almost gave up then came

:43:30. > :43:33.back, found a little magic touch, a magic sword, then he is turning into

:43:34. > :43:40.one of the world's best. A lovely shot. I liked watching that, though

:43:41. > :43:54.he does things they don't tell you in the textbooks, like that -- Zach

:43:55. > :43:56.But he gets the job done. Good shot. Has more writing on him than an F1

:43:57. > :44:10.driver. He has. Come on, Phil, only two holes left

:44:11. > :44:15.to play. He finds his weight everywhere. Oh, that might be, good

:44:16. > :44:26.for a lefty. Just rocks the shoulders backwards

:44:27. > :44:36.and forwards, Zach Johnson, his putting style is very simple. No

:44:37. > :44:40.wrist action and nicely done. He's a little Luke Donald, just goes about

:44:41. > :44:44.its business, very steady, hit the fairways, has some good Science. --

:44:45. > :45:03.some good irons. Henrick, very nice. He moves within

:45:04. > :45:08.two, 13 doesn't give much away. Can he get his stands, Peter? Being

:45:09. > :45:14.left-handed he's only just got away with this. I think if he can swing,

:45:15. > :45:20.this is wet, very soft, deep sand, he is a wizard. Look how open that

:45:21. > :45:24.faith is, almost like a frying pan, flat on the back. The sound is

:45:25. > :45:31.underneath and that's the way you do it. -- sand. That was a very awkward

:45:32. > :45:39.shot at this time in the proceedings and beautifully played. Quickly to

:45:40. > :45:44.the 18th, and that Beef, what a raw if that had gone in. Played the

:45:45. > :45:54.recent US Open, the Americans just love the Beef. Mickelson, after that

:45:55. > :46:00.absolutely splendid, splendid bunker shot. This little tiddler for his

:46:01. > :46:05.three at the 17th. In she goes, well done. Not a very good tee shot, but

:46:06. > :46:08.still a par-3. HAZEL IRVINE:

:46:09. > :46:13.Mickelson coming towards the end of his round, Henrik Stenson only two

:46:14. > :46:16.shots back now, leading Briton on that leaderboard Andrew Johnson, the

:46:17. > :46:22.27-year-old from Barnet, won the Spanish open and hazard great summer

:46:23. > :46:26.so far. Let's hear from Beef after that 69.

:46:27. > :46:32.A pair of 69s, a drastic play, how pleased were you to score as you did

:46:33. > :46:35.in the end after conditions today? Very happy, it's been a strange

:46:36. > :46:40.couple of days. I played awkward yesterday, I hit one bad shot that

:46:41. > :46:45.cost me seven. I hit the purist shank you ever seen and it came out

:46:46. > :46:50.of nowhere. The same today, I was playing all right then I make seven

:46:51. > :46:53.down 11, I two horrific tee shots and that was don't worry, I'm

:46:54. > :46:57.playing well, and once I seemed to get on a roll and making two or

:46:58. > :47:01.three birdies in role it's been quite strange, but very happy.

:47:02. > :47:07.Dustin Johnson just off the green for a birdie at the 15th. He is

:47:08. > :47:10.1-over par, that looks good, well done.

:47:11. > :47:15.APPLAUSE Hadn't had any great fireworks from

:47:16. > :47:25.him thus far in the Championship, a couple of sixes, but level par.

:47:26. > :47:36.Now Mickelson, gloves still on. The rain has eased off a bit, but...

:47:37. > :47:45.Well, safe, but perfect distance. APPLAUSE

:47:46. > :47:59.He's given that the full treatment. Zach Sit, sit, oh, you greedy thing.

:48:00. > :48:07.Just tickles him on a slight downslope. I tell you, Zach, it's

:48:08. > :48:18.in. APPLAUSE

:48:19. > :48:25.Another good round for Mickelson, a couple under today. Edged away from

:48:26. > :48:31.the field, taken the all-weather gloves off, finally. Zach Johnson.

:48:32. > :48:41.Third shot at the 15th, came out to here. Still, a fair distance from

:48:42. > :48:50.the green. But oh, look at that. That's a lovely shot, a chance for a

:48:51. > :48:57.four. Now Mickelson. A great man for a birdie on the final green, the 36

:48:58. > :49:09.hole of this year's Championship. This Faure three. -- 36th hole. Very

:49:10. > :49:15.slow from that side. And with the wind in this direction, planes

:49:16. > :49:21.taking off, a bit of noise, take your time, it's only a tiddler but

:49:22. > :49:28.you have missed these. Well done, nice confident work under miserable

:49:29. > :49:33.conditions. I've seen worse. But he played nicely.

:49:34. > :49:41.APPLAUSE Zach Johnson, to save par. Always,

:49:42. > :49:55.always left. That's a total misread from Johnson. So he will slip back.

:49:56. > :50:02.LAUGHTER What are those four up to? Dustin

:50:03. > :50:10.Johnson, just finishing off. After that beautiful shot into the green.

:50:11. > :50:14.This for a four. Well done. I wonder if we are going to have any great

:50:15. > :50:20.blistering scores from him over the weekend, but a couple of sixes today

:50:21. > :50:26.have slowed him down. A few birdies. In it goes for Johnson for a bogey

:50:27. > :50:29.at the 15th, two bogeys on the back nine so far, back to 6-under. He

:50:30. > :50:44.needs the coursed fast and fiery. Dustin on the 17th, tee a bit

:50:45. > :50:48.forward, 215 today. Scampering for the umbrella, look at them, they are

:50:49. > :50:53.all blooming. What a shot from Dustin Johnson, huge squall has just

:50:54. > :51:02.come in and through the first we can see him, four feet away. That was

:51:03. > :51:09.hit and run for cover. Johnson, second shot. He's got to hit an

:51:10. > :51:16.absolute belter to reach this one. Just up the front, a perfect line. A

:51:17. > :51:21.decent shot there, what a player he's been over so many years, former

:51:22. > :51:51.Masters champion, defending champion here, grand career.

:51:52. > :52:01.Keegan at the 14th, tee shot on its way. And a good one. A bit of juice

:52:02. > :52:15.on that beauty. It really was a laser-like tee shot

:52:16. > :52:17.from Dustin Johnson on the 17th. This do make it three birdies in a

:52:18. > :52:30.row. So Johnson moves to two under par,

:52:31. > :52:35.the world never two, the U.S. Open champion making a good move towards

:52:36. > :52:42.the end of the second round. -- world number two. Stenson in the

:52:43. > :52:51.sand, looks as if he's got a lie under shot. -- lie and a shot. I

:52:52. > :52:56.thought he would hold it. I thought... And so did he. What a

:52:57. > :53:08.magnificent shot, and another birdie. Garcia. For a birdie at the

:53:09. > :53:10.14th. Running well, running very well.

:53:11. > :53:33.APPLAUSE Zach Johnson, this fraud par 116,

:53:34. > :53:43.just short of the green on two. See if you can make it all better. There

:53:44. > :53:45.we are, five in the end, a little bit clumsy around the green, but he

:53:46. > :54:02.remains 6-under. Bradley, a chance of the two on the

:54:03. > :54:09.14th, a little bit from right to left down this slope. A couple of

:54:10. > :54:16.shots went on the 11th and 12th but one back on the 14th joint Zach

:54:17. > :54:22.Johnson again on 6-under. Henrik Stenson then, to finish out here at

:54:23. > :54:33.the 16th. A beautiful bunker shot, nearly holed to Ty Nicholson. -- to

:54:34. > :54:36.tie with Mickelson. He chased Mickelson three years ago at

:54:37. > :54:43.Muirfield. HAZEL IRVINE:

:54:44. > :54:47.A score of 69 to date, the lowest halfway total at Troon ever in the

:54:48. > :54:52.open meeting and Darren Clarke's efforts by a shot, he's earned his

:54:53. > :54:57.hot bath all right but before it he talks to us.

:54:58. > :55:01.63 yesterday, brilliant, 69 today, different sides -- type of

:55:02. > :55:03.satisfaction? I thought it was a good round to follow after

:55:04. > :55:09.yesterday's round. It's difficult when you get hot and the momentum is

:55:10. > :55:14.going your way to follow it up with a good round and I felt I played

:55:15. > :55:17.pretty solid in some adverse conditions, played a good front nine

:55:18. > :55:21.and the back nine I came home in strong. I made one or two mistakes,

:55:22. > :55:25.yet when I did hit a bad shot I didn't make too big of a mistake and

:55:26. > :55:29.that was key. A lot of people have enjoyed watching you over the years

:55:30. > :55:33.because you want to BF on the front foot attacking, how much do you have

:55:34. > :55:37.to rein in your natural instincts today? I'm trying to make birdies

:55:38. > :55:46.but I'm trying to do it from the centre of the fairway, the centre of

:55:47. > :55:49.the green. I'm not trying to overpower the golf course and I'm

:55:50. > :55:53.trying to get in play. Then from there, get it in the centre and I

:55:54. > :55:56.feel the greens you can make a lot of putts. There's soft movement in

:55:57. > :55:58.them. You can make 20 or 30 foot because they're not having to be

:55:59. > :56:01.perfectly timed, or coming in from the side door. Ten and are going

:56:02. > :56:07.into the weekend after two days here. -- 10-under. What do you think

:56:08. > :56:11.about the way the tournament is set up now? I'm enjoying the challenge

:56:12. > :56:14.the weather is now providing and the winds we are going to having the

:56:15. > :56:16.next couple of days, I'm looking forward to that challenge. One of

:56:17. > :56:23.the things I've really worked on the years is to Gelb -- to get ball

:56:24. > :56:27.flights off the tee down, into the air, and it was evident today are

:56:28. > :56:32.number 12, where I hit a terrible tee shot, why worst shot of the week

:56:33. > :56:36.and because it was so low it got down onto the ground and it wasn't

:56:37. > :56:39.too bad. In these crosswinds we're going to play in that will be key,

:56:40. > :56:44.get it on the ground quick and it takes a lot of stress off the tee

:56:45. > :56:49.for me. Did you celebrate the 63 last night? No, I was getting ready

:56:50. > :56:54.for this round. I'm hopeful that there is an opportunity Sunday to

:56:55. > :56:57.bring home the Claret Jug and that would be incredible, but knowing

:56:58. > :57:02.that I've already done it takes away some of the stress. But I also know

:57:03. > :57:05.that it's a long process, there's a lot of golf left.

:57:06. > :57:09.COMMENTATOR: Obviously not laying too badly at

:57:10. > :57:15.the 17th, Johnson, can get a clean shot at it. A delightful shot, half

:57:16. > :57:26.running pitching shot to within four feet or so. Good escape, -- could

:57:27. > :57:30.escape with a par. Now DJ, final shot. Three birdies in the last

:57:31. > :57:30.four. Saved the day. APPLAUSE

:57:31. > :57:44.And still on the fringe of the hunt. Stenson, you don't want to drop a

:57:45. > :57:54.shot with just one more hole to play. Well done. Always tricky. He

:57:55. > :58:01.nudged it in nicely. Stays one behind, one to play.

:58:02. > :58:09.For par from Zach Johnson, out of the sand he came, in it goes, very

:58:10. > :58:16.good three at the 17th. Hanging in there, 6-under, four behind

:58:17. > :58:27.Mickelson, one hole to go. Kaymer, this Faure 73. -- 48 73. Good

:58:28. > :58:36.outward bound and a few untidy strokes Cummings home. 12 for those

:58:37. > :58:40.two holes and the rest were all pars. He's had a wonderful two on

:58:41. > :58:47.the 14th, Keegan Bradley, and this is a very flat putt across the 15th.

:58:48. > :58:52.Trundles along and drops another one for Bradley. He moves to 7-under

:58:53. > :59:01.alongside Soren Kjeldsen, who has finished. Three behind Mickelson.

:59:02. > :59:05.All three members of this group, side-by-side, Johnson first to play.

:59:06. > :59:16.Some distance to go. The wind beginning to take on a

:59:17. > :59:20.sideways slant, right at it, steady, steady. I was anxious because there

:59:21. > :59:24.is out of bounds just over the green here. Right at the left-hand window.

:59:25. > :59:43.The downstairs window. He likes it. A little bit bowl.

:59:44. > :59:53.APPLAUSE -- a little bit bold. Good line. JB

:59:54. > :59:57.Holmes, he can give it a good old tweak, I tell you, he and Dustin

:59:58. > :00:00.Johnson can have a rare old match and he's not bad with his bread and

:00:01. > :00:08.butter either. What about that? APPLAUSE

:00:09. > :00:13.3-under, second birdie of the day. Stenson for at the last, quite a big

:00:14. > :00:21.swing on this. Big fat grip on his putter. The fashion today, keep

:00:22. > :00:25.going, no, it's not high enough. Good effort, but not quite high

:00:26. > :00:28.enough, never was, but that's a four and a very good round from Stenson.

:00:29. > :00:44.APPLAUSE Tap in for a 65. 32 home. That is

:00:45. > :00:50.the distance Zach Johnson has left himself. A little break as well on

:00:51. > :00:57.this one, not a nice putt at all. For a closing par. It was always a

:00:58. > :01:04.big left to right out there, always difficult.

:01:05. > :01:12.Shame, an ugly finish for Zach Johnson. Two shots went to the last

:01:13. > :01:20.boreholes, round of 70, still under par today -- last format calls. --

:01:21. > :01:30.last format calls. In it goes from Henrik Stenson, 65. Heavy rain. What

:01:31. > :01:36.to round that is from the Swede. One shot behind Phil Mickelson. Another

:01:37. > :01:41.day for Henrik Stenson. STUDIO: Henrik Stenson turned 40

:01:42. > :01:46.earlier this year. Perhaps life begins, it may just right now, what

:01:47. > :01:50.is boggling finish, 65. A little on tidy from Zach Johnson, the

:01:51. > :01:56.defending champion. -- a sparkling finish. Zach, another round below

:01:57. > :02:02.par but I noticed as you came of 18 there was a grimace on your face. I

:02:03. > :02:11.had two decent shots, missed the yardage or whatever you want to call

:02:12. > :02:18.it, from that yardage anyway. Yes, a little sour. That being said, I mean

:02:19. > :02:22.if I had snuck a few early in the day, tough conditions. It is not

:02:23. > :02:27.easy. I guess it is not going to get any easier if the wind picks up.

:02:28. > :02:32.What was the key to success today? Blog I'd hit it close, I played

:02:33. > :02:35.solid yesterday. I got a good run earlier in the round, we know it is

:02:36. > :02:40.important to make your score on the front nine, the rain was getting

:02:41. > :02:48.closer and closer. I birdied three, four and five before it raining. I

:02:49. > :02:53.snuck another one in ornate, a soft bogey, it was a little soft online,

:02:54. > :03:00.I was battling dint of conditions, gossip back straightaway on ten -- I

:03:01. > :03:05.was battling in tough conditions. Delighted with that score today.

:03:06. > :03:10.Sergio Garcia has been fighting hard against day, got himself 5-under for

:03:11. > :03:15.the Championship, aided by this effort. Difficult shot right over

:03:16. > :03:20.the bunker at the long 60. That is his third, and it set up the birdie.

:03:21. > :03:29.But he gave away the advantage there was a bogey in the last. Meanwhile,

:03:30. > :03:33.after a quiet start, all pass to this point up the short fifth, Texan

:03:34. > :03:39.Patrick Reed find forward momentum -- all pars.

:03:40. > :03:47.This would yield the first birdie of his day, and he moves to 6-under,

:03:48. > :03:57.four shots of Nicholsons lead. -- four shots off Mickelson's in Leeds.

:03:58. > :04:02.The spectacular round of 65 shares the honour of second-best effort in

:04:03. > :04:05.history, there is a tie for third place. Soren Kjeldsen and Keegan

:04:06. > :04:14.Bradley have parred the last few holes. Zach Johnson also home in

:04:15. > :04:19.that 70. He is 5-under. There is a big group at 4-under. That is Howard

:04:20. > :04:24.looks at the halfway point and a two. Phil Mickelson's best ever

:04:25. > :04:29.start, the best start by anybody at Royal Troon in the halfway stage. It

:04:30. > :04:33.looks like in his 23 years at the open he has become a good bad

:04:34. > :04:38.weather player. He certainly looks that way. It is extraordinary this

:04:39. > :04:42.summer we have gone from bikinis to balaclavas in the space of a few

:04:43. > :04:48.hours. They come out yesterday with the suncream, and now everybody is

:04:49. > :04:52.shrouded in camouflage kit. He really is his own man when he comes

:04:53. > :04:57.to this. He is wearing the gloves, he has the clip and the hat, I think

:04:58. > :05:02.it is to keep it on, frankly. I don't know, your guess is as good as

:05:03. > :05:06.mine. Whatever it is, it is all coming together and working

:05:07. > :05:10.beautifully. The putter was working well once again. That is a birdie at

:05:11. > :05:13.the 4th. For Phil Mickelson, the elements for you that have made the

:05:14. > :05:19.difference over the last couple of days be to have been what? Well,

:05:20. > :05:26.people talk a lot of nonsense, in my opinion, oh, he is wonderful, he got

:05:27. > :05:31.to the ninth and he turned it on. In my opinion that is nonsense. You

:05:32. > :05:35.can't turn it on just like that otherwise everybody would decide to

:05:36. > :05:39.make 100 and their early 68. Look at this, he is hitting the ball

:05:40. > :05:45.beautifully, keeping Cole. Things happen, you play a good shot,

:05:46. > :05:54.sometimes it kicks it in. -- keeping calm. You mustn't get rid of those

:05:55. > :06:02.sort of experiences. But it is learning to keep calm, do your best,

:06:03. > :06:08.hit the best shot you can. Nerves come into it. We know the work that

:06:09. > :06:13.he has been doing on the parting has paid dividends. But once again, his

:06:14. > :06:18.genius with wedge in hand was apparent here from the southern

:06:19. > :06:23.pole. Some of those shots... Use all the way the clubface was laid. These

:06:24. > :06:30.bunkers, they are called hazards. That is a exactly what they should

:06:31. > :06:34.be. People played backwards, but keep out of them if you can. But

:06:35. > :06:40.that is what they are therefore, they put twists and turns on Formula

:06:41. > :06:45.1 tracks because of that reason. He has an array of shots around the

:06:46. > :06:50.green. He misses a lot of putts like this, Phil. He is a late starter,

:06:51. > :06:54.really. Early 40s, whatever he is coming he has won 60 or tournaments

:06:55. > :06:59.but he really didn't start performing in Majors until he was

:07:00. > :07:02.well into his 30s. Interestingly, he has come into the press conference

:07:03. > :07:07.saying it was stress-free golf today. He looks back to 2004 here at

:07:08. > :07:16.Troon when he was third and says that this is where he really began

:07:17. > :07:18.to click with links golf. It took him a long time but from that point

:07:19. > :07:21.he has always filed comfortable with this course, and the results have

:07:22. > :07:25.been seen. That wonderful victory three years ago. It is a phrase that

:07:26. > :07:28.is used a lot, patience. If you look at the things that Jack Nicklaus

:07:29. > :07:33.says now, Jack is a dear, dear friend of mine, he talks enormous

:07:34. > :07:37.sense now, far more than he did 25 years ago, about the way the game is

:07:38. > :07:41.played. Things that happen here. You have got to wait. When he came here

:07:42. > :07:49.first of all to the Championship, you realise that a lot of people

:07:50. > :07:52.have no chance. I can't play, there is no air conditioning in my hotel,

:07:53. > :07:55.I can't get the stake the size of a 13 shoe, I am going to go home, I'm

:07:56. > :07:59.fed up with it, I can't understand what they say. Half the field is

:08:00. > :08:04.eliminated. All these sorts of factors come in. It isn't the golf

:08:05. > :08:08.that they are used to playing. It could be all different again this

:08:09. > :08:11.afternoon. The seagulls might start walking this afternoon. When the

:08:12. > :08:16.seagulls are walking, you know you're in trouble. You talk about

:08:17. > :08:21.patients, Henrik Stenson has had plenty of that, that's for sure.

:08:22. > :08:25.Just one shot behind Phil Mickelson. But as Eusebio have the challenge of

:08:26. > :08:29.rain this morning, there could be further challenges ahead with strong

:08:30. > :08:38.winds forecast -- as you say. Out just after 2pm, Jordan Spieth,

:08:39. > :08:42.Justin Rose and Shane Lowry. Augusta hero Danny Willett, Rickie Fowler

:08:43. > :08:50.and world number one Jason Day. Whilst Rory McIlroy goes to the

:08:51. > :08:54.first tee knowing that his challenge might be challenged by more rain and

:08:55. > :09:00.gusting winds as well. The elements work against them.

:09:01. > :09:07.A reminder of how it looks as we go back out onto Troon mac Old Course.

:09:08. > :09:18.-- Troon's Old Course. We will hand you to Mark James and

:09:19. > :09:24.Andrew Cotter, who are all hunkered down and ready for anything.

:09:25. > :09:28.COMMENTATOR: We shall see, the wind is supposed to big up a little bit.

:09:29. > :09:34.Certainly tricky for the afternoon starters. -- to pick up a little

:09:35. > :09:38.bit. Rickie Fowler can manage his way around in a bit of a breeze. You

:09:39. > :09:44.can see the flag looking from this morning, punching getting low into

:09:45. > :09:50.the wind still. -- punching it is low. Look at that. Beautifully

:09:51. > :09:57.managing the shot. It just shows how difficult it is. Very tricky.

:09:58. > :10:03.Awkward, awkward stance. A good lie for Justin Rose. Oh, that was

:10:04. > :10:08.ambitious. I haven't seen angle like that from Justin Rose before. It

:10:09. > :10:11.certainly was a big risk. It obviously was. He is lucky he didn't

:10:12. > :10:25.hit it again around the club. Fowler now for his birdie. Lovely

:10:26. > :10:35.approach. Oh, beautifully done, what a great start for Rickie Fowler.

:10:36. > :10:39.Minus three. Let's have a look at this again, Justin Rose, awkward

:10:40. > :10:44.stance, good enough lie that he fancied he can get up there with a

:10:45. > :10:50.3-wood. It was a shocker, wasn't it?! Really quite a good release on

:10:51. > :10:57.the throw. The world number for now, British number one, though. --

:10:58. > :11:00.number for Mac. Just a flip with a wedge on this back right pin. It

:11:01. > :11:18.will fly right with this wind. STUDIO: There is the situation.

:11:19. > :11:21.Keegan Bradley in that tie for third at the moment after finishing his

:11:22. > :11:27.round of 68 with three consecutive pars. The first major he ever

:11:28. > :11:31.entered five years ago with a long putter trying to win his second one

:11:32. > :11:37.for the short version. Let's hear from him. 68 today to follow the 67.

:11:38. > :11:41.Would this have been a better round over all then yesterday? Definitely,

:11:42. > :11:46.it was really nasty of love around. It was difficult all day but it

:11:47. > :11:49.rained pretty hard run five holes. The way the wind is blowing, a lot

:11:50. > :11:54.of people are talking about the dangers out there get you were able

:11:55. > :11:59.to keep your call. I have been strong mentally all week. -- keep

:12:00. > :12:05.your Poole. I kept strong to finish that well. Good view of the

:12:06. > :12:09.technique, but bedding himself in, Patrick Reed.

:12:10. > :12:16.Well played. If you are in the middle of the bunkers here, the ones

:12:17. > :12:26.on the right are not too bad. That was well built with. Google Roy for

:12:27. > :12:36.his birdie on the second. -- McIlroy for his birdie on the second.

:12:37. > :12:46.Here they are, just about the ideal start, does have a birdie in the

:12:47. > :12:48.second, three and. -- 3-under. This is a very good save for Patrick

:12:49. > :12:53.Reed. Move to the right. Shame. Cox his head a bit confused,

:12:54. > :13:08.thought he had it, misread it. First drop shot of the day for

:13:09. > :13:15.Patrick Reed, back where he started, 5-under.

:13:16. > :13:24.Fiddly on for Jordan Spieth on the par-5. Looks to be lying nicely.

:13:25. > :13:31.Held with superbly. Jordan Spieth will have his birdie here. A proper

:13:32. > :13:39.spot for windsurfing, lively, good technique for that. Justin Rose,

:13:40. > :13:46.after all his frustration on the fourth, is holding his club away

:13:47. > :13:52.after the second. This now for par. I think he has had the wrong end of

:13:53. > :13:57.the draw a few times in the Open Grampian ship. Matthew Southgate on

:13:58. > :14:04.par so far on the back nine -- Open Championship. This poor a birdie,

:14:05. > :14:07.for a 71. -- for a birdie. That is a great round of golf from Matthew

:14:08. > :14:14.Southgate! Great story, well done, Matthew. Patrick Reed, as so many

:14:15. > :14:20.have done before, has missed this 10th green. Off down to the right.

:14:21. > :14:27.Good up and down on the mine. Going to need a bit of putting magic on

:14:28. > :14:31.the 10th -- down to the night. Difficulty is all relative. We saw

:14:32. > :14:35.Matthew Southgate finishing. He had surgery for cancer the week of the

:14:36. > :14:39.open at St Andrews last year. Here here's playing in this great

:14:40. > :14:43.Championship having come through final local qualifying. What a

:14:44. > :14:47.positive difference 12 months have made for him. Being diagnosed with

:14:48. > :14:51.cancer last year and going through all that you have, do you feel it is

:14:52. > :15:01.like a second chance now? In a way I do feel it is like a second chance.

:15:02. > :15:03.I am grateful, I was so lucky, it was nothing too serious and I

:15:04. > :15:06.recovered for equipment. My goal with all that now is to raise

:15:07. > :15:09.awareness for other young guys. It is just one of those things where it

:15:10. > :15:12.takes courage to go and shoot to my good scores but it also takes good

:15:13. > :15:17.courage to get yourself into the doctors if you have got a problem.

:15:18. > :15:20.Anybody who is uncertain about their health, it is a great opportunity

:15:21. > :15:24.for me, I can reach out to a load of people. If I can get one young guy

:15:25. > :15:28.to go to the doctors and find a problem early and end up saving the

:15:29. > :15:32.life, that is a lot more important to me than hitting a golf shot. It

:15:33. > :15:36.is lovely to be in the position that I am indeed speak out to so many

:15:37. > :15:41.people. You are in for the weekend, the first time you have made the cut

:15:42. > :15:46.for the Open, how excited are you? I'm role. I came to my first British

:15:47. > :15:52.Open in 99 when I was ten years old. -- I'm thrilled. I went to everyone.

:15:53. > :15:56.My dad used to bring me, we used to ride bikes down to the golf course,

:15:57. > :16:00.we never missed a shot. I used to drive dad mad about the open, the

:16:01. > :16:04.open, I used to sit in the grandstand at eight o'clock in the

:16:05. > :16:07.morning just to get a seat. Comfortably double figure the amount

:16:08. > :16:11.of times. To know that I would be able to come down here someday and

:16:12. > :16:15.plate to that crowd and get the reception that I had given so many

:16:16. > :16:20.other hundreds of players over the years is very special to me. Rose

:16:21. > :16:26.for bogey, still a bit of work, the winds are up and this is not easy.

:16:27. > :16:32.He has just pulled that straight off. That is a bad seven. That is

:16:33. > :16:41.after a bogey at the 1st. Shocking start bowls. -- shocking start for

:16:42. > :16:49.Rose. Reed for par at the 10th, hit it. That was a timid effort.

:16:50. > :17:09.So, Patrick Reed slips back. Wind up over 20 mph now in from the right.

:17:10. > :17:21.It was a fabulous shot, absolutely brilliant. To get that much club on

:17:22. > :17:27.the ball. It is a wide stance. Jordan Spieth is settling into this

:17:28. > :17:35.one. The ball didn't rattle around off wide, wide wedge. He recovers

:17:36. > :17:37.well. As you expect, fairly straightforward bunker shot. He

:17:38. > :17:47.wonders why that has run on. Two bogeys in the first three for

:17:48. > :17:56.Watson. A chance here to get at least one back. Oh, well,

:17:57. > :18:02.beautifully judged. It wasn't an easy play for Bubba Watson. A great

:18:03. > :18:08.shot off the left-hand side. Used all of his strength. Jordan Spieth

:18:09. > :18:12.for his par on the sixth. It was a very loose weight she played in on

:18:13. > :18:15.the left-hand bunker. And a very un-Speith like part. On Speith like

:18:16. > :18:35.wedge. -- on Speith like wedge. Par-3 5th, 199 for Jason Day. Pin on

:18:36. > :18:42.the left, the wind was really howling as he hit that. What a shot!

:18:43. > :18:55.Absolutely flushed. Beautiful. Simple enough, two putt birdie for

:18:56. > :19:04.Bubba Watson. Back to level par. To go under par for the day, it

:19:05. > :19:12.Jason Day. Got to be. Nothing to it at the 5th.

:19:13. > :19:38.The par-5 6th to come. Patrick Reed for his par on the

:19:39. > :19:46.11th. Another one goes. Reed is giving them away at the moment.

:19:47. > :19:50.Bogeys on the eighth, 10th and 11th. STUDIO: As ever, there is an element

:19:51. > :19:55.of the luck of the draw about the Open Championship. Those who entered

:19:56. > :19:58.this morning early will have considered themselves fortunate to

:19:59. > :20:03.have avoided the strong winds now gasping in. Nobody is making an

:20:04. > :20:08.impression there. Patrick Reed has gone backwards. At the moment, the

:20:09. > :20:12.steady, steady rounds of Steve Stricker and Billy Horschel, who

:20:13. > :20:17.haven't dropped so far, are proving the most effective here in the group

:20:18. > :20:24.of 4-under par. Patrick Reed is now 2-over on his round. In the group at

:20:25. > :20:29.3-under. There is sand or something on the back of the ball. The green

:20:30. > :20:34.is well above him. He is at the 8th, and Speith has to flip it up. It is

:20:35. > :20:41.back in again. No, it's not. Oh, yes, it is. Don't just drop in the

:20:42. > :20:51.back, oh, it is built on the downslope. Oh...

:20:52. > :21:03.Looking at 2-over par at the moment, the cut. Day has shied his birdie

:21:04. > :21:15.chance. Lovely, lovely putt. Back to level par. For a bogey.

:21:16. > :21:26.Couple more shots drop away. Not a happy bunny.

:21:27. > :21:33.STUDIO: A reminder of how it looks here at Troon. Phil Mickelson still

:21:34. > :21:38.with the 1-shot advantage over Swede Henrik Stenson. In a tie for third

:21:39. > :21:43.place it is Kjeldsen Bradley. Defending champion Zach Johnson home

:21:44. > :21:46.after a round of 70 today. -- Kjeldsen Bradley. Many of the

:21:47. > :21:50.players in the field wearing black ribbons in the memory of the victims

:21:51. > :21:56.of the dreadful events in Nice last evening. Amongst them is the French

:21:57. > :21:59.golfer who lives in that city. He said today, I am proud to be French

:22:00. > :22:06.and we all need to support each other. We would echo those

:22:07. > :22:10.sentiments and pay our respects as the trickle hovers at half-mast

:22:11. > :22:19.overall Troon today. -- the French flag.

:22:20. > :22:30.Oh, he has clipped it off nicely. A load of spin on it. An absolute gem.

:22:31. > :22:35.If you do that, you can feed it too far. That was perfect play. -- you

:22:36. > :22:43.can then it. It looks like means business. -- he means business. He

:22:44. > :22:50.has got his game face, focus, whatever that means.

:22:51. > :23:00.Here he comes, McIlroy's third shot. A whisker too soon, but nicely

:23:01. > :23:31.played. He is still a young man, but what a wonderful record he has had.

:23:32. > :23:43.McIlroy birdie putt at sixth. Just a little bit of amazement on this. Oh,

:23:44. > :23:45.lovely, lovely. Birdie it is. APPLAUSE

:23:46. > :24:06.That's more like it. 4-under. After a splendid 45 yard bunker shot

:24:07. > :24:12.splashed out in the air, looking in strokes, it looks like just a par

:24:13. > :24:20.for Bubba. That is what they call infrastructure! Well, Rory is having

:24:21. > :24:23.a shy at the 7th, 89 yards, bit of breeze helping. It isn't far from

:24:24. > :24:34.the green. Still well balanced, pretty

:24:35. > :24:42.straight, will it hold of their will it...? Bounding on, look at that. --

:24:43. > :24:46.hold the fairway. It is skipping the way, nestled a bit. -- skipping

:24:47. > :25:02.away. Come on, Bubba, where you going now?

:25:03. > :25:11.Not bad, I don't think, it is an almighty one. Oh my good God, the

:25:12. > :25:17.cat that?! -- look at that. This is the group ahead on the green, Rickie

:25:18. > :25:20.Fowler down the slope. Hitting Cross handed, he has looked pretty good

:25:21. > :25:28.this morning, a couple of decent ones. Go on... No... Oh, yes!

:25:29. > :25:34.APPLAUSE Just enough pace, just enough break.

:25:35. > :25:37.And tidy start, started at wonder, has moved to 4-under. -- untidy

:25:38. > :25:50.start. Started at 2-under. His two playing partners have made

:25:51. > :26:01.it three, and so has he. He is at 1-over. Three birdies in a row. Bit

:26:02. > :26:06.of blue sky, Peter, how about that?! Can he get this one right, he has

:26:07. > :26:11.had a good start on the green so far today, this is a left to right, down

:26:12. > :26:16.the slope, he is taking a lot of time picking his lie. Has he? He

:26:17. > :26:21.has! What a start for Rory today, right in the centre, three birdies

:26:22. > :26:31.on his card, no drop shots. He looks a bit bedraggled. Thank God nobody

:26:32. > :26:34.is hungry! Bubba, can he follow McIlroy in for a birdie? No, you

:26:35. > :26:55.can't. -- he can't. APPLAUSE

:26:56. > :27:00.14th, moves to 3-under par. The Asian champion. McIlroy decent at

:27:01. > :27:08.the 8th. QT here yesterday, nearly hole it. -- nearly holed it. One of

:27:09. > :27:18.the shortest hole is no proper golf course. Par-3, 100 and 20-odd

:27:19. > :27:23.guards. Oh, golly gumdrops. -- odd yards. That doesn't look very

:27:24. > :27:26.inviting at all. Ken was out earlier, looking at the treacherous

:27:27. > :27:32.nurse of these greenside bunkers at the 8th. At Troon, all around the

:27:33. > :27:37.greens there are sneaky bunkers. Have a look at this one, let's chuck

:27:38. > :27:45.a few balls and see how they lie. Not too bad. Little bunkers, you

:27:46. > :27:48.very rarely get a flat lie at the bottom, awkward shots. Often you

:27:49. > :27:52.don't have much green to work with, so they are awkward. You have to

:27:53. > :27:56.flick it up very quickly, this one is not too bad, I quite fancy it.

:27:57. > :28:01.They have found a flat layer, you can see how the bunkers gather up.

:28:02. > :28:09.Let's have a go at this one. Open the clubface. Don't be too cute or

:28:10. > :28:14.you will leave it in here. Too bad, it has come out a bit runny. The

:28:15. > :28:18.bunkers rampant through greens are small, they are pot bunkers and they

:28:19. > :28:24.are tricky. -- around true greens. If you don't get a flat lie you will

:28:25. > :28:26.have also also trouble. Some of the members have trouble getting out,

:28:27. > :28:40.two. -- all of trouble. Bubba looks to be playing out

:28:41. > :28:46.slightly sideways. What is the angle of the club compared to his feet?

:28:47. > :28:56.That is a brilliant shot. I don't believe it! That could almost get in

:28:57. > :29:00.the Guinness Book of Records. You just can't do that. You can't do

:29:01. > :29:15.that... Smoke and mirrors there. APPLAUSE

:29:16. > :29:26.What were we making all the fuss about?! Just a couple of simple

:29:27. > :29:32.breeze. -- threes. This is their way, a fair distance to go yet. Come

:29:33. > :29:37.down with the iron. -- this fairway. That doesn't look great, a mix of

:29:38. > :29:45.bushes and long grass. A bit of trouble off the Tmax. Left on the

:29:46. > :29:52.ninth, McIlroy. -- off the tee. Slow to come up, just a few paces shot of

:29:53. > :29:58.the flag. Attended by, up and up and shot.

:29:59. > :30:09.Could use a slightly longer lens! McIlroy for his par.

:30:10. > :30:17.Gasps from the crowd, the first drop shot of the date from Rory McIlroy,

:30:18. > :30:23.right at the end of the front line. Phil Mickelson in with his 69 and

:30:24. > :30:29.Henrik Stenson with 65. Harm but very wet. A wonderful round. --

:30:30. > :30:33.harm. Anybody who can get on the first page of the leaderboard from

:30:34. > :30:38.this afternoon has done very well indeed. Steve Stricker, what around

:30:39. > :30:46.he is putting together. All pars so far. Here he is on the 11th.

:30:47. > :30:58.And hops it up nicely, such a wise old head, Stricker, doesn't play too

:30:59. > :31:07.often. Done very well here. Fowler, for par on the 10th.

:31:08. > :31:24.Sometimes you have to work so hard for your pars. This for an eagle to

:31:25. > :31:29.get to -5, come on, no. Got a heck of a birdie. Michael Roy to ten,

:31:30. > :31:35.perfect drive. Trying to get back that drop shot at nine double quick

:31:36. > :31:40.-- Rory McIlroy. Now, he is hitting it low. A punchy shot. A pretty good

:31:41. > :31:47.shot as well. APPLAUSE

:31:48. > :31:49.Stricker, on the 11th, this Faure birdie, all pars so far from Steve

:31:50. > :32:01.Stricker. He putts so well, Stricker, but

:32:02. > :32:05.can't quite believe that stayed out, another par for his massive

:32:06. > :32:07.collection. Still four under, that's a very, very tidy card in these

:32:08. > :32:28.conditions. An, after the birdie, a little wind

:32:29. > :32:34.helping. Hang on, drifting away. It's gone into that slightly longer

:32:35. > :32:40.rough. Dipping into the wind, at least.

:32:41. > :32:54.Good drive, solid iron shot from McIlroy, this for his birdie. It's a

:32:55. > :32:57.well struck putt. The wind now starting to affect the putts as

:32:58. > :33:00.well, looks as though it drifted away when it shouldn't have. A

:33:01. > :33:14.birdie putt. Very nice indeed. Shugo Imahira,

:33:15. > :33:22.after a double bogey in the third as well. He'd just missed one tiddler,

:33:23. > :33:27.McIlroy, let's hope he makes a better job of this one. No, he

:33:28. > :33:34.hasn't, making a worse job, that's two in a row. That's just the sort

:33:35. > :33:44.of thing you don't need on a day like today.

:33:45. > :33:51.That was awful, back-to-back birdies for McIlroy, and the 11th to come.

:33:52. > :33:54.Hasn't been very pleasant for Steve Stricker but he's got a rescue club

:33:55. > :34:00.here. Must be lying better than it looks. He did get lucky with the

:34:01. > :34:06.live there didn't he, there's a lot of long grass around. -- the lie

:34:07. > :34:11.there, didn't he, there's a lot of long grass around. Absolutely right,

:34:12. > :34:16.that's a great shot. What a recovery from Steve Stricker. A bit of luck

:34:17. > :34:22.in the lie but well executed. Patrick Reed, Faure birdie, he was

:34:23. > :34:25.doing well earlier. Five bogeys from the eighth to the 16th, could redeem

:34:26. > :34:31.himself a bit here. It's looking good, it's thin, brilliant for Reed.

:34:32. > :34:43.Back to minus two. -- it is in. APPLAUSE

:34:44. > :34:51.An, to save par. He will slip back to three.

:34:52. > :35:00.APPLAUSE Magical shot from Stricker from the

:35:01. > :35:06.right rough with that rescue wood and this for a birdie to get to

:35:07. > :35:10.minus five. Drifting right. Trying to come back, but no, but good par

:35:11. > :35:19.on the toughest hole on the course today. Train whistles by and

:35:20. > :35:33.steadies himself, wind down and off the left.

:35:34. > :35:36.Well, certainly did well not to lose his train of thought there, didn't

:35:37. > :35:52.he? 12 holes, 12 pars, that's moving

:35:53. > :35:56.Stricker up the leaderboard. -4, currently in sixth position. In

:35:57. > :36:03.deteriorating conditions, that's looking pretty tasty. Now Jordan

:36:04. > :36:07.Spieth, one outside the projected cut mark at the moment. That's where

:36:08. > :36:15.Monty finished, he might miss it by one as well. Tee shot on 14. Looks

:36:16. > :36:20.good, murmurs somebody. Looks fantastic, what are shot from space,

:36:21. > :36:24.so that to get back to three. He is fighting hard. He's only missed

:36:25. > :36:33.three cuts in 14 Majors, right on the mark. So McIlroy for a birdie on

:36:34. > :36:35.the 11th. In the old days this would be an eagle, par-5 right up to the

:36:36. > :36:51.89 Open. This is Kodai Ichihara, very

:36:52. > :36:57.unpleasant start to his round today, dropped four shots in his first five

:36:58. > :37:09.holes. Throwing it across the green, he is judged that well, hasn't he?

:37:10. > :37:17.Birdie on the sixth. All smiles. Still well inside the cut mark, a

:37:18. > :37:20.long way to go, mind you. Now for some very big names in the tough

:37:21. > :37:24.conditions this afternoon it's a struggle to make the cut, Jordan

:37:25. > :37:29.Spieth, this would be very helpful to get back to three. In it goes,

:37:30. > :37:34.that is the predicted cut at the moment. It might even go to four

:37:35. > :37:45.over, where Monty Waits but Spieth, back to three.

:37:46. > :37:57.He holes that one, McIlroy, just missed a couple of tiddlers. -3, a

:37:58. > :38:04.tough 12th to come. Left to right for An to finish with a par. He has

:38:05. > :38:07.hit two terrible putts from the back of the green and then from there,

:38:08. > :38:15.just beginning to get concerned about the balls moving. Still a

:38:16. > :38:22.very, very good round in these conditions, two rounds in 70. Fowler

:38:23. > :38:26.to try to save par at the 12th, a left to right and he misses it is

:38:27. > :38:43.the other way. Patrick Reed started the day 5-under

:38:44. > :38:49.and the wind whipping away at his trousers, in for par and the last

:38:50. > :38:56.hard day's work for Patrick Reed, a round of 74, nice birdie on the

:38:57. > :38:57.17th, but back on 38. Two and for the Championship.

:38:58. > :39:01.HAZEL IRVINE: It was Patrick Reed who feel they --

:39:02. > :39:06.figured so prominently on the leaderboard, got to 6-under and with

:39:07. > :39:10.a round of 74 he is back in the Packer two under par, a very tough

:39:11. > :39:13.day and a very breezy office. I wonder what he makes of it.

:39:14. > :39:18.You made a very good start on Thursday, today a very different

:39:19. > :39:24.day. Can you describe how you found conditions? A lot more difficult

:39:25. > :39:32.than yesterday. The front nine played a lot longer, on the second

:39:33. > :39:37.hole yesterday I hit for eye and I think off the tee and sand wedge and

:39:38. > :39:41.today Mac -- and today I hit to Ireland for my own so it was a

:39:42. > :39:44.different date, I needed to figure out what was going on with the wind

:39:45. > :39:49.on the back nine. It just seemed like the front nine I was long all

:39:50. > :39:54.day and I got to the back nine and everything was just liked but short.

:39:55. > :40:01.COMMENTATOR: Stricker for par 113, all pars in

:40:02. > :40:13.the first 12 holes, must hole it. Yes, you beauty. He's a machine.

:40:14. > :40:22.The ball of McIlroy, it shouldn't be too difficult. Just a bit of a ridge

:40:23. > :40:32.before the pin, it's lying well. Firm, wet sand.

:40:33. > :40:38.He decelerated there, took it back fine and just stopped halfway down,

:40:39. > :40:47.got a little edgy on it. Here's a long putt on a Postage Stamp for

:40:48. > :40:52.Richard Sterne. Dropped are shot on the sixth, a chance to get one back

:40:53. > :40:57.here. Rattles into the cup, a big crowd still out there at the Postage

:40:58. > :41:04.Stamp. Wow he says, as well he might. Take that.

:41:05. > :41:19.This for par four McIlroy now. Classic putting group. -- grip.

:41:20. > :41:28.So another shot will go for McIlroy, all sorts of trouble is now. Steve

:41:29. > :41:35.Stricker has to go all the way up onto the shoulder here and down.

:41:36. > :41:43.That will go on and on. So that to continue his amazing run of pars.

:41:44. > :41:47.It's a little bit like yesterday for McIlroy, who was going so well on

:41:48. > :41:52.the front nine and then a couple of problems at the start of the back,

:41:53. > :41:57.that just keeps him, head bowed, moves on, three bogeys in the last

:41:58. > :42:02.four holes. I can't believe how many people are still here. It's like a

:42:03. > :42:08.penguin colony, huddling together for warmth. A brightly lit runway,

:42:09. > :42:11.it's one of the longest runways around at Prestwick. I wonder if a

:42:12. > :42:17.few players are looking at that longingly at the moment! McIlroy

:42:18. > :42:24.thinks he can get there with a long iron.

:42:25. > :42:38.This is cruel for these players, because the wind has changed round.

:42:39. > :42:48.It's not giving them help now on the way home. Take shelter from the

:42:49. > :42:54.storm. Now Harrington, a great round. One goes at the last. I said

:42:55. > :42:59.great round, but that's really testament to the conditions that a

:43:00. > :43:03.level par round is a great round. In the end it's going to be won over

:43:04. > :43:11.for Harrington, 72, but it moves him up. He was playing Louis Oosthuizen,

:43:12. > :43:19.he came round with 45, it gives you an idea what the back nine is like.

:43:20. > :43:23.McIlroy needs a good putt to drop. He is bleeding strokes at the

:43:24. > :43:31.moment. That's not going to get there. So another shot will go for

:43:32. > :43:35.Michael Wright, four shots gone in the space of five holes and from a

:43:36. > :43:40.position of challenging the top page of the leaderboard, he's back to

:43:41. > :43:46.1-under for the Championship. -- for Rory McIlroy.

:43:47. > :43:56.Bubba Watson, can he find his par on the 13th? No, the arms will flap and

:43:57. > :44:10.the art eyes will widen. And Bubba is in real bother now. He needs a

:44:11. > :44:17.birdie or two. Six shot for Steve Stricker, par four this.

:44:18. > :44:20.He's played the sixth, having made all those pars he'll have that for

:44:21. > :44:35.the seventh, par-4. Bubba's tee-shot on the 14th, can he

:44:36. > :44:42.judge the wind correctly? He surely can. So he said he needed a birdie

:44:43. > :44:55.or two, one might come here at the 14th. Rose has been tacking up this

:44:56. > :44:59.hole, this for his par. How is he doing? Pars so far on the back nine,

:45:00. > :45:08.a double bogey on the fourth, very frustrated at that point. He had a

:45:09. > :45:14.bit of a hurl. He needs this, inside the cut mark comfortably enough at

:45:15. > :45:20.the moment. As he hit it? Yes, he has! Working man's par. He remains

:45:21. > :45:28.1-over for the Championship. Should be safe enough, if he can steer his

:45:29. > :45:36.way home. He needs a birdie, 5-over at the moment. He's got a chance to

:45:37. > :45:38.make it. Well done. Nicely done, Bubba.

:45:39. > :45:50.APPLAUSE First page of the leaderboard, which

:45:51. > :45:57.is pretty much set in stone and has been for some time, net -- Mickelson

:45:58. > :46:00.by one from Stenson, Kjeldsen, Bradley, Johnson, Finau, all played

:46:01. > :46:06.this morning and enjoyed better conditions. It was wet but it was

:46:07. > :46:14.still and they took advantage. Rickie Fowler to save his par, he's

:46:15. > :46:22.got a good line on it. Superdry. -- a super try.

:46:23. > :46:32.It's been a Sunday trip at the 18th Justin Rose, a bunker off the tee,

:46:33. > :46:41.splash out, greenside bunker. Up and down for bogey. Nicely played.

:46:42. > :46:52.APPLAUSE Jason Day, it's lying very nicely.

:46:53. > :46:53.Just a little clean, his endeavour to get it to grab.

:46:54. > :47:09.APPLAUSE Rose drove in the bunker, hacked

:47:10. > :47:13.out, his nest -- next one splashed out to here, this is a bogey,

:47:14. > :47:16.downhill, a little bit of movement from right to left, not terribly

:47:17. > :47:31.inviting. APPLAUSE

:47:32. > :47:41.A double bogey. 77. Jason Day, trying to save his

:47:42. > :47:56.par. A six at the par-5 16th.

:47:57. > :48:16.APPLAUSE 1-under for the round, but currently

:48:17. > :48:20.1-over for the Championship. McIlroy just 1-over for his ground, it's a

:48:21. > :48:27.neat, tidy score under the conditions. -- for his round. The

:48:28. > :48:33.chance of a birdie here, two good shots, his third to the par-5. Too

:48:34. > :48:37.much backspin, Rory, too much, come on!

:48:38. > :48:46.APPLAUSE Ten or 12 footer for his birdie.

:48:47. > :48:51.Hardy folk, gathering to watch the golf. McIlroy eyeing up another one.

:48:52. > :48:57.His letter few shots slip away on this back nine, but this for a four.

:48:58. > :49:05.-- he has let a fuse shots slip away. It is in the whole as well! A

:49:06. > :49:12.lovely birdie at the 16th, Rory moves back to level par. Just

:49:13. > :49:19.outside the top ten. Well, it's been an interesting round for Steve

:49:20. > :49:29.Stricker. Let's see if he can finish in -- here. How did he get on today,

:49:30. > :49:36.17 pars. Not on the 15th, let's not talk about that. Well, Bubba Watson,

:49:37. > :49:40.who has missed plenty of Open Championship cuts in his time, has

:49:41. > :49:50.missed the last two years, needs a birdie here. Giving it the hard

:49:51. > :49:54.stare. Oh, what a chance he has given himself! Beautiful shot by

:49:55. > :49:55.Bubba Watson. He might yet be here for the weekend.

:49:56. > :50:00.APPLAUSE The crowd that have hung around for

:50:01. > :50:05.this starry group show their appreciation. Good crowds again,

:50:06. > :50:10.obviously they enjoyed themselves tremendously yesterday. They have

:50:11. > :50:17.come down for today, had very different weather. Bubba Watson

:50:18. > :50:26.needs this to make the cut, this is for a birdie at the last. And he has

:50:27. > :50:29.it! Watson with our three. He will be here for the weekend, whether he

:50:30. > :50:33.wants to or not. APPLAUSE

:50:34. > :50:43.Of course, he does! Battling round of 76. A birdie at the last to sneak

:50:44. > :50:46.in, that's something to be admired. Not wasting much time is Rory

:50:47. > :50:56.McIlroy, a little sliding left to right. Well done, Rory. Not easy

:50:57. > :51:01.today, about 6pm a horrible squall went through. Wasn't exactly what he

:51:02. > :51:06.wanted but two under par, still writing it. Do you think he believes

:51:07. > :51:12.he can make that up? It's not impossible. That front nine can give

:51:13. > :51:12.you a few birdies on day three and four.

:51:13. > :51:17.HAZEL IRVINE: After all of that the squall As, the

:51:18. > :51:21.wind and the rain, the leaderboard has been little changed since 1pm.

:51:22. > :51:25.Phil Mickelson with a record-breaking halfway score at

:51:26. > :51:31.Troon, hot on his heels just as he was when he was runner-up to Phil at

:51:32. > :51:37.Muirfield three years ago is Henrik Stenson. Kjeldsen, Bradley Johnson

:51:38. > :51:41.still in the picture, a quintet at four under and looking a little

:51:42. > :51:48.further down, that quintet includes Sergio Garcia and Rafael

:51:49. > :51:52.Cabrera-Bello -- Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who's had a wonderful season so far.

:51:53. > :51:56.At two under within touching distance, there's the danger man,

:51:57. > :52:01.Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy, who settles for a level par round of 71

:52:02. > :52:04.and I wonder what his thoughts will be on his afternoon's rather

:52:05. > :52:10.difficult work. I've been on the good side the draw and the bad side

:52:11. > :52:13.of the draw here. The good side of the draw, the time I can remember I

:52:14. > :52:18.won the tournament. I feel like I've been on more bad than good, but it

:52:19. > :52:22.is what it is and I'm just glad that I handled the conditions well today.

:52:23. > :52:28.It's one of the best sort of bad weather runs I've played in a while

:52:29. > :52:32.and I'll get back and depending on what happens tomorrow, if I can get

:52:33. > :52:36.off to a fast start I might not be too far away going into the back

:52:37. > :52:39.nine. So Rory is still in the running but some big names are not.

:52:40. > :52:46.Having missed the cut, Ernie Els, the last three winners here at

:52:47. > :52:49.Troon, Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard and Todd Hamilton, Paul

:52:50. > :52:53.Casey didn't have a great time, neither did Matthew Fitzpatrick and

:52:54. > :52:55.there will be no matter Silver Medal handed out because both of the

:52:56. > :53:01.amateurs in the field also missed the cut. Ken Byrne was rather

:53:02. > :53:05.chuffed he was not out in all the nasty stuff this afternoon. How

:53:06. > :53:10.severe was that for the players who are very definitely in the wrong

:53:11. > :53:14.side of the draw? It was quite adjusting if you looked at the draw,

:53:15. > :53:18.52 groups out, in the morning 22 finished under par and in the

:53:19. > :53:22.afternoon, only four. The afternoon was brutal. About 6pm there was a

:53:23. > :53:27.huge squall that came through and the ball was going nowhere. Jason

:53:28. > :53:32.deep left his tee shot 40 yards off the green, it was horrible. How

:53:33. > :53:35.difficult is it to banish the despondent feeling you are miles

:53:36. > :53:35.behind the leader and you know there's

:53:36. > :53:37.despondent feeling you are miles behind the leader and you know

:53:38. > :53:40.there's weather coming in? You can never tell until you are out there.

:53:41. > :53:44.Sometimes the weather does change but this morning they had a real

:53:45. > :53:48.good break and this afternoon it was very tricky and if you have to do

:53:49. > :53:54.it, 72 holes, you can only do the best you can and hope. Bernard

:53:55. > :53:57.Langer in 1985 was on the wrong side of the draw at St George's and

:53:58. > :54:02.nearly won it, so you can get lucky if you play well enough. Two rounds

:54:03. > :54:04.to go but it's tricky. Am sure Phil Mickelson relaxing with a little

:54:05. > :54:08.shandy while everybody was struggling towards the end of the

:54:09. > :54:11.day, it's his best ever start in an Open Championship at the halfway

:54:12. > :54:17.mark, so to Henrik Stenson and his was the best round of the day. This

:54:18. > :54:21.65, he had only ever had is six rounds in the 60s and this is top

:54:22. > :54:22.notch from him. He got motoring at the

:54:23. > :54:24.rounds in the 60s and this is top notch from him. He got motoring at

:54:25. > :54:29.the 3rd. That's right, the pin was tucked behind the left-hand bunker,

:54:30. > :54:34.he had to hit high floater, not much breeze at this stage of the morning.

:54:35. > :54:41.That's a beauty. He can spin it a lot, that's his first birdie of the

:54:42. > :54:46.day. He was taking advantage of a very high-scoring stretch, a par-5

:54:47. > :54:49.4th hole. Awkward shot, a steep bank on the bunker, he managed to get a

:54:50. > :54:54.bit of Grabban that was delightful way to start. Three in a row, this

:54:55. > :54:58.was the fifth, the first of a short holes here, this is his tee shot.

:54:59. > :55:02.The pennies down the left side of the green and you have to feed it in

:55:03. > :55:09.between the pin and the flag there. He sneaks it past the bunker and it

:55:10. > :55:12.trickles round to the hole side. That's an absolute beauty. Not much

:55:13. > :55:15.work for the putt at that one but certainly required here at the 7th

:55:16. > :55:21.and using this like every other club in the bag to great effect, moving

:55:22. > :55:25.to 7-under now. Just, just, he hasn't holed that many putts, but

:55:26. > :55:31.he's holed a 15 foot which has kept the momentum going. It was timely.

:55:32. > :55:35.Having dropped a shot at the 9th, he got it here. Sam Hill so

:55:36. > :55:39.challenging, this is one of seven birdies, set up by this iron shot.

:55:40. > :55:43.The weather is turning nasty, the wind picked up and that was one of

:55:44. > :55:48.the best shots all day, difficult to get the ball back to the pin. Along

:55:49. > :55:54.putt at the 13th, diving down to 8-under and Mickelson's turn. A

:55:55. > :55:59.couple of blemishes on his way home. That was a beauty, not many birdies

:56:00. > :56:02.at the 13th, that was one of them. The last of the par fives, didn't

:56:03. > :56:08.look promising but created the chance. The he was lucky, got to the

:56:09. > :56:13.flag of the bunker, nearly found the bottom of the cup. 65, a fantastic

:56:14. > :56:17.round of golf. He hasn't contended in the last six Majors or so and you

:56:18. > :56:21.get the feeling from what he said in the aftermath of that round he knows

:56:22. > :56:24.time is running out, he's played 42 Majors, he reckons he's got between

:56:25. > :56:26.12-15 to bag one of these Majors, he reckons he's got between

:56:27. > :56:29.12-15 to bag one of these things in his career. The he's good enough to

:56:30. > :56:37.win a major, he knows he's good enough to win a major, he's played

:56:38. > :56:40.with major winners, but time does tiptoe on. He's got a marvellous

:56:41. > :56:44.game, he needs to hole 12-macro more putts, he needs to get 15 footers in

:56:45. > :56:49.and he will be in contention. His tee to green game has been stunning.

:56:50. > :56:57.Stunning as well your choices for shot of the day, you have not gone

:56:58. > :57:01.for power today. A few good ones, my favourites, Bubba Watson missed the

:57:02. > :57:06.Postage Stamp, the green is above him, he has no green to land on, he

:57:07. > :57:13.has the clubface wide-open, watch what he does. It's genius. Flips it

:57:14. > :57:19.up, the dance around, Lancet on a sixpence and very nearly holds it.

:57:20. > :57:23.-- holes it. If it came up at all short it would be back to his feet,

:57:24. > :57:27.tremendous. Another beauty from Jordan Spieth, I delightful picture.

:57:28. > :57:31.Skips on, killed itself, trickles up to the hole. So important at the

:57:32. > :57:39.links you can play those shots and he was one of the best. But the

:57:40. > :57:44.winner. Mr Mickelson, I believe. Phil put a great round together, a

:57:45. > :57:48.bit of sand on the ball, not bury fanciable, a bit lip to come over,

:57:49. > :57:53.look how wide-open the clubface is, he will pop it up in the air.

:57:54. > :57:58.Getting it out wasn't difficult but getting it to go the distance, a bit

:57:59. > :58:02.of drag like a snooker player. That was exquisite. Who needs a Claret

:58:03. > :58:07.Jug when you can win shot of the day? We will be back to do it all

:58:08. > :58:11.again tomorrow evening at 8pm in the evening, with action from the third

:58:12. > :58:14.round. Five live on the air with live radio coverage from midday.

:58:15. > :58:18.Don't forget, you can keep up-to-date with everything going on

:58:19. > :58:21.here on the BBC Sport website mobile app, there's video clips on their

:58:22. > :58:24.all-day and much more besides, the all-important weather forecast

:58:25. > :58:29.summed up by one phrase tomorrow, not as wet as it has been but the

:58:30. > :58:33.breeze will be up by the time the leaders start out in the afternoon.

:58:34. > :58:38.We had fun in the sun yesterday, but into every golfing life a little

:58:39. > :58:47.rain must fall. It's all part of the game at the Open Championship. Good

:58:48. > :58:54.night. # What a difference a day makes

:58:55. > :59:09.# 24 little hours # What a -- the sun and the flowers

:59:10. > :59:12.# Where there used to be rain #.