20-year-old Tom Lewis was in trouble early in his second round with two bogeys (AFP)
Overnight leader Tom Lewis dropped off the pace as the second round of the British Open got under way here Friday with benign weather conditions inviting a day of low scoring at Royal St George's.
Overnight leader Tom Lewis dropped off the pace as the second round of the British Open got under way here Friday with benign weather conditions inviting a day of low scoring at Royal St George's.
English amateur Lewis electrified the field on Thursday when he carded a five-under-par 65 to grab a share of the lead alongside Danish veteran Thomas Bjorn, the lowest total by an amateur in Open history.
But the 20-year-old was in trouble early in his second round, when two bogeys on the front nine saw him fall away to leave Bjorn, who was playing later Friday, in sole possession of the lead.
After an opening round when powerful winds exacerbated the challenges of St George's rugged links layout, Friday saw the opportunity for movement with brilliant sunshine and only the gentlest of breezes blowing across the course.
Lucas Glover, Ricky Barnes and Miguel Angel Jimenez were all one stroke off the lead on four under.
The most impressive mover was reigning US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa. The 26-year-old from Johannesburg had started the day at one over par, but conjured up five birdies after 11 holes to reach three under.
Schwartzel was tied for fifth with Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, American Chad Campbell, Jeff Overton and overnight joint-leader Lewis.
Clarke had at one stage surged into a share of the lead, due in part to a monstrous 90-foot eagle putt on the par-five eighth.
But bogeys on the 14th and 16th holes halted his charge.
Overnight leader Bjorn, who only earned a late place in the field following the injury withdrawal of Vijay Singh, got his round under way at 12:26 (1126 GMT).
Bjorn's five-under-par 65 provided the opening day's most heartwarming storyline as he made a successful return to the scene of his 2003 collapse, when he blew a three-shot lead with four to play to gift victory to Ben Curtis.
Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, the newly-crowned US Open champion, is six adrift of the leaders after an opening one-over-par 71 but knows better than anyone how quickly a Major championship leaderboard can change.
McIlroy is joined on one-over by English world number one Luke Donald, while top American hope Phil Mickelson, at 41, was just ahead of them at level par.
But English hope Lee Westwood was on course to miss the cut after a wayward second round.
Westwood, who had started the day at one over, dropped five shots over the front nine to leave himself three over for the day, and four over for the tournament.
Biggest cheer of the morning went to 61-year-old American legend Tom Watson who aced the par-three sixth hole with a four iron.
Meanwhile South Africa's Retief Goosen withdrew from the Open Friday after damaging his back in the first round, where he shot a six-over-par 76.
© 2011 AFP/sid
