The Open 2017: Jordan Spieth weathers the storm to take two-shot lead at rain-beaten Royal Birkdale

• Full round two leaderboard

On a second day of the 146th Open Championship which at times threatened chaos, if not downright golfing carnage, Jordan Spieth afforded the leaderboard a measure of order.

No doubt, these are early days, as golfers like to say at the halfway point, but be sure, golf has read this script before when it comes to the young American. Even with 36 holes remaining it is so easy to envisage the 24-year-old advancing to within a USPGA Championship of completing the career grand slam.

As the heavens opened and crosswinds howled, Spieth displayed all his talent, guile and gumption to scramble it around the defiant links in 69 to stand at six-under and take a two-shot lead over countryman Matt Kuchar.

In a tie in third comes the resurgent, eye-popping Englishman Ian Poulter alongside the US Open champion Brooks Koepka. It is likely that this course has thrown its worst at the contestants and with a leaderboard also containing Rory McIlroy, five behind on one-under, a thrilling weekend is in store.

Yet they all have to go some to bypass Spieth, who led wire-to-wire when winning the Masters aged 22 before, 12 months later, infamously conceding a five-shot lead to Danny Willett. On days like this, when Spieth’s willpower lives up to his peerless craft on and around the greens, that capitulation makes absolutely no sense at all.

There were four bogeys on his card and any number of times when he looked aghast at his caddie, Michael Greller. But he weathered the storm – literally – took refuse under the brolly, dried off his grips and then, when the opportunities presented themselves in a staggering six holes, he unleashed the magic moments.

In this 80-minute spell he chipped in for a par on the 10th, holed a 35-footer on the 11th, stiffed it on the 12th and made an eagle on the 15th. Indeed, when he made that 20-footer for a three, there was suddenly a three-shot gap and the rest must have gulped.

Yet even Spieth’s escapologist powers could enact the rescue on the 16th and he was forced to be content with his one-under heroics.

Once again he only five out of 14 fairways and only eight greens in regulation, but when you are so accomplished with your wedge and only taking 25 putts, it is possible to mask the failings of the long game. But only if the psyche is exceptionally strong.

Spieth dared to call himself “lucky”. "I give myself a B grade today," he said. "I got pretty frustrated through the turn, hitting it into pot bunker after pot bunker and squeaking out pars somehow, but I thought we did a good job after. I played the last eight holes almost as a new round. I didn't get everything I could out of yesterday's round and I got more than what I deserved today."

With respect to the others looming large, McIlroy’s name in close proximity might cause Spieth to sit up and take most notice. The Northern Irishman’s mission to stage one of the game’s most audacious recoveries is become all the more plausible on. Birkdale folklore already has it that McIlroy was five over after six holes in his first round. Since then he has performed like McIlroy should perform, playing his last 25 holes in six-under, better than anyone over this stretch.

When Kuchar departed the course just before 2pm he was expecting to return to his rental home to watch joyous mayhem. The 39-year-old was content with his 71 for a four-under total and with the forecast predicting torrential rain and higher winds, he was clearly anticipating retaining top spot. Except it did not quite work out like that.

Yes, there were downpours, coming in sustained bursts of such magnitude they created a 20-minute suspension of play as the greens were cleared of standing water, and the flags did begin to bend in the gusts which, on occasion, hit 35 mph. But while there were some casualties – Justin Thomas, the world No 13 made a quintuple bogey nine of the sixth on the way to an  80 - the pick of the afternoon starters battened down and withstood the elements.

Poulter, who finished second here in 2008, remarkably managed to keep a bogey off his card until the 16th. The 41-year-old then looked almost certain to take another at the 18th, when he played a sloppy six-iron to the left of the green, short-siding himself behind a greenside bunker. But from there he played a quite marvelous lob-wedge to two feet.

"To be in after two days and be under par for this championship after the way I started, I'm ecstatic,” Poulter said after a 68, pointing out that he was eight shots better on the first six holes this time. “I went out with positivity and trust in myself and just need to keep that for the next two days.”

Poulter has that look on his face, yet having resurrected his career with his runner-up finish at The Players two months ago, he is also swinging with great freedom. This is the first major he has played in since the 2016 Masters and having come through the 36-hole shootout at Woburn a fortnight ago he is determined to enjoy himself. He revealed that on Thursday night his eldest son, Luke, had taken £20 off John Daly’s son, John Jnr, in a challenge match and the father, too, is ready to take on all-comers. Be it Spieth or whoever.

“I'm in a bonus week - I qualified,” Poulter said. “I'm loving it. I really am. This is a massive bonus for me to be in this position. I haven't played a major for a while and I'm excited, I'm pumped up. I feel my game's coming back to form. So I'm ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone this weekend.”

For Scotland, Richie Ramsay soars so proudly on two-under after a 70 in which he played “some of the best golf of my career”, while on the same mark as McIlroy are Richard Bland, the 44-year-old from Hampshire who is enjoying the week of his career, and the Americans Gary Woodland and Austin Connelly.

8:46PM

Bland finishes five off 

Richard Bland completes his round, a two-over 72, but remains in contention going into the second half of the weekend, sitting five shots off the lead.

Six golfers remain out on course.

8:24PM

Finishing up

Brooks Koepke finishes three behind the lead with a two-over 72 in his second round.

And good news for Tommy Fleetwood, who has made the cut with a second-round 69. 

7:57PM

Spieth goes into the clubhouse as leader

With a tremendous first putt at 18 to set up a tap in for par. Has there been a better putter in the past 10 years than Spieth? 

 Stenson, one of his playing partners, slides his birdie effort wide but saves par and goes in at +2, sight shots behind the leader but the defending champion will be here at the weekend. 

7:45PM

Spieth saves par

On 17 by two-putting but his face contrasts markedly with Thomas Pieters who bogeyed 11, 14. 16., 17 and 18 to finish at four-over. More exasperation than fury at being caught in the wind and rain, he hurls his flat-iron as he walks over to the 'recorder's office'. 

7:36PM

Spieth digs himself out

Spieth lays up and then hits a terrific third that skates the right of the green and leaves him with a long shot for a birdie, from the back, uphill and about 20ft. He seems delighted with the outcome, saying 'Wow!' to his caddie and his face is a picture of gratification. 

7:32PM

Bland claws a shot back

At 14 with a ballsy putt to go to two-under. Spieth was a little wild off the tee at 17, dragging his tee shot off the fairway to the left. It's blowing a hoolie and it's taters out there. 'Links golf' the experts chortle. 

7:25PM

Special Ks

Koepka has a chance to move level with Kuchar on -4 with a 12-ft birdie putt that breaks left to right but he sweeps it past. Richard Bland chipped up to the 13th and almost holed his bogey attempt but was done by the wind and a sticky lip.

 It would not fall and so he records a double bogey that takes him down to one-under. 

7:20PM

The greens are starting to put the brake on putts

And Spieth pays the price, leaving a 25-ft birdie chance 3ft short then he pushes the par-saver past. He goes back to -6, cutting his lead to two strokes. Alfie Plant, the amateur, made an eagle on 15 to move to +4 and make it inside the projected cut then lags his putt at 18 to confirm his place in rounds three and four and the silver medal. 

7:14PM

Trouble for Bland

Who started the 13th at -3, but is now in difficulty after having to take a drop and approached the green in four. His shot flies off to the right and he's going to struggle to get away with a double bogey here. 

7:11PM

What of Justin Rose

He's one stroke inside the projected cut of +5 on +4 following a birdie at the 15th. 

7:09PM

Gary Woodland

Who we met earlier with his eagle at the fifth has birdied the 15th and moves to -1. Russell Henley, who says the wind changed mid-round, hung in there for another 70, He says he's not 'super comfortable' with the weather but says he's getting to grips with the green. 

7:01PM

The wind drops but Spieth sails on

At the 15th he hit a wayward tee shot then somehow improvised a fairway wood that he torpedoed low and on to the green thanks to some Barnes-Wallis bounces. And he nails the eagle putt, uphill from 15 feet to move to -7. His face betrays a touch of insouciant joy that fortune as well as skill is with him tonight.

6:52PM

Ian Poulter speaks

I felt imbalanced, it's hard to hit balls with a strong left to right wind. I did a great job. I was pretty pumped. Nice to go out in level par and then we had some nasty stuff, it come off the water, it was freezing cold. A solid performance in tough conditions and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. 

6:49PM

On the 13th green

Matsuyama is unable to pull off the save he managed at 12, sliding his nine-footer past. He drops a place top level par. Can Koepka save his par from five feet? No? He gives it enough tap but it glides by the left lip and trickles past. He''s back to -3, joining Poulter and Bland. Back at the 10th Sung Kang, who had a chance to advance to three-under, zips his left-to-right 15-footer past the cup. 

6:42PM

Spieth drops a shot

At the par three 14th after driving into the bunker. He does his best to scramble par but has to settle for a bogey. He's back at -5, one ahead of Koepka and Kuchar. Koepka, though, may not be there for long after a worrying approach to 13 that sails off to the right of the green . He hasn't made a birdie today. 

6:33PM

Missed opportunities

For Bland on 10 and Koepka on 12, both for birdies, both from about 10ft. Both seem to underestimate the drag of the sodden grass. 

6:28PM

Henrik Stenson is on the march

With birdies at 11 and 12 that take him back to where the defending champion started this morning at -1. Matsuyama joins him there on the retreat with back-to-back bogeys on 10 and 11. Meanwhile Tommy Fleetwood, the charismatic home hero, has given himself a chance of hanging around with a birdie at 11 that takes him to provisional cut point of +5. Bah! Henrik slides his par putt wide at the tricky 13th to move back to level par. Matsuyama saves his par on 12 with a nuggety eighteen-footer that just dies into the cup. 

6:17PM

Poulter finishes with a 70

And goes into the third round on three-under. Richard Bland, who bogeyed the eighth, has just sunk a par putt from about 10ft on the ninth to stay on -3 as well. But Spieth puts daylight between him and Kuchar and Koepka with a birdie on 12, his second in succession. After bemoaning his game off the tee I have to concede that was all by virtue of an extraordinary tee shot to within a couple of feet.

 The wind is getting up again and a squall is about to hit again. 'It's like a Dracula movie,' says Sky's man. 

6:00PM

Spieth's putter is on fire

And he moves into the lead on the 11th green by stroking a 28-footer into the cup. That was a tremendous shot after all the stop-start-stops of the past hour and having had to scramble a save at the 10th. Tee to green he's been off it today but his short game and putting has been magnificent. He walks on to the 12th tee at -5. 

5:56PM

Poulter resumes 

With a birdie chance at the 17th from 15ft. He paces it perfectly but it snakes off to the left in the final 30 inches. 

5:45PM

Bland drops another shot

He putted boldly, adjusting for a left to right break that didn't bring the ball back in as sharply as he had hoped. He drops back to -3 just as the klaxon sounds to end the temporary suspension. 

5:41PM

Bland is playing out at the 8th

And plays his third shot to the right of the pin, giving himself about 12ft for par. The rain has all but stopped yet the greens need a little drying to get rid of the 'ponding'. Once the puddles are dealt with, the golfers who stopped playing will be able to continue. 

5:36PM

Houdini Spieth

Having got himself into a dreadful position on the 10th by driving into a fairway bunker, laying up and then firing his iron to the right of the green into the fuzz, he bumps the ball and runs it straight down the heart of the cup with his sand wedge. Out come the  squeegees for the greens and the hooter sounds to suspend play (after the players complete the holes they are on should they so wish). Poulter is back to -3 after his first bogey of the day at 16, the root of which was a drive that suggests the club slipped in his hand. It's been tipping it down for 10 minutes though it seems to be easing. 

5:23PM

Bland falls back, too

With a bogey at six after the uncouth drive and the recovery shot that clipped the tree. There rae five tied for the lead at -4 now: Bland, Poulter, Spieth, Koepka and Kuchar. Matsuyama moves tow ithin a shot of them with a birdie on the 8th. 

5:15PM

Spieth drops back

His third shot, having gone through the green, skipped past the hole and he bent his par-saver to the right. He knew as soon as he hit it, stomping after it. He joins Kuchar, Kopeka and Poulter on -4. 

5:12PM

Spieth speaks

He provides his own commentary and says 'Oh s---! I've got a jumper, the first jumper of the week.'Thta was after his approach to the ninth but he's not much of a judge as the ball didn't fly out of bounds as he first feared, just through the green. He rolls his birdie putt from 15 yards high to the left, leaving maybe 6ft for par. Poulter has a fine birdie chance on 15 but leaves it on the lip, kissing but not dropping. He groans, does his happy-sad-happy mime repertoire and taps it in. 

5:04PM

At the sixth

Bland pulls his tee shot to the left into the rough, just short of the cart path while Poulter, one shot behind his compatriot on four-under, looks in great shape on 15th after successive pars at 13 and 14. Matsuyama, ranked No2, has made a birdie at seven after bogeying six and returns to -2. Bland punches put of the rough, catches a low branch, and ends up in the first cut. 

4:59PM

As Bland advances ...

Brooks Koepka falls a shot behind to four-under with a bogey at the sixth following a wild drive that was taken off to the side by the wind. Perhaps it's the waterproofs restricting his swing. Probably not. Jordan Spieth popped his drive into the bunker on eight but scrambles out to save par while Bland himself leaves a difficult, 20ft birdie putt on the fifth up on the lip. The rain has at least tamed the wind. 

4:47PM

Richard Bland moves into the joint lead

With a birdie at the fourth made by his second shot, drilling his iron pin high and within six feet. He's now on -5 with Jordan Spieth (who parred the seventh by virtue of an astute first putt) and Brooks Koepka. 

4:43PM

Justin Thomas is having the yang to yesterday's yin

He began with a double bogey at the first and a bogey at the second but consolidated with three pars. But he gets himself into an awful mess at the sixth, flailing around in the hay to the right of the green. His first effort to extricate himself ends when the club slips out of his hand as he played the shot. He has to try something different and lay up, turning through 90 degrees to change the line for his sixth shot at the par four. He ends up carding a nine to move from three-under last night to five-over after six. 

4:32PM

The weather turns for the worse

The wind gets up and the rain starts to lash down. This is going to be horrible for all. Jordan Spieth saved par from the bunker on six with more elegance than a normal scramble and has just teed off at the 7th after emerging from beneath a brolly, using a five-iron that leaves his Titleist between the island bunker and the front left, probably half a club's power short of the green. 

4:27PM

Farewell Mark O'Meara

Champion here in 1998 and playing his last Open, receives a rousing reception on the 18th green both before and after he sinks his bogey putt for an extraordinarily good 70 today after Thursday's 81. So does Chris Wood who has chipped in for an eagle two from the fairway, shooting at the pin, when he retrieves his ball and throws it into the crowd. Wood finishes on three-over and with the cut currently estimated to be +5, that shot has saved him from fretting over whether he'll be back. 

4:20PM

Koepka has a chance to move into the lead

At the fourth after his spectacular save at the preceding hole but he pushes it to the left and it doesn't drop. He still has a very good chance of following  Bobby Jones (1926, 1930), Gene Sarazen (1932), Ben Hogan (1953), Lee Trevino (1971), Tom Watson (1982) and Tiger Woods (2000) as winners of the US Open and The Open in the same year. All Americans. 

4:16PM

The police report

That Henrik Stenson's rented Open house was burgled while he was playing yesterday. Here's the statement:

Keep 'em peeled.  

4:14PM

Poulter joins Bland and Kuchar

After 11 pars, he sweeps in a beast of a birdie putt at the par three 12th and gives it one of his Ryder Cup roars and Bruce Forsyth biceps curls. He's on four-under and playing beautifully. 

4:10PM

After 19 years

Richard Bland, playing his first open since 1998 (when it was also held at Royal Birkdale), has made a 20-foot putt for birdie from the fringe at the second and moves to four-under, tied with Matt Kuchar for third.

4:06PM

Justin Rose

Has gone through the third after making his second bogey of the afternoon. He started with one, made par on the second but then dropped another shot at the next hole to move back to three-over. Ever wondered what's in his bag? 

3:57PM

Remarkable comeback from Koepka

He chips it from the filth to the left to within 3ft of the cup. 

3:54PM

Joint leader

Brooks Koepka began with two pars, leaving a 20-ft birdie putt just short at the second hole. But his iron shot off the third fairway flies miles off to the left, hits the road and keeps bouncing. He's going to be playing that back from Cheshire. Mickelson finished with a pair of bogeys on his Leftycoaster of a round, finishing at seven-over after yesterday's par round. That should mean he'll be heading back to Cali by missing the cut fro the first time since Royal Lytham in 2012. 

3:46PM

Sensational eagle at the fifth 

By Gary Woodland of Topeka Kansas. He was about 110 yards short and chipped it in with the nonchalance of a man tossing a ball of waste paper into a skip. 

3:41PM

Up go the umbrellas

And the rain disturbs both Pieters and Stenson who bogey the fourth and third respectively. Spieth, playing with defending champion, Stenson also bogeys the third and drops back to a share of the lead at five-under. His approach shot was pushed to the right but instead of lag-putting in the wind he rolls it 8ft past on the left and cannot rescue himself from his misreading of the green and the weather. 

3:29PM

Poulter gets up and down

Hideki Matsuyama bursts the green with his second shot at the first and his 18ft birdie putt stalls in the wind. Poulter is in a spot of bother at the ninth when he fires his approach to the right of the green and has to bump and run but the force and wind takes it 18ft uphill. But he sinks a monster dogleg putt to save par. 

3:12PM

Jordan Spieth takes the lead

Resplendent in imperial purple, he sweeps in a majestic putt on the 1st to move to six-under. Cries of 'Spieth!'

Poulter saves par on eight after that sensational bunker shot. 

3:10PM

Back-to-back birdies for Pieters

The Ryder Cup player birdies the first and second, the latter with a snaking 15-foot putt. Poulter splashes out at the eighth from the bunker to the right of the green and clips the pin. Gasps of admiration tinged with disappointment make Poulter grimace and then smile. 

3:07PM

Earlier Paul Casey

Went round in 77 after yesterday's 66. Here's Daniel Schofield on his slide from four-under to three-over.

"Paul Casey possesses one of golf’s sunnier dispositions, but on the occasion of his 40th birthday the Englishman’s resolute cheerfulness was broken by the elements that all but blew away his bid for a maiden major triumph. Read on ...

2:59PM

Thomas Pieters

Begins with a birdie and moves to two-under. Paul McGinley says the first six holes are 'playing easy' today because of the wind direction. Ian Poulter has parred the first seven to stay on -3, but the logic of McGinley and Harmon would say eh should have done better with the hell to come when they face the wind coming at them from the south-east. 

2:47PM

Rory McIlroy speaks

2:42PM

Back-to-back birdies

For Bubba Watson and his Martian ball on 15 and 16 to bring him back down to level par. He drains a 15-footer at the 16th, urged on all the way, understandably, by Butch Harmon.

2:39PM

McIlroy finishes on one-under

Magnificent at the last from tee to green, he sweeps his 50ft birdie putt from the back of the green to within three feet then rolls it in for a 68 for the day. Dustin Johnson, sadly, bogeys the last and walks towards the scorer's hut, sorry 'recorder's office', to finish Friday on three-over. 

2:23PM

McIlroy on 17

Begins with two terrific shots, the second taking him 15ft downhill of the pin juts off the surface. His putt races up and slides by on the right, leaving himself a five-footer for birdie. Before he can putt out. Dustin Johnson fires a 25-footer that hits the cup. It doesn't horseshoe as much as hit the back lip and skip up and out. He taps in for birdie then McIlroy sweeps his birdie chance into the heart of the hole and moves up to one-under with one to play.

2:10PM

Phil Mickelson

Champion at Muirfield in 2013 began the round on three-over and has had a topsy-turvy day with a birdie at the 1st, a double bogey at the third, birdie at four, bogeys at the 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th followed by a birdie at 14. Here's a photograph that encapsulates his expedition on the path less trodden today:

2:03PM

McIlroy's trousers

Flap in the wind as he takes a moment to readdress the shortish putt for par, maybe 4ft, which he sinks to stay on level par with two to play. Kent Bulle, or 'Ken Bull' as the autocorrect keeps trying to insist, made his second bogey of the afternoon at the 11th to drop back to one-under. 

1:58PM

Steady as she goes for Poulter

Has begun with three successive pars, needing a tremendous wedge out of the sand at three to stay on three-under.

Meanwhile up on the 16th, McIlroy bursts the green with his  second shot. 'Far too hot,' says Ewen Murray. He chips back on to within six feet for a par putt. 

1:46PM

Dustin Johnson's eagle putt

Shaves the left lip and rolls past at the 15th from 15ft. McIlroy lags up and leaves himself 4ft for bogey, a putt he sweeps in. He moves back to level par. Correction to the below, I'm told McIlroy did not take a drop but found the sand with his second shot and had to splash out. Apologies. 

1:42PM

McIlroy about to drop a shot

Some confusion over the signpost at 15 now as both McIlroy and Schwartzel take drops but Sky doesn't show us the former's third shot that leaves him 130 yards short to the right of the fairway. His chip up to the green hangs in the wind and falls short, leaving him about 60ft for par. Dustin Johnson was on the green in two. 

1:36PM

The waypost

Is classified as a movable object but they need to find the right Allen key to take it down. So Schwartzel's position is deemed unplayable. Matt Kuchar makes his fourth bogey (to complement three birdies) at 18 to go in as clubhouse leader on four-under. 

1:31PM

Wild at 15

Trouble for Rory McIlroy off the tee, his drive catching the wind and sailing right into the hay. Schwartzel is wilder still, saved from out of bounds by the gallery seats. Having just given Bulle a nod, his par putt on the 9th has lipped out to the left. And some relief for Bubba Watson with a birdie at the 12th. 

McIloy has a signpost in his line that will be removed temporarily so he can take his shot.

1:22PM

Kent Bulle

An alumnus of Mid Tennessee State University, continues to impress on 'moving day' with a birdie at the first followed by seven steady pars to move up to -3. McIlroy gets up and down at the 14th for par, his chip from the right of the green provoking a full-throated Lancashire roar from the crowd billeted atop the dunes. 

1:16PM

Everyone's a critic

Back at the ninth earlier today Dustin Johnson pulled an iron shot off the fairway and deposited flush in the face of Irish Times golf correspondent Philip Reid. His cheek was handily placed, saving Johnson from arrowing out of bounds, but that has to smart. 

1:12PM

Schwartzel in bother

He's playing with McIlroy and makes a second double-bogey of the day to move to +2. Half a minute later McIlroy drops his first shot of the day, perhaps the easiest of his par-savers, sweeping it wide of the lip to the left from 8ft. He drops to one-under, all the result of a wild tee shot leathered down the right. 

1:08PM

It goes from bad to worse for Watson

Having bogeyed seven, eight and nine, he's just double-bogeyed 10 having gone into the bunker off the tee and taking two shots to get out. Up on the 18th Sergio wobbles his birdie putt to the right and walks off to sign for a 69 which means the Masters champion will be back on Saturday, starting at two-over, one behind Zach Johnson who made a remarkable 66 in this wind. 

1:04PM

Watch out for Shane Lowry

suggests John McEnerney

1:01PM

Watson makes it three bogeys in succession

On social media there's quite a bit of profane schadenfreude for his predicament, partly because of his 'shiny green balls', partly because of his personality. McIlroy makes par on 12 and stays at two-under but Schwartzel drops another there, his third bogey to go with a double and a birdie, that has reduced him from four-under to evens. 

12:57PM

Weather report

I sing the body electric. But our golf correspondent James Corrigan does not. This was written before DJ's birdie on 12:

12:55PM

Jamie Corrigan writes

12:53PM

What a sand-saver! 

McIlroy splashes out on 12 and fizzes the ball maybe two inches to the left of the cup. It rolls past leaving a gimme for par from about 2ft. Schwartzel pushes his birdie putt to the right of the same cup. Dustin Johnson pulls a shot back with his first birdie of round two, sinking an 8ft putt after bogeys at the fifth and ninth and is now on two-over. 

12:48PM

Watson in trouble

Chipping off the 12th tee, McIlroy's  iron shot lands to the left but doesn't stick and rolls agonisingly slowly down into the bunker. 'It's like hitting into a tumble dryer,' says Wayne Riley. Bubba Watson is in danger of a hat-trick of bogeys after the wind takes him into the long grass up the left of the ninth green and he needs two attempts to get it on to the green. He has maybe 60ft for par and gives it everything but it slides past, leaving him a tricky uphill seven-footer. 

12:43PM

Terrific from McIlroy

Another par-saver from McIlroy, downhill all the way, breaks from the left and pace judged perfectly. He stays on two-under. He punches the air with a short-arm jab to an imaginary foe's solar-plexus.  

12:40PM

Matt Kuchar moves into the lead

After making par on 14 he drains a six-foot putt for birdie at the 15th. Back at the 11th, McIlroy chips on to the green, leaving himself maybe 12ft for par. The wind is playing havoc with shots of the tees and fairway. We remember, of course, that Padraig Harrington won here at three-over in 2008 and Mark O'Meara at Evens in 1998. 

12:33PM

McIlroy off the tee at 11

And off the fairway too as he sprays it to the right though the lie looks kind. Bubba Watson registers back-to-back bogeys on the eighth and there is a faint hint of steam emerging from his ears. McIlroy's lie is above his feet a little so he tries to punch out on to the green  but leaves it maybe 20 yards short of the apron.  

12:30PM

Kuchar tames the wind

Bubba Watson dropped a shot on seven and was not best pleased with his drive at the eighth, asking his caddie: 'Are you kidding me?' Whether that was rhetorical dismay at the shot or genuine disdain for the club advice I'm not sure. Matt Kuchar shares the lead with Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth with pars at 12 and 13 keeping him on five-under. 

12:26PM

McIlroy saves par on 10

Up on the 10th, a green driven by three contenders today, Rory McIlroy sinks a tremendous par-saver, breaking from left to right and dropping in from 10ft to keep him at two-under after a drive that flashed off to the right. 

12:18PM

Sergio edging back

Sergio Garcia hasn't had the best day so far, but he has just produced a wonderful approach from the rough on the 15th. At one-under today, he is two-over overall, and in line to make the projected cut, as things stand. 

12:12PM

Big cheer for Rory

McIlroy has completed a 31  front nine to put him two-under par at the halfway stage of his second round.

If you weren't aware, Rory had a mixed first round - read all about it here.

12:07PM

That wind causing more problems

The breeze is so strong that Schwarzel can't replace his ball exactly where his marker was placed. Every time he puts it down it rolls away, so he has had to get an official in to allow him to place it elsewhere. It's only a marginal difference, but a difference nonetheless.

Schwarzel himself isn't affected, sending a long putt to within two feet of the hole on the eighth.

12:01PM

Wind picking up

Dustin approaching the ninth sends his second shot out into the crowd on the right.

Very strong 21mph wind blowing south-easterly as the players target that hole. Schwartzel gets on the green and can two-putt out of there.

Should be stressed the wind hasn't deterred the crowds, who really have turned out in big numbers.

Quick switch to the 13th where co-leader Kuchar chips out of the bunker and will putt for par.

11:54AM

McIlroy on track

Out of the bunker and a par for McIlroy at the eighth. Shame after his opening tee shot but still, -3 is the second best score out there today aside from the in-form Zach Johnson.

Stuart Manley (below) now at the first, the Welshman who rounded off Thursday superbly with an eagle and then a birdie on the last two holes. Interesting to see how he starts today.

11:47AM

Kuchar so close

How did this not roll in?! Kuchar regathering himself after that wobble and has to settle for par at the 12th, but come on. Not a lot more he can do here.

Still a three-way tie for the lead.

11:42AM

Americans on top

USA's Jamie Lovemark into the clubhouse with the best round of the day so far, shooting 69 to sit at level par after two days.

Second shot at the eighth not so flush from McIlroy, the wind taking it sideways off the green. Work to do then for par.

Elsewhere, Kent Bulle holds his par putt to stay at -3. A lot of red, white and blue on the front page of the leaderboard.

11:35AM

Approaching the eighth

Rory driving at the eighth and he couldn't have put it any better down the middle of the fairway, away from the dodgy bunkers.

 Schwartzel and DJ fare less well, the South African landing his down to the rough on the right.

11:31AM

Westwood's Eagle

 Here in all its glory. Westwood moving back to par with this eagle at the fifth.

11:30AM

No change for the star trio

Still not clicking for Dustin Johnson, whose approach at seven is off radar. He does well to get par to stay at +2. Par as well for Rory.

Schwartzel looking to get back on track and he's given himself a great chance there, birdie very much on the cards. He can't find it though, staying at -2.

Zach attack update - Johnson holes his fourth birdie of the day which moves him to +1 for the tournament. Go well on those welcoming holes at 17 and 18 and he might end up back in the frame.

11:16AM

Rory to -2

Joy to watch McIlroy in this form rather than yesterday's opening blunder. He's just approached the six with aplomb, knocking up from 173 yards to have a chance to go -2, which he takes! Big roar greets that putt.

Dustin from a long way out can't quite make birdie, with work to do at +2, while Schwartzel drops another shot to move to -2, making that +3 over the last two holes.

James Corrigan meanwhile notes that this hot streak from McIlroy is long overdue:

"This is peak McIlroy now, what we and him and have been waiting to see all season.

"His approach to the sixth was a beautiful sight. Has a four-footer to go to two-under for the tournament, three-under for the day.

"Hard to equate this ball of confidence with the cowering mess who played yesterday's first six holes in five over."

11:07AM

Kuchar holds

Zach Johnson having the best day out of everyone on the course, knocking in his third birdie at the 11th. Now at +2 and as it stands will avoid the cut.

Kuchar does well to par the ninth but a double bogey has dropped Schwartzel back to -3, leaving the American trio of Kuchar, Spieth and Koepka all out in front.

Don't rule out Bubba Watson yet either. On -3, he is having his best major performance for some time and on the charge after knocking in a birdie at the second. Here's what that hole looks like, by the way:

11:00AM

Schwartzel the explorer

Chance for McIlroy to move into the top ten, incredibly, after putting himself in position at the fifth. Some way out and it just fades to the right of the hole.

The same cannot be said for Schwartzel - you don't need me to tell you this is not a great spot. He's taken a drop there and a one-shot penalty (the flag is below) and now he'll putt for bogey. 

It's all gone wrong too for Phil Mickelson, who triple bogeys the third to drop back to +5.

10:45AM

Four co-leaders!

As expected Rory gets close to the flag, meaning bar an abomination he'll par that and move on.

Fine putt from Schwartzel after that sublime tee shot moves him back to -5.

Kuchar not happy with his approach work to the eighth, is his lead under threat? It sure is, his long par putt never gets the direction and he'll drop back to -5, meaning a four-way tie between him, Schwartzel (below), Spieth and Koepka.

10:38AM

All eyes on the fourth

McIlroy not thrilled with his drive at the par-three fourth hole, going over the ball of the green there. Not desperate though.

Johnson doesn't go for the wedge, although he has the power, opting instead for the nine-iron... that's good, out to the right of the hole and he has a chance. 

13mph wind behind the players hitting towards the fourth and Schwartzel comes up with the best of the lot, nearly holing it in one!

10:33AM

Rory to -1

Martin Kaymer - remember him? - has kicked off his back nine with a birdie to move to +1 overall, having managed par through the front nine.

2016 PGA winner Jimmy Walker is also at -1 for the day now after a birdie at the fifth.

Back to that star group at the third - Johnson makes par, but it is all about Rory as he rattles in his fifth birdie in seven holes, combining today and yesterday. He is absolutely flying and now at -1 for the tournament.

10:25AM

A tale of three drives

Speaking of Phil, in goes a birdie at the first to move him to +2.

Quick shot of where the McIlroy-Schwartzel-DJ group have ended up. Dustin gets a drop given he was behind the TV tower, luckily. From there the world number one gets to the edge of the green. Unlikely to change from +1 there on this par four.

Rory meanwhile lands it right at the flag. Great to see him pumped up too.

10:21AM

Fowler heating up

Rory comes up just short of birdieing the second but Rickie Fowler has stolen the show here, turning a probable two-putt from far out into a birdie at the seventh to move to -1.

Thorbjorn Olesen has birdied the fifth to go -2 for the day and overall. One to keep an eye on.

Projected cut by the way currently stands at +2. which leaves Phil Mickelson in danger.

10:05AM

Beware the sixth

Daniel Zeqiri up at Royal Birkdale picks out where players may come unstuck today...

"Keep a close eye on the par-four sixth today.

"The 499-yard hole always plays as Royal Birkdale's toughest, but it back into the teeth of the wind and, to make matters worse, it is coming slightly from the left, the most difficult breeze to manage for the right-handed golfer.

"There have already been four doubles and a triple there this morning."

10:04AM

Rory roaring

Jon Rahn (-1), Patrick Reed (+1) and Lee Westwood (+1) now getting underway at the first. Feels like a day for Reed and Westwood to both make a charge. 

Regarding Sergio, it looks like he hurt his shoulder smashing his club into a shrub. Oh dear...

Schwartzel's birdie putt drifts right but Rory is right on the money, moving back to level par for the tournament. What a turnaround from +5 yesterday! By the way, his opening shot, with a 3-wood, went 372 yards...

9:56AM

Schwartzel and McIlroy start well

Monster drive from McIlroy to kick off, over the spectator walkway. Finds himself in a very talented trio today alongside Schwartzel (-4) and Dustin Johnson (+1).

Schwartzel out of the rough nearly holes it for an eagle! That was astonishing, it's rolled on slightly but he'll have a shot at the birdie.

McIlroy certainly well, beautiful second shot putting him in a perfect position to have a go at the ideal start.

9:45AM

McIlroy on the course

Considering the early conditions yesterday the amount of scores under 70 is quite impressive, especially those turning in 65-66s in Kuchar, Spieth, Koepka and Schwartzel.

The wind might not go anywhere but it looks as though the forecast is only going to get worse today with rain on the horizon.

Big cheer for Rory as he wanders out at the first. What a weird outing for him yesterday with those two very different front and back nines.

9:38AM

Course update

James Corrigan reporting in from Royal Birkdale on conditions:

"Just come back in after an early morning wander on the links and this is Birkdale as Birkdale should be today.

"Need to keep the balls low and the temper thresholds high."

9:35AM

New leader!

After that birdie at fifth, Kuchar follows it up with another at the next hole to take the overall lead at -6. 

What a popular winner 'Kuuuuuuuucccccchhhhhhhh' would be this weekend. His best finish at a Major, as you know of course, is T3 at the Masters back in 2012.

9:32AM

Masterful from the Masters champion

Quick Sergio Garcia update - somewhat adrift coming into today he is starting to work his way back with an eagle at the fifth.

However we're now hearing he has asked for the physio. More as we get it.

9:28AM

Zach attack

Another birdie for Zach Johnson, this time at the fifth, as he moves to -2 for today and +3 overall.

Here's a reminder of where we are so far on Friday:

9:25AM

Morning!

Ben Coles swooping in to guide you through the next few hours.

Frankly it looks a bit grim out there at Royal Birkdale so a huge doff of the cap to the spectators. "Pure fans", as Butch Harmon suggested yesterday.

9:21AM

Kuchar chips in! New co-leader!

Joost Luiten knocks in a birdie at the fourth to move -1 for the day, and -3 overall. Four players currently on that mark of -1 for the day so far, including 2015 Open winner Zach Johnson.

Paul Casey's charge is slowing down ever so slightly after back-to-back bogeys, and he then watches the breeze take his ball of the back of the green.

And just when you though Kuchar was fading, he chips at the third from way out for birdie to move back to -5!

9:14AM

Hatton's bunker birdie

Hitting a 75 yesterday put a spanner in the hopes of Tyrrell Hatton, having burst onto the scene last year. 

This is a very nice start however to day two (he remains +5)

9:05AM

"That's a strong wind"

The pin on the right corner of the third-hole green, with the wind howling across from right to left, is making approach shots tough as Rickie Fowler, Paul Casey and Adam Scott both land on the far left of the green.

9:00AM

Kuchar struggling on the second

Matt Kuchar only has 122 yards to the flag at the second but he's so deep in grass that his next shot lands well short of the green. He'll do very well to save par here.

8:53AM

Casey drops back

Paul Casey drops a shot at the second to go to -3. Can Adam Scott post a par? It's a 10 footer.... yes!

Now over to Rickie Fowler, and this for a birdie... but it nips by the hole. So he has to settle for a par also.

8:50AM

Plenty of pars

Austin Connelly of Canada has picked up his seventh par in a row to remain -3.

8:48AM

Horror show for Casey on two

Paul Casey has a shocker of an approach, deep in the rough on the second, he'll do well to get it on the green. He doesn't look happy... and it's to the right and finds the bunker.

Adam Scott has a similarly-nasty shot, but the Aussie does brilliantly to get it to the edge of the green.

Rickie Fowler, meanwhile, has a dream of an approach, no hazards, nothing to hinder him, and the ball plops around eight feet away to set up a birdie effort.

8:39AM

Opening par for Fowler

Rickie Fowler with a birdie putt on the first but, like Paul Casey before him, it runs up short and he has to settle for a par.

8:37AM

Kooooooooooch

One of our leaders - Matt Kuchar - is on the first and his opening drive is straight and true. Great start for the American.

8:31AM

Garcia fluffs his approach

Zach Jonson's approach to the second and he lands it to within eight feet of the pin, even extracting some spin on landing. Sergio Garcia's approach is not so good - I think he got caught between shots - as it lands on the rim of the green and plugs, leaving him with a nasty-looking 20 foot putt.

8:27AM

Casey on the first

The Englishman is 40 today and is just one shot off the lead as he drives the ball into the rough stuff on the left.

8:25AM

Woe is Ernie

Ernie Els needs three goes with the putter on the second, dropping him back to -1.

8:24AM

Bad Beef

Two successive bogeys for Andrew Johnston, after a steady start of five successive pars, means he's back to one over now.

8:22AM

Nothing spectacular, just solid

Zach Johnson pars the first from 18ft, Jason Day does the same from 3ft. Solid stuff.

8:13AM

Big guns

We have our first 'big boys' group out on the course now - Zach Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Jason Day.

All three major winners receive rousing ovations and all three tee off without finding too much trouble.

8:11AM

Rahm escapes shot penalty (again)

The range is abuzz as it emerged that for the second time in as many tournaments, Jon Rahm has escaped a penalty for an apparent breach of the rules.

It occurred on the 17^th hole, where Rahm pulled a thorny vine away from his ball. That caught the eye of Lee Westwood, who walked over and pointed out that it was not dead vegation and therefore could not be deemed a loose impediment.

A rules official was summoned, who asked Rahm whether his piece of gardening had improved his lie. Rahm claimed it had not, but the official still delivered a two-shot sanction.

However, in the recorder's area where the players sign their scorecards, David Rickman, the R&A's chief referee, met with Rahm and after hearing his explanation decided he was in the clear. Thus, the six became a four on the 17^th and a one-over 71 became a 69.

Read James Corrigan's full report on the story here

7:56AM

Tree climbing

England's Toby Tree has just birdied the fourth to go to -1. Lovely putt from 10ft.

7:53AM

Lovely touch from Ernie

Els with a tough-looking 20-foot chip from the edge of the green on the first, but the South African's class oooooozes as he punts the ball to within two feet to set up a par.

7:50AM

Wind and cold

The rain has subsided a little now. Here's what to expect courtesy of the BBC...

7:48AM

Solid from Beef

It's a typical links day out there. Miserable. It's cold, it's wet... and it's challenging.

Another birdie putt for Andrew Johnston but another par, that's three in the first three holes.

7:37AM

Who can catch the Americans?

Hello and welcome to round two coverage from Royal Birkdale. It was a good day for the Americans yesterday with three of them - Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar - all leading the way on -5.

However, their is English representation in the top five with Paul Casey sitting pretty on -4.

Rory McIlroy is confident he can still win the Open at Royal Birkdale after staging a back-nine rally to salvage his tournament on the first day.

At five over through six holes the Northern Irishman, who has missed three cuts in his last four events, was 10 shots off the lead and seemingly heading out.

But four birdies coming home dragged him back to one over and with the weather set to worsen on Friday, the 28-year-old is confident he can turn things around.

Showery rain and winds gusting up to 35mph are forecast for this morning with heavier rain expected and strengthening winds predicted in the afternoon.

McIlroy, who tees off at 9.47am, believes he can make a move before things turn bad.

"With the weather we're expecting I still feel I'm in the golf tournament," said the 2014 Open champion, who admitted he needed a kick up the backside from caddie JP Fitzgerald who told him 'You're Rory McIlroy, what the f*** are you doing?' on the sixth tee.