Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood delighted the home galleries by surging through the field early in the Open second round.
The umbrellas were up and the waterproofs out as rain greeted the players at the start, in complete contrast to the blue skies and sunshine that have been in evidence all week.
McIlroy, seeking to end a four-year major victory drought, seemed to have an extra spring in his step after joining overnight leader Kevin Kisner of the US at the top of the leaderboard.
While Kisner was resting up ahead of his 12.53pm tee-off, the 29-year-old Northern Irishman charged his way to five-under-par with birdies at the seventh, 10th, 13th and 14th.
However, a bogey followed on 15 and he finished off with three pars to end up at four under, with Kisner starting one shot better off.
69-69 ✍🏼
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 20, 2018
It’s the fifth time McIlroy has opened a Major with two rounds in the 60s. He won on three of the previous occasions. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/cg5MfLvJ33
"I thought I had the golf ball a little more control under today," he told Sky Sports.
"I hit a few more fairways, I hit better iron shots. I putted nicely, I scrambled well when I needed to and on a day like this all you are trying to do is keep yourself in it.
"I would have been happy enough with a level par out there, just get today over with because this is going to be the worst of the conditions so to go out there and shoot another 69 I’m really pleased with that."
Paul Dunne made the cut after a finishing his second round on two over, while Shane Lowry finished on five over and has the weekend off.
Padraig Harrington had another day to forget, finishing on eight over par after a round of 74, while Darren Clarke was out of contention after his 82 yesterday.
Dustin Johnson, the current number one, finished on six over par.
The projected cut is four over.
