The Open live! Leaderboard and latest updates from Royal Birkdale with Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and more in action
It's moving day at the 146th Open Championship with a host of the game's biggest names in the mix for the Claret Jug
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Your support makes all the difference.It's moving day at the 146th Open Championship with a host of the game's biggest names in the mix for the Claret Jug.
It will clearly take more than blustering wind and hammering rain to stop runwaway leader Jordan Spieth so far after he opened up a two-shot lead, posting a one under-par 69, in the second round of on Friday.
Spieth, who encountered the worst of the weather in both of the opening rounds, stands at -6 with American compatriot Matt Kuchar, two strokes behind after his very solid 71.
But don't count out the home contingent - Ian Poulter, who was second at Birkdale when it last staged the Open in 2008, is on three under alongside US Open champion Brooks Koepka with a back in form Rory McIlroy only five off the lead behind them.
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Terrible start to the back nine for McIlroy as he double bogeys the 10th to fall eight shots behind Spieth.
If Jordan Spieth maintains this level for the remainder of the day, he will be out of sight for the majority of the chasing pack by the time play gets underway tomorrow.
Only Matt Kuchar and Brooks Koepka are within four strokes of the 23-year-old.
McIlroy misses a very makeable putt for a birdie at the 14th. He's struggling a bit here and is now tied for 13th. His blistering start to the round is just a distant memory now.
Spieth and Kuchar aren't pulling up any trees at the top of the leaderboard but they're doing all that they need to do to maintain their positions. The pair are three under par for the day after 12 holes.
Kuchar produces a birdie at the par-three 14th to move to eight under par - one shot off leader Spieth.
It's been threatening for a while and the rain has finally arrived - and it's heavy!
McIlroy realistically needed to eagle the five-par 17th hole but he could only manage to par it. At two under par for the tournament he remains eight shots behind Spieth.
Poulter pars the 18th hole to finish on one over par for the day and two under for the tournament.
His playing partner, the third-placed Brooks Koepka, can only manage a bogey at the final hole as he finishes on two under par for the day and five under for the tournament.
The American might have an outside chance tomorrow but he will have his work cut out to catch countrymen Spieth and Kuchar.
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