The Open Championship (Rounds 1 & 2)

Round 2

Leaderboard

-6: Spieth

-4: Kuchar

-3: Koepka, Poulter

-2: Ramsay

-1: McIlroy, Woodland, Connelly, Bland, Chan Kim, Kang

Selected others:

Level: Hoffman, Matsuyama; +1: Els; +2: Garcia, Fowler, Stenson, Fitzpatrick; +3: Rahm, D Johnson, C Wood
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World number three Jordan Spieth shot a one-under-par 69 in testing conditions to take a two-shot lead after two rounds of The Open at Royal Birkdale.

The American, who finished on six under, had to contend with heavy rain, which caused a brief suspension, while gusting wind affected all the players.

Matt Kuchar (71), overnight leader with Spieth and Brooks Koepka is four under.

England's Ian Poulter (70) and US Open champion Koepka (72) are three under, with Rory McIlroy (68) on one under.

Northern Ireland's McIlroy, who was five over after six holes in round one, enjoyed the better of the weather on Friday morning with his two-under-par round putting him right into contention.

Scotland's Richie Ramsey is one shot better off after following his opening-round 68 with a 70.
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Round 1 report

-5: Spieth, Koepka, Kuchar

-4: Casey, Schwartzel

-3: Poulter, Cabrera Bello, Thomas, Bland, Connelly, Hoffman

Selected others:

-2: Matsuyama, Els, B Watson, -1: A Johnston, J Rahm +1: McIlroy, Fowler +2: Kaymer +6: Fleetwood


American trio Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Matt Kuchar shot 65 to share the first-round clubhouse lead on five under at The Open at Royal Birkdale.

England's Paul Casey is a shot back, with Ian Poulter at three under, his lowest opening round in a major.

Poulter is alongside fellow Englishman Richard Bland, American Justin Thomas and Canada's Austin Connelly, with Wales' Stuart Manley on two under.

Rory McIlroy battled back to finish one over after being five over at the turn.

Sweden's Alex Noren is tied with Manley in a group that includes Scottish duo Martin Laird and Richie Ramsey and two-time champion Ernie Els.

Defending champion Henrik Stenson is one under, alongside England's Matthew Fitzpatrick and Belgium's Thomas Pieters.

Chris Wood, Justin Rose and 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett all posted one-over 71s, while Scotland's Russell Knox finished on four over with 1985 Open champion Sandy Lyle on seven over.

Southport-born Tommy Fleetwood struggled, carding a six-over 76 that included four bogeys and a double bogey.