The Japan Times - Cameron Smith surges into British Open lead

The world number six leads by four in the clubhouse from Dustin Johnson, who went out early and posted a 67 to sit at nine under par.

Smith sat joint-third overnight after shooting a five-under-par 67 in his first round on Thursday.

He improved on that with the best score recorded by any player in the field so far on Friday, featuring six birdies, an eagle and no dropped shots.

Smith birdied each of the first three holes while his eagle came via an outrageous long putt at the par-five 14th.

Johnson, one of the 24 members of the breakaway LIV Golf series present at the Open this week, followed his opening 68 with a bogey at the first after going out in one of the first groups of the day.

However, the American former world number one and two-time major winner quickly recovered from that with no more bogeys and six birdies, including one at the last.

Cameron Young, who led overnight after opening with a 64, was 10-under overall with two holes of his second round remaining.

World number one Scottie Scheffler and England's Tyrrell Hatton, who went out together early in the morning, both moved onto eight-under at the halfway stage of the championship.

Masters champion Scheffler shot a second consecutive 68 while Hatton enjoyed a bogey-free 66 on Friday.

The last player to win the Masters and British Open in the same year was Tiger Woods in 2005.

S.Ogawa--JT