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Record-breaking Louis Oosthuizen holds a two-shot lead at The Open as the world’s best tamed Royal St George’s with a flurry of low scores on Friday.
The South African pulled three clear with an eagle at 14 but his first bogey of the tournament on 17 saw him card a five-under 65 to close on 11 under par.
Collin Morikawa set the early target of nine under in round two after taking 64 shots in glorious sunshine in Kent.
Fellow American Jordan Spieth (67) is a further shot behind at eight under par.
There are a number of players waiting to make their move on Saturday, edging into contention when the wind dropped at the Sandwich venue and scoring conditions improved.
World number one Dustin Johnson is one of those, lurking at seven under par after a composed 65 late on day two that included seven birdies.
England’s Andy Sullivan and Paul Casey are also among the chasing pack after shooting 67s and sit right in the mix at six and five under par respectively.
Reigning US Open champion and world number two Jon Rahm climbed to five under after the Spaniard posted the joint-best score of the day, his 64 matching Morikawa and Argentine Emiliano Grillo, who sits at six under.
Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka is also at five under, while Ireland’s defending champion Shane Lowry posted a five-under 65 to reach four under.
Former Open champion Oosthuizen, who won his sole major at St Andrews in 2010, has dropped just one shot in 36 holes after building on his opening 64 with another impressive performance on day two.
It gives him a 36-hole total of 129, which is the lowest in Open history, beating the total of 130 by Nick Faldo at Muirfield in 1992 and Brandt Snedeker 20 years later at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The world number 13 now needs to convert his advantage into a second major victory, having posted six runners-up finishes, including at the 2015 Open, since he lifted the Claret Jug 11 years ago.
“Feeling good for the weekend,” Oosthuizen, who said he played better on Thursday, told BBC.
“The course was definitely tougher with the wind but there was a lot of birdies on the back nine [on Friday] and I am glad I could get a few. All in all a good day.
“Wherever I am would have been fine with The Open. As long as I am up there with nine holes to go.”