St Andrews (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Dustin Johnson took the lead in the clubhouse on the second day of the 150th British Open at St Andrews on Friday after a five-under-par round of 67 left him one shot clear of the pack at nine-under at the halfway stage.
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 at 8:14 am (0714 GMT).
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 which saw him move a shot ahead of overnight leader Cameron Young.
Young, who led by two strokes overnight after an eight-under-par 64 on Thursday, teed off at at 1:26 pm (1226 GMT) in his second round.
Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler and England's Tyrrell Hatton, who went out together, both moved onto eight-under at the halfway stage.
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.
Johnson's fellow LIV rebel Talor Gooch earlier shot 69 to move to seven-under at the halfway stage, and he was joined there by Australian former Masters champion Adam Scott.
Playing with Johnson, Scott shot a brilliant second-round 65, the lowest round so far of a day that began wet and overcast before the skies began to clear in late morning.
