Graeme McDowell and Rocco Mediate both produced second round scores of 73 to share the clubhouse lead on two over par at The Open Championship.
The pair, whose respective runs of excellent form were reflected in their opening scores of 69, both struggled early in their rounds, but late recoveries ensured they will be in contention going into the weekend.
Northern Ireland’s McDowell, whose win at The Barclays Scottish Open last week came just days after a third place finish at The European Open, had a torrid first 11 holes, dropping shots on the second, sixth, tenth and 11th.
However, a birdie on the last went some way top easing the pain and left him in a share of the clubhouse lead with Mediate.
America’s Mediate, who lost a play-off to Tiger Woods at the US Open this year, reached the turn in 34 after balancing a bogey on the sixth with a birdie at seven, but then his round took a nosedive.
A double bogey on the 11th left him at one over par before bogeys at the 14th and 17th sent him down the leaderboard. A birdie at the last, however, has launched him back into the upper reaches ahead of the third round.
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