The Open 2012: Second round as it happened

Time for me to thank you for your splendid company and bid you adios. Can Brandt Snedeker and Adam Scott maintain their mesmerising form or will a lurking Tiger emerge from the shadows? There's only one way to find out, join my colleagues Mike Henson and Benjamin Dirs for third round coverage of what is developing into a tasty tournament. Have a good weekend!

It's official - the guillotine has fallen on those with scores of four over or worse which means six former Open champions from the west side of the Atlantic have failed to make the cut. They are Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard, Todd Hamilton, Ben Curtis, Stewart Cink and David Duval. World number three Lee Westwood scrapes through on three-over 143, while world number two Rory McIlroy and two-time winner Padraig Harrington make it through to the weekend on two over.

Being as we're planning to hang around until the very end, and by that I mean the end of the second round - or I hope that's what the boss meant when he said "you're sticking with it" - then perhaps I should inform you video highlights of the second day's play is now available on this website. There have been some wonderful shots today, but one which is probably more suited for the bloopers reel is Luke Donald's miss-hit wedge on the 13th.

As far as I can tell there are two players still whacking their sticks at a pimpled white ball. They are Dale Whitnell, who is even par overall after 17 holes, and fellow Englishman Sam Walker, who is seven over, and is currently on the 18th. I'm sure they have homes to go to so they should be done and dusted fairly soon...

In case you needed reminding, only the top 70 players and those tied for 70th will make the cut, which is currently between three and four over par. A handful of players still out on the course so we, technically, won't be able to confirm until every single player is back in the clubhouse.

My colleague Rob Hodgetts is at Royal Lytham and St Annes and has penned his report on Brandt Snedeker's remarkable course-record-equalling round for an Open at Lytham. You can also relive Tiger Wood's breathtaking birdie on the 18th which earned the 14-time major champion a standing ovation. Even if you're planning on heading to the boozer for a Friday night tipple you've still got time to read the report and watch a bit of Tiger magic. Honest.

For those of you venturing to Lytham and St Annes over the weekend you'll be pleased to know the Met office predicts a "fine and dry day Saturday with some sunny spells and light winds." You need a bit o light wind on the coast, if you ask me. A promising outlook for Sunday, too, although clouds will gather during the afternoon, but that's enough weather chat from me I feel like Michael Fishand I don't want to feel like Michael Fish.

As the shadows lengthen around Lytham, a handful of players continue to plot their way around the famous course. English duo Warren Bennett and Dale Whitnell are one over after 16 and 15 holes respectively. Their compatriot Steven Tiley looks set to miss the cut as he is four over and approaching the 18th, while Australia's Aaron Townsend, also four over, has two holes remaining.

Thomas Aiken was the last of the front runners remaining on the course and the South African concludes a joyful round with a birdie at the last for a two-under-par 68. Aiken, who finished three shots behind eventual winner Stuart Cink at the 2009 Open in Turnberry, was out in 33 and completed the final nine in 35, with bogeys on the 14th and 17th the only stain on his card. He joins Paul Lawrie, Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell and Jason Dufner on four under after two rounds which, you know, is nice.

At the moment, the executioner will bring down the axe on those poor chaps with scores of four over or worse after 36 holes, which means Tom Watson and Lee Westwood remains, but Sergio Garcia, David Duval, Anders Hansen, Justin Rose, Charl Schwartzel and Tom Lehman depart [inserts sad face emoticon]. On the bright side, plenty of sunshine promised for the Flyde coast on Saturday so Garcia and co could spend their Saturday afternoon on Blackpool pleasure beach, although I don't think Russ Abbot is performing at the Winter Gardens, which is a shame. It's just a suggestion.

Darren Clarke, who will not be taking the Claret Jug home with him this year after missing the cut, tells BBC Sport: "I played nicely in the second round but didn't make anything. It is frustrating and disappointing the way that I have scored.

"The crowd were wonderful to me last year and have been to me all year round. It is a pity I didn't give them anything to shout about.

"It has been an honour and privilege to be Open champion. It is a huge honour to have my name on the Claret Jug and they will be memories that I cherish forever."

Talented 22-year-old Dane Thorbjorn Olesen, who decided to become a professional four years ago, follows a bogey on the 14th with two successive pars to steady the nerves and this year's Sicilian Open winner stands alone at three under after 16 holes. James Morrison is on the final bend and is nicely tied for 11th on the leaderboard.

Jason Dufner completes a consummate round with - you guessed it - a par. The 35-year-old whipped up the second-best round of the day thanks to four birdies for a four-under-par 66. No bogies for the American either in a fine-looking card. Well done, Mr Dufner. He joins Paul Lawrie, Matt Kuchar and Graeme McDowell in the clubhouse on four under after 36 holes.

Graeme McDowell talks to BBC Sport after a second round 69: "The last 10 months, I have been a different guy on the course, enjoying the game and getting my attitude correct. It doesn't matter how hard you work, you need to have the right attitude. You need to accept you will make mistakes just need to trust yourself to dig you out of trouble.

"I am right where I want to be, in the Open Championship, a major close to my heart. Brandt Snedeker has a little bit of light between himself and the field but the rest of us will keep on plugging."

There's a spring in Martin Laird's step as he prepares to take on the 18th. The Scot birdied the penultimate hole and is among a group of 13 men one under after two rounds. A topsy-turvey final nine for James Morrison - birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey - but he steadies the ship with a par on the 16th and is even par for the day, two under overall.

Moments after giving him a live text mention, Thomas Aiken bogeys the 14th to drop to four under overall. Thomas, you're making us both look silly. Jason Dufner, though, is the epitome of consistency and, at four under, has enjoyed one of the most fruitful rounds of the day. Unless he has a total meltdown on the 18th the American should be in contention for Saturday.

Tom Watson, as genial as ever, heads to the recorders' office after a two-over-par 72 and lies perilously close to the cut on three over. At the moment, however, the veteran is here for the weekend. Yay! The five-time Open champion made amends for three putting at the 17th with a birdie on the last and why not take a look at his swashbuckling shot from a bunker, which had Peter Alliss salivating. "Only a young man can play this shot," said Alliss.

Tiger Woods tells BBC Sport after finishing with a birdie from a bunker on 18: "That was a good one. It wasn't that hard from the bunker being on the up slope but would have been difficult if it was on the flat or the downslope.

"We have some weather coming in on Sunday and if it blows, this golf course will become tough. We have a bunch behind Adam Scott and Brandt Snedeker, so anything can happen."

Woods's playing partners Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia both finish on four over - and look set to miss the weekend action. Big shame for Rose, in particular, who was tipped by some to shine this week.

Graeme McDowell returns to the clubhouse still in the mixer, as they say, with a one-under-par 69 for a 136 total after 36 holes. A bogey on the 11th the only blemish on an otherwise faultless final nine. South Africa's Thomas Aiken, who was a fine fast bowler in his youth, has crept under the radar to join Tiger Woods on five under after birdies on the 10th and 13th.

Here's a question: If you find a piece of charcoal in your soup while you're, say, on a break during the golf do you (a) complain or (b) remove object from bowl and carry on slurping. I opted for the latter. Of course, I'm digressing, and should be telling you that Sergio Garcia has nudged a par attempt wide of the pin and a bogey on the 17th means the despondent Spaniard, currently three over, could do with a birdie on the last to guarantee his place at Lytham over the weekend, although I'm not sure he's that bothered anymore.

Just as Mike takes a break, G-Mac produces a cute approach shot which spins to within 5ft of the pin for what should be a simple putt for the Northern Irishman. The 2012 Masters champion receiving warm applause from the appreciative crowd as he walks towards the final green. Aimee here, by the way,

Lee Westwood has finished on three over after carding a level-par second round. I would say that it will be a nervous wait for him, but has he got anything left to play for even if the testing run-in does stretch the cut wide enough to include him in Saturday's starting groups? The clock is ticking on his as-yet-majorless career....

Paul Lawrie, after his second round of one-over-par, 71, told BBC Sport: "Overall, I am pleased with my round. I hit a couple of poor shots but one-over-par is a good day.

"It is exciting walking down the 18th and hearing everyone shout your name is quite pleasing. To go into the weekend second or third last group shows what level I am playing at.

"Mr Snedeker has played a wonderful round so fair play to him. Adam Scott has kept it going too so these guys deserve to be where they are. We need to reel them in a bit."

1999 champion Paul Lawrie is just making his way up towards the final green and the Royal Lytham & St Annes clubhouse. The Scot has not lived up to yesterday's opening salvo. His birdie putt slips by the hole and he will end one over for the round, five under for the tournament. Royal Lytham HQ looks a little like an upmarket Harvester restaurant to my untrained architectural eye by the way. Other 'one-trip-to-the-salad-bar' eating outlets are also available you will be delighted to know.

I just noticed Adam Scott's swizzy tartan elbow patches on his otherwise run-of-the-mill grey top. It is all business-like on his down swing, but then you get a little flash on the follow-through to get the party started. Nice. A decent approach to the 17th green from the Aussie too, lacking a little in the legs department but bang on line.

Stat-attack: The longest birdie streak is currently four. Harris English and 1997 champion Justin Leonard both birdied 13-16 today.

Yes, as the leaderboard suggest Tiger Woods came unstuck on the 11th with the 14-time major winner sloppily in needing six shots on the par-five hole. The American joins Paul Lawrie on four under. Par, birdie, par, par for the Scot in the last four holes. Solid.

A par for Adam Scott on the 14th and the Australian, who has just one top-10 finishes in 12 previous Opens, is nicely positioned two shots behind clubhouse leader Brandt Snedeker. First glimpse of the day of the hirsute Miguel Angel Jimenez and I'm not sure why we haven't seen more of the Spaniard after four birdies in a faultless back nine sees him end level par after 36 holes.

A bashful wave to the patrons from England's Simon Khan after a par on the final for a one-under-par 69, while there are oohs and arghs to be heard from the 11th where G-Mac has dropped a shot after his putt wobbles around the rim of the pin before deciding to stay on the green. The tease. Three birdies on the trot for Jason Dufner whose putter is on song, the third birdie a superb 25ft effort and the American, on three under, leapfrogs his rivals in a blink of an eye.

Adam Scott, looking like a trendy geography teacher thanks to the check elbow pads on his otherwise nondescript grey pullover, has a birdie chance on the 14th but the putt comes to a standstill a few inches short of the cup. Four pars on the trot from the poker-faced Tiger Woods and he remains on five under, while Graeme McDowell, with the sun on his back, is toiling on the 11th...

A sighting of the wonderful John Daly and his magnificent pantaloons. The former Open champion fails to direct a birdie attempt into the pin on the 18th but, at three over, the American might need to have words with the proprietor of a local B&B in case he needs to prolong his stay. Oops! Graeme McDowell finds one of the many sand traps on the 11th (apparently it's an average 11 bunkers a hole at Lytham so you're going to find one or two no matter who you are).

Adam Scott's tee shot on the 14th sails straight down the middle of the fairway and it's looking good for the overnight leader, while Tiger Woods - four holes behind - opts for an iron and wallops the helpless ball down the luscious fairway of the 387-yard 10th. A calamitous sixth hole for James Morrison, though, as a double bogey sends him plummeting down the leaderboard.

Paul Broadhurst has been escorted round Royal Lytham and St Annes by his 15-year-old son Sam who has been on bag duties. There will be no cut of a big winners' cheque to supplement Sam's pocket money though after his father trundled round in an eight-over 78 to finish 13 over par after 36 holes and well below the cut-off point.

"It's been a bit of a struggle since I qualified," Broadhurst Sr told BBC Sport. "With three doubles and a treble on your card, you're not going to make much of a score."

"He didn't get that angry. He just laughed at it really," said Sam of his dad's round. "I tried to gee him up, and it worked on some occasions but it's tough when you're playing bad."

A birdie attempt for G-Mac on the ninth... and it drops in! The Portrush favourite joins James Morrison on four under, a shot behind Tiger Woods who fails with a monster of a birdie attempt on the ninth. Woods, of course, could be on the cusp of becoming world number one, a position he relinquished in October 2010 after a record stay of 281 weeks.

James Morrison, and no not the West Brom midfielder or the singer-songwriter before you ask, has surreptitiously moved up the leaderboard with birdies on the first and fifth. The 27-year-old, who was once a promising cricketer and played in the same England youth teams as Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara and Tim Bresnan, is four under overall.

Surrey's Ross Fisher has been left waiting on the fortunes of other to discover if he will make the cut after carding a second-round 71 which leaves him three over overall. "I'm disappointed as I felt like I played better than that," the 31-year-old told BBC Surrey. "I just didn't score well enough. I played well but didn't make any putts."

Someone tickle Darren Clarke as I hate seeing the usually jovial Northern Irishman looking so forlorn. The defending champion's approach shot skips onto the short rough at the edge of the 10th green and he's in trouble again. Bubba Watson's card is looking a little healthier after a birdie on the ninth lifts him to one over and he's out in a messy 38.

Adam Scott, whose first-round 64 was the lowest opening round in the 11 previous majors played at Lytham, is playing brilliantly at the moment. The Australian conjures an eagle attempt, his second of the round, but there isn't enough venom in his putt as it stops about five foot short of the pin for what should be a straight-forward birdie.

Rory McIlroy tells BBC Sport: "It wasn't what I had hoped for, I wasn't driving the ball well and if you do that you will struggle on this golf course. I hit the ball well for a lot of today, but I missed a few tee shots, didn't commit to them, and didn't trust myself. I need to go out there tomorrow and try and get back as many shots as possible, then see what the guys ahead of me do."

Paul Lawrie makes amends for his error on the 10th with a birdie on the next hole to join Tiger Woods on five under. The Scot's birdie attempt teases the cup before dropping in and his followers celebrate with cowboy-style whoops. Sergio Garcia, shoulders slumped, is doing his best to give the impression of a man who would rather be anywhere other than the Flyde coast. The Spaniard is four over after a double bogey on the sixth and is in danger of missing the cut.

Clubhouse leader Brandt Snedeker speaking to BBC Sport: "I was aware that I was the only player yet to score a bogey as I was coming down the last and I want to keep that trend going, but I have been lucky I have not been in too many tight spots.

"I think there are two things [behind his improvement on previous showings at the Open] I think the course is playing a little Americanised - there is not a lot of wind - and I have been playing a little more conservatively. Previously I was chasing every pin and you just can't do that and get away with a good score here.

"I think I have shown over the last two years on the PGA Tour that I can do it at the business end of the tournaments and I am just looking forward to the last two days now."

Three-time Open champion Gary Player on BBC Radio 5 live: "It has been a wonderful journey in my 60 years as a pro, and a great experience. I always wanted to be an international player. Some of the players these days prefer just to play in their own country so they are not known around the world.

"I played in 1955 at St Andrews for the first time, arrived with £200, slept on the beach and it was a great thrill. I did not make the cut.

"The new ball is ruining the game. It is going so far with the players hitting off the tees with the irons. The spectators come to see the players hit with the drivers.

"It is a doomsday scenario. It is making all golf courses obsolete."

Tiger Woods, four under overall, tees straight down the middle on the fifth and as the ball rises Tiger mutters. Whatever the three-time winner said did the trick as the ball drops onto the edge of the green. "Anything on the dancefloor on the five you're happy with," says Ken Brown and what Ken says...

Adam Scott overcooks an eagle attempt but taps in with the trusted broomhandle for a birdie on the seventh, reducing Snedeker's lead to four. A steady start for Lee Westwood, par for the day and three over overall, but those clubs of his will need to produce some magic soon.

Good afternoon! A plethora of golf's finest names exerting themselves on the course right now: Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Bubba Watson, Graeme McDowell… Six major winners in the top eight and the cream is definitely rising to the top. But can they catch runaway leader Brandt Snedeker who stands alone at the top five shots ahead?

That seems like a decent place for me to bow out. Thanks for your company over the last couple of days. Here comes Aimee Lewis.

Brandt Snedeker flips a wedge onto the 18th green and receives rapturous applause as he walks into the neck of the green. "One of the great Open rounds" suggests Ken Brown on BBC Two. Nothing worse than a four on his card, which also contains three twos. Not a single bogey in his opening 35 holes and if he knocks this in he matches Nick Faldo's low mark of 130 shots through two rounds. He does have a testing eight-footer. No pressure then.

No heroics from Brandt Snedeker on the last. He elects to play safe off the tee but only succeeds in finding the long grass, so he takes his medicine and chips out almost sideways. Ernie Els back to three under - he is matching Thursday's round hole-for-hole at present. Par, birdie par, par, bogey. He bogeyed six on Thursday.

Sergio Garcia on the third with a four iron from 234 yards and that is dribbling down into the hollow left of the green that has captured so many balls today. Justin Rose is in the rough out left. Tiger Woods, between the two and therefore in he heart of the green.

Three holes, three pars for Graeme McDowell. Bit of a knee-knocker on the third though after racing his initial putt several feet by. Paul Lawrie dropping back to five under though after borrowing too much on a short bogey-putt on seven.

Luke Donald after a two-under 68 lifted him to two under: "The difficulty was that the wind was blowing in a different direction and it may have thrown a few of the players. Hats off to Brandt, but there is a score out there and he is showing that.

"I almost played better yesterday but was putting better today. It was nice to roll in a few. I played the hard holes well, but struggled on some of the shorter ones.

"I feel better than as the US Open, where I felt uncomfortable with my swing. I hit some solid shots and as a result I am in a good position and be in contention. I am excited to be there or there abouts."

Adam Scott's putter blowing cold today, his short birdie putt slides by and he is staying at five under. Ernie Els with a shoulder waggle on the fifth tee and he's pushed this right and that looks like sand. Zach Johnson with a hybrid and he's joining Darren Clarke at the back of the green, eight feet beyond the pin.

Leader Brandt Snedeker short and right with his approach to 17 but he is on the short grass, enabling him to get the flatstick out and he cosies one up to the holeside. On six Adam Scott sets himself up with a chance to get back the shot he shipped on three, with a lovely iron into the green.

Tiger Woods pin high on the second but a good 50 feet right of the flag which is cut on the front left of the green. Sergio Garcia urging his ball to "go". It needed to do more than go that one. Needed at least one more club. The kind of shot all amateurs detest coming up - little wedge over a bunker.

There are just two amateurs in the field this week at Royal Lytham and it look unlikely that either will be troubling the scorers over Saturday and Sunday.

Austria's Manuel Trappel has been put through the mill on his second round. After ending the first day in amongst the likes of Justin Rose and David Duval at four over, he has crashed and burned in spectacular fashion today.

After a birdie two on the first, things went south for the 22-year-old with a triple bogey seven seven at the fourth - the most painful episode in a 13-over round of 83.

Northern Ireland's Alan Dunbar is the other competitor from outside the professional ranks. He is one over for his round, six over for the tournament, on the fourth.

Tiger Woods taps his cap in acknowledgement of a polite ripple of applause from the gallery but it's not the monstrous cheering he would have been hoping for. The reason? His birdie putt sidles centimetres wide, Tiger already muttering to himself. Sergio Garcia on the move though, knocking in the birdie to get to one over.

Louis Oosthuizen: "Today was a bit better than yesterday. I worked with my coach on a few things and hit it beautifully. This golf course, if you hit one bad tee-shot, it snowballs into a bogie and you hit a bad shot on the next hole.

"It has been a great ride since winning the [Open] trophy [in 2010], it has opened a lot of doors and opportunities for me to play golf around the world. It did me a world of good confidence-wise. Brandt [Snedeker] is in a great position at the moment because it feels like you are not going to miss anything.

"I need a low round tomorrow, and if I can shoot a -5 then I have a shot in being up there."

One last hurrah from Phil Mickelson who gives himself a birdie opportunity on 18? He strides to the green with Geoff Ogilvy, who is two over but has a birdie putt. All the cheers are for the world number one though. Luuuuuke Donald is two under. Adam Scott tangled up in the rough on four but he gets that to the front edge of the green.

Stat-attack: Only four players - Steven Alker (-1), Carl Pettersson (-2), Simon Dyson (-3) and Branden Grace (-1) are under par today of 45 players in the clubhouse so far.

Brandt Snedeker has got magic clubs today. He opens the face and stabs that out the thick stuff and it's not going in the hole, surely not. Nope, that pulls up a couple of feet short. Lee Westwood on the first - needs birdies from the off really but that's shaving the hole and finishing three feet by. Umbrellas popping up all over the course. Looks like we're in for a spell of wet weather.

Paul Lawrie continuing with par golf on three with a lovely up-and-down from the rough. Carbon copy opening hole for Darren Clarke, misses the birdie putt but in for par. On the tee from England, Lee Westwood. Now then Westy, what you got for us today? A decent opener over the flagstick and he's got 15 feet for a birdie. Bubba Watson sets his out right and that's not coming back - tricky chip over the bunker coming up.

And that sums up Rory McIlroy's day. He pulls his birdie putt but a par should be enough to see him stay here for the weekend. A hugely disappointing 75 though and a two over total. Louis Oosthuizen by comparison, is in at level par after a two-under 68. Keegan Bradley looking gone on three over.

A decade ago, I was standing where I probably shouldn't have been, right in front of the clubhouse at Muirfield watching Ernie Els win his Open after a play-off. He rolled back the years yesterday. Is there more to come from the South African today? Here's hoping, although that's a wild opener on the first, missing way right. He's playing with defending champion Darren Clarke, who does the same as yesterday and fires one straight at the pin.

Sensible from Rory McIlroy on 18, he's out with an iron and he finds the fairway. It's all about making the cut now and worrying about his position going into the weekend later. All the way back to the third and Paul Lawrie is saying "no, no, no" as he watches his short iron drift left and down the slope off the green.

Double Open champion Padraig Harrington with "an untidy back nine" says Peter Alliss after the Irishman misses a short par putt on 16 to drop back to one over - three bogeys and no birdies since the turn. Paul Lawrie with another excellent two-putt par on the first. Patience needed and the birdies will come.

Rory McIlroy pin high with his approach to 17 but he's 15 feet right and he needs to make that for par. Tough, tough putt coming up. Adam Scott in for par on the first, can he build on his first-round 64? Let's find out.

Steady two-putt for par from Paul Lawrie on the first, good nerve settler that but someone near the top of the leaderboard needs to start knocking in birdies soon because Brandt Snedeker is on the 13th in two and has another look at a birdie.

Overnight leader Adam Scott (-6) is out next, with England's Ian Poulter (+1) following and then Ernie Els (-3) and Darren Clarke (+6) head out at 1410. Lee Westwood (+3) and Bubba Watson (-3) tee off at 1421, Graeme McDowell (-3) at 1432 and Tiger Woods (-3), Justin Rose (+4) and Sergio Garcia (+2) at 1443 - hope you weren't planning on doing anything else this afternoon.

Meanwhile, back on the first, Scotland's Paul Lawrie is just beginning his second round. The 1999 champion starts on five under, but he's already five behind leader Brandt Snedeker. Lawrie finds the left side of the green, hole on the right remember. Snedeker down the middle of the fairway on 13.

Phil Mickelson in the sand, familiar territory for old Lefty over the last two days, and he nonchalantly whacks the ball onto the dancefloor, but his chances of lifting the Claret Jug are gone as he is nine over after two double bogeys on the trot. Luke Donald, one under, hoping for a birdie, but his 20ft effort drops dead just short of the pin.

England's Simon Dyson, after his round of three-under-par, 67, tells BBC Sport: "I played nicely today, hitting it well off the tee and getting on the fairways. The closing holes are tough, so if you take par or under you should be happy."

Ian Poulter, who will tee off at 13:59 BST, tells BBC Sport: "I am feeling good, we have benign conditions and the flags are not moving. We have practised hard in windy conditions but everyone has had to change their game plans. The course was receptive yesterday and will be more today. You need to keep it out of the bunkers and the greens are playing softer. Put it in play off the tee and it opens the golf course up."

Simon Dyson removes his shades after tapping in for a par on the last to finish with a three-under-par 67. He looks pleased with his efforts and why not as he is one under after two rounds. Luke Donald opts for the the drop shot and, in a bid to save par, coolly chips to within 7ft of the pin.

Overnight leader Adam Scott tells BBC Sport: "I feel good, the conditions look good out there. I don't even think I went into a bunker yesterday and that allowed me to get a lot of putts and hopefully I can get another good score today. We have been lucky with the conditions and I need to take advantage of it because somebody will. It is too early to watch the leaderboard, I have lots of golf to play yet."

Pictures of Blackpool pleasure beach are transmitted onto our screens, which brings back memories of a family trip to watch Russ Abbot. Don't judge me, Abbot was in his prime back then and I was only four. Peter Alliss tells us he remembers seeing Cannon and Ball at the Winter Gardens so it could have been worse. Back to the golf, a fruitful back nine for Simon Dyson, who birdies the 17th to move to one under.

Paul Casey will surely be happy to head back to the warmth of the clubhouse after a torturous round. Perhaps his wife will cook him a banana cake, just as Justin Rose's other half did yesterday after his disappointing performance. The beleaguered Englishman's card peppered with bogeys and double bogeys and at 11 over his participation at this year's Open is almost certainly over.

Leader Brandt Snedeker performing like a Rolls Royce, a superb approach shot on hole nine and he's in line for another birdie if the cards fall his way. Agonising groans to be heard on the 11th as Luke Donald's birdie attempt teases the cup. Another par for the world number one and it's a par for his playing partner Phil Mickelson, too, who is six over after a litte over one-and-a-half rounds.

Another dropped shot for Holywood's finest as Rory McIlroy bogeys at the 12th, a 15ft putt rolling beyond the cup in slow motion. A glimmer of a smile, or was it a wince, from Padraig Harrington after a par on the 10th and last year's Masters winner Louis Oosthuizen turns to his caddie and scratches his head after what looks, to the untrained eye at least, like a reasonable tee shot on the 13th. It finds the fairway anyway.

The cameras focus on a woman adjusting her brassiere, a few colleagues of mine get a little flustered but thankfully the director eventually cuts to some golf action. That could have been uncomfortable in live text towers. Francesco Molinari engineers a birdie attempt on 11, but the Italian gives the uphill effort at tad too much oomph and will remain even par for the day. Luke Donald opts for a mid-iron to get out of a bit of rough, but the ball skips beyond the dancefloor. Once again the Englishman purses his lips Les Dawson style.

Brandt Snedeker has joined Adam Scott atop the leaderboard after a peach of a birdie on the sixth and a par from Rory McIlroy on the 10th keeps him at one under overall. Luke Donald has another birdie attempt... but this time his effort on the ninth drifts beyond the cup and the anguished Englishman purses his lips. Donald is out in 31, though, and that's a magnificent effort.

My word, I've just glimpsed John Daly's Union trousers for the first time. I'm not sure why I'm surprised at the big American's attire as he has been known to wear far more eye-catching pantaloons. A snazzy shot from Geoff Ogilvy who opts for a nine-iron on the ninth and he's just a few feet from the cup.

The wonderfully named Brandt Snedeker started the morning on song, a birdie on the opening hole taking the Nashville native to one under for the day, but he's just found a juicy bit of rough on the fifth so he could be about to fall back down the leaderboard. Did you know Snedeker brother won "Big Break X" on Golf Channel back in 2008? No, me neither.

A very good morning to you. Pete has sneaked away for a bacon sarnie so it's me, Aimee Lewis, who will guide you through the action at Lytham for an hour or so (exact timings have not been agreed with Mr Scriviner, something about his contract…). No sign of raindrops as of yet on the Flyde coast, even a glimmer of sunshine, but the overnight downpour has certainly made those sand traps a tad more menacing this morning.

A wry smile from Phil Mickelson as his 45-foot birdie putt misses to the right. He's not bothering to mark that though, walking up and knocking it in as though he were playing with a few mates on the local municipal. Up on the par-three nine and Rory McIlroy falls into a cavernous bunker, front left. Not Rory himself you gather, his ball, falls into the bunker. Luke Donald and Brandt Snedeker staying put though as their birdie efforts miss.

Brandt Snedeker will have a third consecutive putt to take a share of the lead on the fifth after finding the dancefloor with his tee shot - it's another long 'un - probably over 50 feet as a conservative estimate. Meanwhile, Luke Donald is pin-high with his third to seven. Could this be a fourth birdie on the spin? Phil Mickelson looks like he'd rather be anywhere than on a golf course right now but he too finds the green.

Up ahead on eight and Rory McIlroy is firing straight at the pin from the fairway but his ball pulls up sharper than he would have liked - still a makeable 15-foot birdie putt coming up. Padraig Harrington spins off the left edge on seven, could do with getting up and down for par. Brandt Snedeker on four with another opportunity to move into a share of the lead but another lengthy birdie putt stays up.

The birdie putts of Rory McIlroy and Louis Oosthuizen both drop on the seventh. Rors is back to level par for the round, three under for the Championship. Oosthuizen also back to level and two over. Keegan Bradley would do well to listen to Peter Alliss next time. Bogey for the American.

Here's Rory McIlroy with his chip up onto the seventh green and he will have wanted to get that a bit closer, although he's left himself about a five-footer for birdie. Back on six and is Luke Donald starting to fire?An excellent iron into the middle of the green and has a 20-foot birdie putt. Phil Mickelson's woes continue though, from a similar position to Donald, he tugs his long and left into the sand.

Brandt Snedeker with his second to the third and he's moaning at himself. Not entirely sure why, he's on the green with a 35-footer for a birdie that will move him into a tie for the lead with Adam Scott. Hmmm...maybe that's why Brandt was a wee bit grumpy - his birdie attempt comes up a good four feet short.

"You mustn't be greedy," BBC commentator Peter Alliss tells Keegan Bradley but the American doesn't appear to be listening as he smashes his ball out of the rough down the left of the sixth fairway. From the other side, Rory McIlroy is out with a 3-wood - 283 yards to the green and he's going for this. "Do not go right," says Alliss. He doesn't but the damp conditions stopping the ball from chasing up onto the green. Back on four and Peter Hanson watches a birdie putt dribble by. The Swede staying at four under.

Wheels falling off for Nico Colsaerts on the par-five seventh. He's been in the crowd and then completely mis-hit his fourth into thick rough on the right of the green. "I had four swings out of there in my first Open here," says Wayne Grady on BBC Two as the Belgian takes a load of grass with his first swing, but no ball. Back on six, Rory McIlroy is up and out of the bunker but he cannot get close to the hole and he's dropping to two under again as his par putt stays up. Steve Stricker atones for the bogey with a birdie on four.

Rory McIlroy on six. From the rough but at least it's not the really deep stuff. He could be in bit more bother here though, his ball plunging straight into a greenside bunker. A ray of light for Rickie Fowler? Bogey, birdie, triple bogey, birdie, birdie for the American so far today and he is back at two over. Padraig Harrington going along steadily. Four pars after his birdie on the first and he is one under for the tournament.

Despite Ken Brown's warnings to stay out of the sand, plenty of balls going in the bunkers. Steve Stricker the latest on the third and he's leaving himself with a testy eight-footer for par.

Good par save on six from Nico Colsaerts and a bit of magic from Keegan Bradley on five who flips a high one from the back of five ala Phil Mickelson but his ball seems to go straight over the hole. Rory McIlroy in for another par with a safe two-putt.

Aggressive from Luke Donald on the third, chasing the flag with his third shot after advancing his ball a few yards up the fairway from the bunker. But his ball is not stopping on the back edge and he'll have a tricky 20 footer from the fringe. Phil Mickelson, who hacked out of the rough, follows Donald to the back edge with his third.

Lovely chip to inches by Padraig Harrington off the back of the third green and he's staying at one under. Back up the fairway, Luke Donald in the bunker watching very carefully as a greenkeeper tentatively rakes the sand before he replaces his ball under the watchful eye of an official. Dash to the fourth and Rory McIlroy pops in his birdie putt to get back to three under.

Nico Colsaerts with a great up and down on five to stay three under before dashing off to the little boy's room. On the fourth, Keegan Bradley, Rory McIlroy and Louis Oosthuizen all in a line across the fairway. Bradley with a wedge to 12 feet. Rors follows and he's to 10 feet. Oosthuizen to eight feet. Terrific stuff.

Moustachioed Rickie Fowler birdies the second but he's firing from the rough into a bunker on the third. Sweden's Peter Hanson, who is starting the day on three under, moves straight to four under after stiffing his approach on the first to two feet. Luke Donald drives down the left on the third and can do nothing as his ball dribbles into a bunker. All about his stance and the lie. Phil Mickelson's ball leaps over Donald's bunker and into the rough. Not sure what's worse.

Luke Donald with a simple par on one after a good birdie putt to inches to stay level, while Phil Mickelson pops in for his par to stay three over. Steve Stricker next up on the first tee and he creeps onto the front left of the green. The American holed a wedge for an eagle on the 13th yesterday on his way to a three-under 67.

Mickelson is dropping in the bunker and he's got to be careful that his ball doesn't plug. It's a free drop because his ball was in a puddle and he gets away with that, the ball resting nicely on top of the mud. He flicks it out to three feet past the hole. Quickly up to the par-three third and Rory McIlroy is pushing his drive again, the ball settling in the light rough.

World number one Donald straight up on the tee and he finds the centre of the green, 25-feet from the pin, but that's not the start Phil Mickelson will have been looking for. He's visiting the sand. Up on two, Rory McIlroy with a 50-yard or so chip that stops abruptly and he's got an eight-footer for par which he confidently strokes in. Nico Colsaerts out of sorts, misses a par attempt on the third and he is two over after three today and down to three under.

McIlroy's ball is safe and looks to be sitting in a reasonable spot. He's waiting for Francesco Molinari to putt out for par up ahead. The Northern Irishman is 200 yards from the front of the green, 216 from the hole and he gives that an almighty swipe but he's not reaching the putting surface. Up on three and a bit more bother for Nico Colsaerts - the Belgian in a deep bunker left of the green.

On the second tee and that's a little wild from Rory McIlroy, leaked out right and flirting with out of bounds. Back on the first, Rickie Fowler with matching hat, belt and shoes tugs his tee shot left of the left-hand bunkers - maybe not a bad thing with the claggy sand today. Padraig Harrington up next and he is chasing the pin - that comes to a rest about four feet shy. Nice start for the two-time Open winner who starts on level par.

On BBC Two: "Rory said he wasn't going to change his game for the poor conditions in Britain, that he'll wait for his chance to win an Open. And this weekend may be it, it's quite sunny, there's not much wind. It's pretty much normal golf out there, it's not links style golf. There's a really good chance for Rory to win this title."

Here comes Rory McIlroy on to the first tee. Generous applause for the 2011 US Open winner who starts the day at three under and will be again playing with 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen (+2) and 2011 US PGA winner Keegan Bradley (+1). McIlroy with the honour and he sneaks onto the back right edge of the green, pin tucked away on that side, four yards from the front though. Oosthuizen bounces into a bunker, front right. Bradley's shot is right on line but does not kick forward and sticks a few yards short of the green.

Lots of water in the bunkers at Royal Lytham this morning as we watch Francesco Molinari mis-read his birdie putt from the front fringe of the first hole but the short par putt is holed. Up on two, Nicolas Colsaerts cannot repeat his eagle two from Thursday, pushing his approach a good 30 yards left of the green and into some boggy land.

I can just about hear starter Ivor Robson introducing Italian Francesco Molinari on the first tee. Molinari fancied by many to do reasonably well this week starts round two on one under.

Nicolas Colsaerts is out on the first. One eagle and four birdies for the Belgian who finished Thursday's opening round in a tie for second place on five under. Not the best tee shot on the par three, landing 10 yards short of the putting surface and refusing to hop forward. A chip and a putt though and a steady par start.

And in the time it took me to find out that information, Chez, who eagled both the seventh and 14th in the first round, bogeys the sixth to drop back to level for the round and a four over total so far. Just South Africa's Richard Sterne (-2) and Paul Casey (+1) left in the red for today's round.

Chez Reavie? His first name is actually William, but he prefers Chez, which is short for Chesney, his middle name. This is the 30-year-old's Open debut. His most embarrassing moment? Recording a 12 at the par-five 16th hole at TPC Summerlin. "It was a 'Tin Cup' moment," he said. "I hit about five balls in the water."

England's Paul Casey (+2) safely in for a par start on the first. His playing partners, 2003 Champion Ben Curtis (+5) of the USA and South Africa's 2008 Masters winner Trevor Immelman (+4), are also in the hole for three.

Of the early starters, Steven O'Hara is enjoying a solid start with three pars and a birdie on the fourth. Brendan Jones (thanks Gavin on Twitter - I don't do coffee though) follows his birdie on the first with three bogeys. A bogey and a double for Bob Estes in the opening four holes.

Leader Adam Scott (-6) is among the later starters today. He goes out at 1343 BST, one group ahead of England's Ian Poulter (+1), while Ernie Els (-3) and defending champion Darren Clarke (+6) tee off at 1410. Lee Westwood (+3) and Bubba Watson (-3) are out at 1421, followed by Graeme McDowell (-3). Tiger Woods (-3) plays alongside England's Justin Rose (+4) and Spain's Sergio Garcia (+2) at 1443.

Time for a look at the morning starters to keep an eye on. The 1996 Open winner at Royal Lytham, American Tom Lehman (+3) is out at 0703. England's Paul Casey, who reached the turn at three under, but shipped six shots on the back nine to finish two over, goes out at 0758. Rory McIlroy (-3) is at 0920, Padraig Harrington (level) at 0931, Luke Donald (level) and Phil Mickelson (+3) at 0942. Television coverage on BBC Two from 0900. If I've not listed your favourite, there is a full list on our tee-times page.

What of England's world numbers one and three? A solid level-par round with one birdie and one bogey (on the 18th) from Luke Donald, who played in the slightly tougher afternoon session. He said: "That last hole leaves a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth. Still it's hopefully a round I can build off." Lee Westwood, playing in the morning calm, opened brightly with two birdies, but a double bogey on three halted his progress and four bogeys on the back nine left him three over. "The start was a bit of a lie, really," he said. "I don't feel in control of the ball and you get found out pretty quickly."

Right, back to the contenders. Tiger Woods, he of 14 major wins, is among a bunch of eight riders on three under, alongside the likes of Northern Ireland's US Open winning duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, 2002 Open champion Ernie Els and Masters champion Bubba Watson.

Steven O'Hara, at four over, also fails to find the green but Brendan Jones is right on the money from the start, pinging his tee-shot to five feet - an excellent chance to get to two under.

Bob Estes of the United States hits the opening tee shot of the second round - it's a par three opener at Royal Lytham remember, and he finds a bunker, front right. Estes is on one under after an opening-day 69. All you fans of Ivor Robson will be glad to know that there is no stumble over his opening announcement this morning. Scotland's Steven O'Hara and Australia's Brendan Jones are playing with Estes.

And here's R&A chief Peter Dawson on BBC Radio 5 live: "We've had far more rain overnight than forecast, about 11mm but the course can take it. There is some casual water on the fairways and in some bunkers but the rules of golf will cater for that. The conditions for spectators are not so good. The car parks are fine though and conditions are improving. If people would consider delaying for an hour or two that would help, but all are welcome."

Here's the official forecast from BBC Weather's Simon King: "Overnight showers will linger for the morning tee off players so it could be a rather wet start to the day. Through the morning the showers will become fewer and further between so giving increased chances of drier and brighter weather heading into the afternoon. Gentle north or north westerly winds continue with a maximum temperature reaching around 17 degrees."

BBC Radio 5 live's Nicky Campbell is reporting that the rain has stopped at Royal Lytham while splashing in a puddle like a toddler on the 18th fairway to give you an idea of how wet it is. Summariser Jay Townsend points out that links golf courses have excellent drainage though.

The wind did get up a little in the afternoon but Australian Scott took full advantage of the morning calm, knocking in eight birdies in 13 holes from the fourth. Two bogeys, one at each end of that run, took a little of the shine of his round but he still leads by one shot.

Hello and welcome to round two of the Open Championship. Royal Lytham's head pro of more than 25 years, Eddie Birchenough reckoned that the course might play as "the toughest of the lot" on the Open rota and challenge the Car-nasty of 1999. However, benign conditions on the opening day allowed 53 players to negotiate the 7,086-yard par-70 course and it's 206 bunkers at par or better.

Open leader Adam Scott reckoned playing Royal Lytham & St Annes was like "a nice walk in the park" after opening with a course-equalling record round of six-under-par on Thursday.