Live Commentary: The Open Championship: Second round - as it happened

Welcome back golf geeks, it's day two of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield and it's another sizzler in Scotland. The course has been heavily watered overnight, but early reports from East Lothian suggest that it has done little to blunt the teeth of these nasty greens. No word yet on pin positions, which were at their hardest yesterday, but I'm sure we'll find out in due course. In the meantime, sit back and relax... we have around 11 hours of live golf ahead of us!

By the end of today we'll know who has made the cut. Rory McIlroy (+8) and Luke Donald (+9) are both struggling. As the day goes on we'll get a clearer idea of where the cut mark will lie.

There were murmurings of discontent from some players yesterday regarding the pin locations. As the course dried out, they became harder and harder to attack. Ian Poulter, using his usual blend of scathing humour, described the eighth hole as "a joke" and suggested that "a windmill and clown face" was all that was missing from the 18th. Putting on the greens was like putting on glass.

The best of the putters was undoubtedly Tiger Woods (-2). He looked like the Tiger of old, formidable with the short stick. He likes it fast, so these greens will not really scare him. If he can keep the rest of his game ticking over, he could well be on course for his fourth Open title.

Of course, our leader Zach Johnson (-5) was also superb on the putting surface yesterday, although conditions were a little easier for him. Not much, mind. But I can't overstate how impressed I was with Woods yesterday.

The top of the leaderboard is dominated by America, while Spanish duo Rafael Cabrera-Bello (-4) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (-3), Shiv Kapur (-3) of India, and Sweden's Henrik Stenson (-2) keep them company.

LEADERBOARD: (-5) Zach Johnson; (-4) Cabrera-Bello; (-3) Jimenez, Dustin Johnson, Snedeker, Kapur; (-2) Stenson, Lehman, Hamilton, Mickelson, Cabrera, Spieth, Woods, Molinari; (-1) Fisher, Bubba Watson, Fernandez-Castano, Duke, Laird, Stenson; (E) O'Meara, Aiken, Wiesberger, Matsuyama, Mullen (A), Wright, Scott

Adam Scott (E) and Lee Westwood (E) hung on in there yesterday, carding 71 and 72 respectively. Scott has just hit his tee shot at the first, which Westwood has just birdied.

So, without any further ado, let's dive into the action. We're with Westwood (E) on the second fairway, and that's a very good shot to set up a birdie chance. He's pin-high, around 10 foot from the cup.

Former champion Mark O'Meara (E) rolled back the years yesterday with a brilliant 67, but he's four-over-par through eight holes of his second round. That has him at level-par for the championship.

BIRDIE! Westwood (-1) gets himself into red figures with a confident stroke on the second green. Birdie-birdie start for the Englishman. Great start.

He joins a group of players who are two-under for the second round so far. That group includes YE Yang (+5), Kyle Stanley (+9) and Darren Clarke (-1).

BIRDIE! And as I post that, Clarke (-2) drops in for birdie at the fifth. That's him three-under for his second round.

Westwood (-1), taking his sweet time over his tee shot at the third, finds the first cut. That's OK. His playing partner Garcia (+4), who parred the first hole, also finds himself on the short grass.

Clarke (-2) is wide with his tee shot at the sixth. Westwood (-1) is on the green in two at the third and once again on the birdie trail.

Garcia (+4) is on the green, but by no means close to the pin. Schwartzel (+4) is also putting at the third. Clarke (-2), chopping out from the jungle, gets a bit lucky with the bounce and he's back in play on the fairway. Laird (-1) fires at the sixth green but misses to the left.

Tiger Woods (-2) and Graeme McDowell (+4) are approaching the first tee now. Louis Oosthuizen was in their group yesterday, but he withdrew with a hip injury after hooking his drive at the ninth. McDowell didn't play all too badly yesterday and was a bit unfortunate to score 75. Can he eat into that deficit today?

Westwood (-1) can't make it three successive birdies to begin his second round. Still a very good start, though. It's the par-three fourth for him next. Can he continue giving himself chances?

Woods (-2) and McDowell (+4) are in good shape after their opening tee shots. Woods took an iron, while McDowell attacked it with a fairway wood. The 14-time Major champion hasn't had the best of times with the big sticks of late, although with his length off the tee there will be very few occasions in which he'll need to take it out of the bag. Just the three par-fives at five, nine and 17, really.

Clarke (-2) is ruining his good start at the sixth hole. It took three hacks to get it out of the greenside trap, meaning it's taken seven blows to get on the green. A triple, or even a quadruple, bogey beckons. What a shame.

Westwood (-1) couldn't set up a fourth birdie opportunity, missing the green to the right. He's played a good recovery shot, though, and should save par.

QUADRUPLE BOGEY! Clarke (+2) has made a dog's dinner of that sixth. All that good work has been well and truly undone. That's him one-over for the day, two-over for the championship.

Westwood (-1) has kept the momentum going with par at the fourth.

Woods (-2) confidently rolls in for par at the first, as does McDowell (+4).

Henrik Stenson (-2) is going along very nicely so far today. He's one-under through five holes and striking it sweetly. Two-under for the championship.

Westwood (-1) looking to get on the green in two at the par-five fifth, taking a driver from the fairway... how unlucky! It hits the front of the green and looks good, but slowly starts to trickle down a slope and gathers into the front bunker. That swing deserved so much more.

DOUBLE BOGEY! The par-four sixth seems to be playing difficult today, with Clarke (+2) making an eight. Now Stenson (E) drops back to level-par with a double. If you're betting on the Swede this week, you can blame me there. I gave him the kiss of death with my words of praise.

BIRDIE! Westwood (-2) makes a birdie-four after splashing out of the bunker. Deserved after a brilliant second shot was swallowed by the trap. He's three-under through five holes of his second round, two-under for the championship. Putting well, too.

BIRDIE! Stenson (-1) recovers from his bogey at the sixth by grabbing a shot back at the par-three seventh. Good response from the Swede.

BIRDIE! Woods (-3), who saw a birdie putt at the second short of the cup, sinks one from a similar distance at the third and he's one-under for his round, three-under for the championship. Prediction: He will top the leaderboard by the end of this round. You heard it here.

McDowell (+3) birdied the second hole and taps in for par at the third. He has failed to make the cut in the nine Open Championships he has carded an over-par first round. A solid start today, though.

BOGEY! Masters champion Adam Scott (+1) started his round with three pars but has dropped a shot at the fourth.

Woods (-3) takes a five iron into the green at the par-three fourth. It tip toes onto the front and that's an uphill putt for birdie. McDowell (+3) goes with a four iron and lands it next to Tiger's ball. Two clean strikes.

Westwood (-2) is just shy of the green with his approach to the difficult sixth hole.

Laird (+1) is on the green in two and putting for eagle at the par-five ninth.

McDowell (+3) comes up short of the cup on the fourth. That's given Woods (-3) a good read, can he drop his?

Westwood (-2) goes close from off the green at six but that should be par.

BIRDIE! Laird (E) gives his eagle putt a chance but settles for a birdie. That's him back to level-par.

BOGEY! Well, well, well... Woods (-2) ends up three-putting the fourth and drops back to two-under-par.

Woods (-2) creeps to the edge of the green at the fifth. He's there in two and looking to get the dropped shot right back. McDowell (+3) is a few yards further back and also on the birdie trail.

Westwood (-2) came up short at the seventh but sinks a nervy one for par.

BIRDIE! Spieth (-3) sinks a 10-footer for birdie at 11, meaning he is one-under for his second round and three-under for the championship. He's going well.

McDowell (+3) gives himself a good birdie chance at the fifth but misses completely. He'll be disappointed with that effort.

BIRDIE! Woods (-3) nearly holes a long eagle putt at the fifth, which would have been a big move. Instead it's a birdie, which I'm sure he'll be happy with having dropped a shot on the previous hole.

BOGEY! Adam Scott (+2) cards another bogey at the sixth and is moving backwards.

Westwood (-2) hits the green in two at the eighth. However, the ball rolls onto the fringe. He'll still be putting for a birdie from there, which will see him onto three-under-par if he makes it. Brilliant round so far, he's putting himself right in the mix.

BIRDIE! Stenson (-2) is back to two-under-par with a birdie-four at the ninth.

Woods (-3) locates the fairway at the difficult sixth. However, McDowell (+3) is in a world of trouble, finding the fairway bunker. That's a particularly treacherous trap.

Spieth (-3) hunting for another birdie at the 12th, but his putt just grazes the edge of the hole. He tidies up for par.

BIRDIE! Westwood (-3) puts a great stroke on his birdie attempt at the eighth and it drops. Brilliant stuff.

EAGLE! Another American putting himself in contention now, as Ryan Moore (-1) moves into the red figures with an eagle-three at the ninth. He was two-under through five holes of his second round, but bogeys at six and eight saw him back to level-par. Good response.

WHAT A SHOT! McDowell (+3) has to take his medicine at the sixth, digging out of the bunker and onto the fairway. He needs a good shot into the green... and that's exactly what he gets. He stiffs an iron to within a foot or so.

BIRDIE! Laird (-2) strings together three successive birdies at nine, 10 and 11 and is now one-under for his second round, two-under for the championship. He'll tackle the par-four 12th next.

McDowell (+3) saves par at the sixth. That truly is a remarkable save after plopping his tee shot into the fairway bunker. Woods (-3) follows him into the cup for a four as well.

BOGEY! Yesterday's surprise package Shiv Kapur (-2), who led the way on six-under at one stage, has started his second round by dropping a shot at the first.

Spieth (-3) hits his approach to the 14th green to within 15-20 feet. That's another chance for the Texan to move further up the leaderboard.

BIRDIE! Laird (-3) makes it four birdies in a row at the 12th! He's on a hot streak and surging up the leaderboard!

Woods (-3) and McDowell (+3) makes threes at the par-three seventh.

CORRECTION: Woods (-3) and McDowell (+3) par the seventh.

Spieth (-3) leaves his birdie putt at 14 on the edge of the hole. He stays one-under for his second round, three-under for the championship.

Woods (-3) splits the fairway with his tee shot at the eighth. Laird (-3) hits the heart of the green at the par-three 13th and looking for a fifth birdie in a row.

BIRDIE! Westwood (-4) sinks his fifth birdie of the day to get to within one of the leader Zach Johnson! He'll take on the 469-yard par-four 10th now.

Woods (-3) with his second shot from the fairway at the eighth, he's on the green but miles from the cup. Westwood (-4) sends his tee shot at the 10th bounding down the fairway.

Stenson (-2) is on the green in two at the 12th, looking for a birdie. Laird (-3) misses to the left with his birdie putt at 13.

Spieth (-3) chopping out from the thick stuff at the 15th, he goes off the back of the green and is scrambling for par there. Molinari (-2), from off the green, putting for a birdie at the sixth, never really had a chance.

Luke Donald (+7) is two-under through eight holes of his second round. He picked up shots at the first and third as he battles to make the weekend at Muirfield.

Tom Lehman (+2), who signed for a three-under 68 yesterday, is five-under through 16 holes of his second round.

Charl Schwartzel (+1) is three-under through nine today and looks like making the cut, barring another back-nine meltdown.

BIRDIE! Ryan Moore (-2) picks up another shot at the 12th and moves onto two-under.

BOGEY! Woods (-2) joins Moore on two-under after three-putting the eighth.

Westwood (-4) just misses with a birdie attempt at the 10th. Good effort from around 20 feet.

Mark O'Meara (+3) signs for a seven-over 78, leaving him three-over-par for the tournament. A birdie at 12 is the only saving grace of a disheartening second round. He'll make the cut, though, which at the moment lies around five or six-over.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Spieth (-1) drops two shots at the 15th and falls to one-under-par.

Woods (-2) is on the tee at the par-five ninth, but he's left that out to the right. Gets lucky with his lie in the rough. McDowell (+3) bombs one down the middle of the fairway.

Spieth (-1) just starting to come undone as he approaches the finish. He's scrambling for par at the 16th after dropping two shots on the previous hole.

BOGEY! Laird (-2) saw his four-hole birdie streak come to an end at the 13th and he's now dropped a shot at the 14th.

News from the R&A on the projected cut. At the moment, it stands at three-over, which means a few big names need to get a motor on. The afternoon starters are yet to go, which means that could well drift out. Still, Harrington (+4) is on the 15th and will be looking to save himself an anxious afternoon. Luke Donald (+7) really needs to get a move on, he's currently tackling the 10th. Nicolas Colsaerts, Tom Watson, Justin Rose and Keegan Bradley will start their second rounds this afternoon on four-over. And, of course, Rory McIlroy (+8) will need a stellar round if he is to make the weekend.

Westwood (-4) keeps his round going with par at the 11th. He's five-under today and playing great.

Woods (-2) misses by a whisker with his birdie putt at the ninth.

BIRDIE! A much-needed bird for McDowell (+2) at the ninth. He made the green in two and lagged a putt within inches.

Westwood (-4) dials in his approach to the 12th to set up another birdie opportunity. Resplendent golf from the Englishman.

TIED FOR THE LEAD! Westwood (-5) duly knocks in his tiddler to join Zach Johnson at the top of the leaderboard on five-under-par. He's six-under for today's round, simply stunning.

LEADERBOARD: (-5) Westwood (12), Z. Johnson; (-4) Cabrera-Bello; (-3) Jimenez, D. Johnson, Snedeker; (-2) Laird (15), Moore (14), Stenson (13), Woods (9), Mickelson, Cabrera; (-1) Molinari (8), Fisher (2), Hamilton (1), Watson, Fernandez-Castano, Duke; (E) Spieth (16), Clarke (14), Mahan (10), Kapur (5), Aiken, Wiesberger, Matsuyama, Mullen, Wright

Woods (-2) with a long birdie putt from off the green at 10, runs it a good 10 foot past the hole. He could be letting another one go there.

SAVE! Woods (-2) makes his putt coming back and stays at two-under-par.

BOGEY! Westwood (-4) came up short with his tee shot at the par-three 13th and putted to within five feet of the cup. He left his saving putt to the right of the hole and gives a shot back.

Laird (-2) saves par at the 16th.

McDowell (+2) with his second shot from the rough at 11, he'll take his third from the sand. Woods (-2) comes up short of the green.

Westwood (-4) finds trouble off the tee at 14, as does Laird (-2) at 17. Woods (-2) chipping onto the green at 11, leaves himself a tricky one to save par. McDowell (+2) has an awkward stance from the trap, gets it on the green. Spieth (+1), who has dropped three shots in the last two holes, gives himself a great opportunity to get back to level-par.

BOGEY, BOGEY! Westwood (-3) gives another one back at 14. Woods (-1) does the same at 11. A few shots beginning to drain away now, maybe the course is starting to bite back as it did yesterday.

So back-to-back bogeys for Westwood (-3) has him four-under for his second round. He has lost that bit of momentum as he approaches the final four holes.

A poor finish has cost Jordan Speith (+3) a place on the leaderboard. He's in with a one-over 72, leaving him three-over for the championship. It was looking rosy for the teenage Texan until he doubled the 15th and followed that with bogeys at 16 and 17.

Westwood (-3) bombs one down the fairway at 15, but it skips off the firm ground and runs into a bunker. That went a long, long way. Around 350/360 yards with the wind behind him.

McDowell (+4) has dropped shots at 10 and 11 and now sees a birdie putt just miss the hole at 12. He's even-par for today.

Woods (-1) with a putt for birdie at 12, leaves it inches from the cup.

BOGEY! Laird (-1) drops another shot at the 17th after finding trouble off the tee.

Westwood (-3) scoops out from the bunker at 15 and has a putt for birdie.

Woods (-1) finds the green at the par-three 13th. McDowell (+4), flirting with the cut mark, pitches his pin-high but the firmness of the green means it rolls to the back. Westwood (-3) sees his birdie putt at 15 slip past the cup.

Luke Donald (+8) is now one-under through 13 holes of his second round at Muirfield. It's not looking good for him.

Charl Schwartzel (E) is four-under for today's round, which puts him level-par for the championship. Dazzling round so far, joint-best of the day alongside Westwood (-3), who has just saved par at the 15th.

Woods (-1) putting uphill from distance at 13, falls well short and has a nervy one to save par. Laird (-1) from the bunker at 18, pitches it onto the fairway.

BIRDIE! McDowell (+3) reads the left-to-right break perfectly to drop in for a much-needed birdie at the 13th.

Woods (-1) saves par at the 13th.

Westwood (-3) loses his tee shot at the par-three 16th to the right. It's off the green but by no means a disaster. Schwartzel (E) finds the sand.

BIRDIE! Stenson (-2) moves back to two-under-par with a birdie at the 17th.

BIRDIE! Jimenez (-4) started with a par but has just birdied the second to join fellow Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello on four-under.

Martin Laird (-1) posts 71 for his second round, leaving him one-under-par for the championship. His round included five birdies, four of which were in a row between nine and 12.

BOGEY! Darren Clarke (+1) finishes with a bogey at 18 to come in with an even-par 72. He's one-over for the championship.

Westwood (-3) saves par at the 16th.

Woods (-1) with his second shot from the fairway at the 14th, runs off the back of the green. He'll need a decent up-and-down shot from there. McDowell (+3) creeps onto the front of the green.

Henrik Stenson (-2) posts a one-under-par round of 70, leaving him tied for seventh on two-under-par for the championship. Good round from the Swede, who struck five birdies today. A double at the sixth looks ugly, but a few have found that hole difficult today.

Ryan Moore (E) also signs for 70 and is even-par for the championship.

BOGEY! McDowell (+4) sees his putt to save par at the 14th circle the perimeter and stay out. It defied gravity. Frustration for the Northern Irishman.

Woods (-1) saves par at the 14th after a great up-and-down.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Molinari (+1) drops back to one-over par after a double at the 14th. He's now three-over for his second round and yet to pick up a shot today.

McDowell (+4) sees his approach to the 15th hit the green but gather into a bunker on the right. Unfortunate. Woods (-1), plodding along, attacks the pin but also runs off to the right. An easier shot than his playing partner, though, as he's not on the beach.

Westwood (-3) saves par at the par-five 17th. He was on the green in three but miles from the cup. His first putt left him with work to do, but a good putt keeps his round going at four-under-par.

CLOSE! McDowell (+4) nearly holes his shot from the bunker at 15. It hit the hole but stayed out. Lovely touch from the sand.

Woods (-1) is holing par putts aplenty. Another knee-knocker goes down at the 15th. It's hard work for the world number one at the moment, but his blade is in fine working order. He's one-over for his second round with three holes remaining.

BOGEY! Jimenez (-3) falls back to three-under-par with a bogey at the par-three fourth. His tee shot missed the green to the right and he couldn't get up and down to save par.

Woods (-1) finds the dancefloor at 16. McDowell (+4) also hits the target. Westwood (-3) will take his third shot at 18 from the greenside bunker.

Not a bad shot from the trap by Westwood (-3), as he looks to get in with a four-under 67. He's got around 10 feet to salvage par.

Woods (-1) trickles his birdie putt down the hill at 16 and taps in for par. McDowell (+4) sinks for par as well, keeping his head just above the parapet.

BOGEY! Lee Westwood (-2) drops a shot on the final hole to post a three-under 68. He was tied for the lead at one stage but found the back nine problematic. Still two-under-par for the week and right in this.

Sergio Garcia (+6) finishes bogey-par-bogey-bogey to leave himself in danger of missing the cut at Muirfield. He posts a two-over 73 to leave himself two shots off the projected four-over cut mark.

Charl Schwartzel (+1), the third player in that group, matches Westwood (-2) with a 68 to see him not only safely inside the cut, but with an outside chance over the weekend. Another three-under round tomorrow and who knows where he could be come Sunday.

BOGEY, BOGEY! Cabrera-Bello (-3) drops a shot at the fourth, while Dustin Johnson (-2) starts his second round with a bogey.

Luke Donald (+10) will miss the weekend after carding 72 for his second round.

Adam Scott (+1) also comes in with a 72 but is just six shots off the pace. One birdie and two bogeys amounts to a solid round for the Australian. Like Schwartzel, a definite dark horse heading into the weekend.

Click here to read the story of Lee Westwood's second round. Or here to learn of Sergio Garcia's troubles.

Martin Laird (-1) has put himself right in the mix with a 71. Click here to read what he had to say about his second round at Muirfield.

Woods (-1) comes up short with a birdie putt at the par-five 17th. He stays one-over for his second round, one-under for the championship.

Justin Rose (+4) was wayward with his opening tee shot, but found a decent lie. His second shot finishes short of the green. Jimenez (-3) taps in for par at the sixth.

McDowell (+4) and Woods (-1) both land their approach shots to the 18th on the putting surface. Both have uphill putts for a couple of birds.

Rose (+4) finds the middle of the cup for a par at the first.

Lee Westwood: "I made the most of the softer conditions. I wouldn't say it was really soft, but it's beginning to get shiny out there."

It seems, like yesterday, the afternoon starters will get the worst of the conditions.

BIRDIE! Woods (-2) finishes with a birdie at 18, walking after it with his putter held aloft. That's a brilliant way to finish, a real confidence booster after a difficult second round. It could well see him leading (along with Westwood) by the halfway stage.

Graeme McDowell (+4) finishes with a par and should be sticking around for the weekend.

Click here to read about Tiger Woods's even-par 71.

LEADERBOARD: (-5) Z Johnson; (-4) Cabrera-Bello; (-3) Jimenez, Snedeker; (-2) Stenson, Westwood, Woods, Johnson, Mickelson, Cabrera; (-1) Laird, Watson, Fernandez-Castano, Duke; (E) Moore, Matsuyama, Mullen, Wright; (+1) Spieth, Clarke, Schwartzel, Scott, Simpson, Molinari, Kapur, Cink, Poulter, Clark, Villegas, Calcavecchia, Teater, Tiley

BOGEY! Poulter (+2) shoots five at the par-four first hole to slip to two-over-par.

Webb Simpson (+1) posts 70 for his second round.

BOGEY! Justin Rose (+5) drops a shot at the second to slide beyond the four-over cut mark.

TIED FOR THE LEAD! Rafael Cabrera-Bello (-5) makes it a two-way tie for the lead by sinking a birdie at the par-three seventh.

With the apparent contrast in difficulty between the front and back nine, expect to see the lead at the top stretched before coming back in before the close of play.

Bad start for McIlroy (+8), as he plonks an iron shot into the rough with his tee shot at the first. Mickelson (-2) bombs one down the middle of the fairway.

Tiger Woods: "I grinded all day today, I hadn't made a birdie putt since the third hole. It was nice that I made one [on the 18th]. This golf course is getting quick, [the greens] are drying out as the day goes on. It will be a fun weekend, this golf course is difficult, it'll be interesting how much moisture they put on."

BIRDIE! A short one drops for Snedeker (-4) at the third to see him pull within one shot of the lead. He's a major contender this week.

McIlroy (+8), on the green in three after finding the rough with his tee shot, saves par at the first.

BOGEY! Cabrera-Bello (-4) leaks a shot at the eighth to leave Zach Johnson (-5) out in front on his own. The American is making his way to the first tee now.

Francesco Molinari (+1) goes round in 74 to leave himself six shots off the current lead on one-over-par. No birds today for the Italian, just a bogey at six and a double at 13.

Mickelson (-2) found the bunker with his tee shot at the second. It would be an awkward stance for a right hander, but Lefty digs it onto the fairway.

McIlroy (+8) is on the green at the second but it'll be a fantastic putt if it drops for birdie. He's a fair distance away.

Jimenez (-3) rattles in a par putt at the ninth. He's hanging on in there with a birdie, a bogey and seven pars on the front nine.

Zach Johnson (-5) slices his tee shot to the right and that's in the cabbage. He went at it with an iron and still missed the target, not a good start for the leader.

McIlroy (+8) from distance at the second, it misses by a whisker. He judged it almost perfectly, but when it's not running for you...

EAGLE! Dustin Johnson (-3) gets back to where he started the day. After bogeys at the first and fourth, the big-hitting American's holed out for an eagle-three at the fifth.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Mickelson (E) pays the penalty for a poor tee shot at the second, tapping in for a six which drops him back to level-par for the week.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Snedeker (-2) has made a mess of the par-three fourth, shooting a five.

BOGEY! Oh my word... Johnson (-4) put a lovely stroke on his long putt to save par at the first. It looked like it might just curl in, but finished a hair's breadth from dropping. He took his time approaching it, hoping it would eventually vanish, but it's a bogey to start for the American.

A superb bunker shot from Jimenez (-3) gave the Spaniard a chance of saving par at the 10th, which he took to remain three-under-par. He had one foot in the trap and one out, but still managed to control the ball expertly.

Mickelson (E) is in for par at the third. He remains two-over for his second round after a shooting a double on the previous hole.

Snedeker (-2) also recovers from a double at the fourth by parring the fifth.

Bubba Watson (-2) is one-under through fives holes of his second round. Great start.

Justin Rose (+5) is one-over through four, but the cut continues to drift with him.

ZJ (-4) nearly holes a birdie putt at the second but taps in for par.

BOGEY! Meanwhile, his namesake Dustin Johnson (-2) leaks a shot at sixth.

Mickelson (E) produces a bit of magic off the tee at the par-three fourth to give himself an excellent chance of grabbing a shot back. McIlroy (+9), who shot a bogey-four on the previous hole, looks like giving more shots away after finding the jungle to the right of the green. Do not expect him to make the weekend, even with the cut now projected at five-over and drifting.

BIRDIE! Three at the top now as Jimenez (-4) arrests a run of six straight pars with a birdie at 11. He joins Cabrera-Bello and ZJ on four-under-par.

I can't see the 68s of Westwood (-2) and Schwartzel (+1) being beaten today. Anything around 71 (even-par) will be tremendous for the afternoon starters.

ZJ (-4) locates the green at three and has around 20 foot left for a birdie.

Cabrera-Bello (-4) gets lucky with a chip onto the green at 11. He shoved at it and nearly went in the bunker, but it finishes on the green. Although that's a horrible putt he's left himself.

BIRDIE! Mickelson (-1) gets himself back into the red at the par-three fourth. An ode to a terrific tee shot.

ZJ (-4) leaves his birdie putt at the third short of the cup. Taps in for par and remains one-over for his second round.

BOGEY! Just two at the top now as Cabrera-Bello (-3) runs his par putt past the hole.

Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Tiger Woods are in the clubhouse on two-under-par. They'll enjoy this afternoon. Two out of those three could well be in tomorrow's final group.

Gullane, East Lothian, resembles something of a Mediterranean haven this week. Blazing sun, blue waters... absolutely idyllic.

BOGEY! Bubba Watson (-1) shoots a bogey-four at the seventh to halt his good progress today.

BOGEY! Dustin Johnson (-1) cards his fourth bogey in seven holes. An eagle at the par-five fifth is the only reason he's under par. It's all very well crushing it off the tee, but the short putts are worth just as much.

ZJ (-4) finds the green at the par-three fourth.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Justin Rose (+7) sliding rapidly towards a weekend of inactivity with a double at the sixth.

Snedeker (-2) showing skill from the sand with a well-judged bunker shot at the par-three seventh. He has a short one left for par.

BOGEY! And then there was one... again. Jimenez (-3) nearly saves himself once again at the 13th, but a great up-and-down didn't get it's just rewards. Zach Johnson (-4) once again leads the way on his own.

CORRECTION: That wasn't a bogey for Jimenez (-4), it was par. My mistake. However...

BIRDIE! ZJ (-5) has still taken the outright lead thanks to a brilliant birdie at the par-three fourth. That should settle any nerves.

BIRDIE! Watson (-2) gets back to two under with a birdie at the par-five ninth. Two outrageous approach shots set up a very good chance of an eagle, but he couldn't profit. Still, he's moving back in the right direction.

BIRDIE! DJ (-2) does exactly what he needs to do: take advantage of the par fives. He's played the first two in three-under-par, but the last one isn't until the 17th. What shape will his scorecard be in by then?

Jimenez (-4) with his third shot at the par-four 14th, it's on the green but this pin is one of the most difficult to get close to today. He's some way from the cup.

ZJ (-5) found the rough stuff with his tee shot at the fifth, but was able to chop out onto the fairway. His third shot lands on the green. It's a difficult chance for birdie, but a chance nonetheless.

Snedeker (-2) makes his four at the sixth to stay two-under-par. He's one-over for his second round as he heads to the par-three seventh.

Bubba Watson (-2), with dynamite in his clubhead, hacks the ball out of the rough at 10 with an iron and finds the back of the green. Dustin Johnson (-2) is also on and putting for a birdie.

BOGEY! Jimenez (-3) limits the damage to just one shot at the 14th.

BOGEY! Frustration for Zach Johnson (-4) as he misses a short par putt at the fifth. His lead is back down to one.

Unbelievable... Jimenez (-3) hits his second shot at 15 onto the front of the green, but the ball just keeps on going. So much so, it's off the back of the putting surface. Watson (-2) saw his chip run and run at 10 to leave him with a nasty one for par as well. Putting on marble.

BOGEY! Dear oh dear, Cabrera-Bello (-2) drops another shot, this time it's his putter that lets him down. It was a really poor effort, which missed to the left by a good couple yard or so.

DOUBLE BOGEY! It's a horrible three-putt from Watson (E) on the 10th green that shunts him back down to level-par. He's trudging to the par-four 11th now. Can't blame the green speed for that short miss.

DOUBLE BOGEY! I gave Cabrera-Bello (-1) too much credit, thinking that he'd tidy up for bogey. Alas, he's replicated Watson by three-putting for a double. That's got to hurt.

TIED FOR THE LEAD! Angel Cabrera (-4) is on the charge! He's birdied the fourth and fifth to join ZJ (-4) atop the leaderboard. The Argentine lost a Masters playoff to Adam Scott (+1) in April, but knows how to win a Major (2007 US Open, 2009 Masters). Never won the Claret Jug, though.

BIRDIE! Snedeker (-3) moves to within one of the leading duo with a birdie-four at the ninth. He nearly holed for an eagle, but settle for just the one shot gained.

It's awfully tight at the top of the leaderboard, with 12 players under par. With the lead currently at four-under, though, anyone from around four-over has to be considered a challenger. The cut is currently projected at six-over.

BOGEY! ZJ (-3), for the first time in a long time, drops out of the lead with a bogey at the sixth. That leaves Cabrera (-4) leading the way.

Missing the cut (as it stands): Billy Horschel (+7), Paul Lawrie (+8), Geoff Ogilvy (+8), John Senden (+8), KJ Choi (+9), Tom Watson (+9), Sir Nick Faldo (+9), Jim Furyk (+10), Luke Donald (+10), Rickie Fowler (+12), Rory McIlroy (+13), Matteo Manassero (+15)

Cabrera (-4) is in a spot of bother on the sixth, which has proven meddlesome today. He plays a bump and run onto the green, it's nicely weighted and that's a chance to save par and remain in the lead on his own.

BOGEY! The leaders are coming in. Cabrera (-3) becomes the latest to bogey six, meaning we have a four-way share at the top between the Argentine, ZJ, Snedeker and Jimenez.

BOGEY! That quickly becomes three as Snedeker (-1) doubles the 10th, which sees him slip behind clubhouse leaders Stenson, Westwood and Woods.

Oof, ZJ (-3) loses his tee shot at the eighth to the right.

BIRDIE! Now Dustin Johnson (-3) has grabbed a share of the lead with a birdie at the 12th. The top of the leaderboard is chopping and changing more times than a choppy, changy thing.

Jimenez (-3) sets up a birdie chance at the par-five 17th. Come on, Miguel...

Mickelson (E) feeds his eagle putt at the ninth down a shiny slope, leaving himself with something left for birdie. Cabrera (-3) looking for a birdie at seven, will have to settle for a par. Good effort from distance.

Jimenez (-3) leaves his birdie putt at 17 to the right. A par or better at 18 and the Spaniard will take the clubhouse lead. Either way, I think it's safe to say he'll be burning a fine cigar and pouring himself a glass of rioja.

BOGEY! ZJ (-2) is seeing his round head south with another bogey at the eighth.

BIRDIE! Mickelson (-1) once again dips under par with a four at the ninth. A mixed bag on the front nine for Lefty with a double, two birdies and a bogey on his card.

LEADERBOARD: (-3) Jimenez, D Johnson, Cabrera; (-2) Stenson, Westwood, Woods, Z Johnson; (-1) Cabrera-Bello, Snedeker, Mickelson, Laird; (E) Moore, Watson, Duke; (+1) Spieth, Clarke, Schwartzel, Scott, Simpson, Molinari, Poulter, Matsuyama, Tiley, Wright; (+2) Leonard, Mahan, Day, Villegas, Mullen, Teater; (+3) Wagner, O'Meara, Lehman, English, Donaldson, Grace, Kapur, Wiesberger, Curtis, Kaymer, Streelman, Bjorn, Calcavecchia

Cabrera (-3) cosies a birdie putt up to the hole at the eighth. Taps in for par to retain a share of the lead.

NEW CLUBHOUSE LEADER! Miguel Angel Jimenez (-3) saves from the sand at 18 to get around Muirfield in a level-par 71. That's good enough for a one-shot lead in the clubhouse.

BOGEY! Mickelson (E) begins the back nine with a five at 10.

BIRDIE! Zach Johnson (-3) takes advantage of the profitable par-five ninth with a birdie-four to get himself back into a share of the lead.

Mickelson (E) hits a wedge onto the 11th green and will putt for a birdie. Cabrera (-3) is on the fringe at the ninth in two, so he could well be taking the outright lead very soon.

Dustin Johnson (-3) comes racing out of the rough at 15, he's off the back of the green. He takes a drop after it rests on some television cables. Delicate chip from there, but he does well.

BOGEY! Snedeker (-1) drops a shot at 13. He found the rough with his tee shot and slashed out, leaving himself with some distance to traverse to save par. Couldn't do it.

BIRDIE! A tospy-turvy round continues for Mickelson (-1) with a third birdie of the day at 11. He's two shots off the leading pack.

BIRDIE! That's now three shots off the leading pack, as Cabrera (-4) snuggles up to the hole with an eagle attempt at the ninth, allowing him a gimme for birdie. The Argentine takes the outright lead once more.

Zach Johnson (-3) gives himself a chance of escaping the 10th with par courtesy of a delightful little chip from the rough.

BOGEY! A very good putt from Dustin Johnson (-2) sees him leak just the one shot at 15. He was in the bunker and then the rough, so it's a pretty good result.

BOGEY! It's a five to finish for Rafael Cabrera-Bello. A disappointing 74 for the Spaniard, but he's still one-under for the week. Keep your head up, son.

CATASTROPHE! Nicolas Colsaerts (+10) was inside the cut line, which currently stands at seven-over, as he stood on the 15th tee. However, nine blows later an he finds himself 10-over-par.

Like everybody else, I'm a big fan of Miguel Angel Jimenez. Not only is he an extremely talented golfer, but he's one of the coolest on tour. I especially like how you can only understand every third or fourth word that passes his lips. When asked if a 49-year-old could win the Open Championship, he replied: "Why not?"

Dustin Johnson (-2) stands on the tee at the par-five 17th. He's kept his scorecard in decent nick since the last par five at nine. He sends one down the fairway, it looks OK. No doubt over Bubba Watson's (+1) ball though, as he unleashes another rocket down the fairway. He's looking to get at least one shot back after bogeying the 16th.

Mickelson (-1) judges his par putt to perfection at the 13th to stay at one-under, three shots off the lead.

BOGEY! Back-to-back bogeys for Snedeker (E) means that he is now three-over for his second trip around Muirfield, even-par for the championship.

TRIPLE BOGEY! It's gone from bad to worse for Snedeker (+3), who missed a birdie putt and then lipped out from short range. That left him even further away. He then missed that before tapping in for a seven, four of which were putts. Complete disintegration, and you hate to see that happen.

Mickelson (-1) with his second from the fairway at 14, can only find the bunker at the front of the green.

Dustin Johnson (-2) sees an opportunity to get back to three-under go begging at the par-five 17th.

BIRDIE! Zach Johnson (-4) birdies 12 to join Cabrera at the top of the leaderboard once again. He's not going away!

Cabrera (-4) locates the green at 12. Mickelson (-1) with his third shot from the bunker at 14, very well played. Not much left to save par. Dustin Johnson (-2) finds the fairway the 18th fairway. Bubba Watson (+1) is also on the short grass.

BIRDIE! Zach Johnson (-5) is back to where he started the day! Super putt from the fringe at the back of the par-three 13th. It tracked all the way, and that's successive birdies for the American.

Mickelson (-1) rolls in at the 14th to remain one-under-par and in touch.

Dustin Johnson (-2) from the fairway at 18, it's on but it will have to travel through a few checkpoints on its way to the cup. Watson (+1) shapes his from left to right, as usual, and finishes a few yards from DJ's ball. A couple of birdie opportunities for the American duo, tough ones though.

Mickelson (-1) is safely on the fairway at 15. Zach Johnson (-5) will take his second shot from the fairway at 14, although it was a slightly conservative tee shot. Can't blame him for that.

Well judged putt from Bubba Watson (+1) at 18 but it falls short. He taps in for a 73.

Dustin Johnson (-2) reaches the hole with his putt but it didn't quite have the line. That's a 72 for the American, which puts him right in contention as we head into the weekend.

Not heard much of Ian Poulter (+1) today. He's level-par through 16 holes of his second round. Solid golf.

Z. Johnson (-5) is in a spot of bother at 14, missing the green to the left with his approach. Mickelson (-1), still plodding away, finds the green at 15.

Mickelson (-1) runs his birdie putt past the hole at 15. That looked like it would never stop. Rose (+9) with a long birdie putt at 17, nearly drops but lips out. Unlucky, looks like he'll be free this weekend.

BOGEY! Zach Johnson (-4) pays the price for an errant approach into the 14th, ends up dropping a shot. The putt broke left late on and slipped past the hole.

Short birdie putt for Snedeker (+3) to breathe new life into his faltering challenge, but that's no good. His round has soured since a birdie at 12, letting five shots go in the three holes after.

Cabrera (-4) takes his third shot from the fairway at the par-four 14th. He didn't get the right connection, catching it very thin, and it raced across the putting surface. That's ended up in Zach Johnson territory, only the Argentine looks like giving away a couple of shots than the American did.

BOGEY! He'll be happy with that recovery, Cabrera (-3), who ends up dropping just the one shot at 14. It leaves Johnson (-4) in front on his own, but that's a decent result.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Incredibly, Mickelson (+1) four-putts the 16th and falls to one-over-par. Very ugly indeed. He's now three-over for his second round after he had instilled a degree of consistency to his play.

Ernie Els (+6) posts 74 and it looks like the defending champion will be around for the weekend. He finished bogey-bogey.

Poulter (+1) with his third shot from the greenside bunker at 18, that's a beauty. He'll tap in for a level-par 71. He's gone quietly today, but that's a fantastic round that has him right in contention.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Zach Johnson (-2) takes an eternity over his bogey putt, but watches on as it slips agonisingly past the hole.

TIED FOR THE LEAD! Johnson's blemish at 15 leaves Jimenez and Cabrera out in front on three-under-par.

US Open champion Justin Rose (+10) finishes with another bogey and will definitely be missing the weekend.

Cabrera (-3) goes off the green at 15. Mickelson (+1) with his third shot from the rough at the par-five 17th. He's knee deep in the wheat and races one through the green and off the back.

Zach Johnson (-2) on the tee at the par-three 16th, he puts the horrors of previous hole behind him by finding the green. Devilish putt from there, but it's uphill. Cabrera (-3) chips on at 15, but like Johnson he'll have a tough one.

BOGEY! Cabrera (-2) tickles one from right to left, gives it too much borrow. That's another one gone. With every shot dropped, the leaderboard gets tighter. More and more players coming into the equation.

SOLE LEADER: (-3) Miguel Angel Jimenez.

All this makes for a truly exciting weekend. Players who probably didn't give themselves much of a chance after the second gamble around Muirfield are now licking their lips.

Brandt Snedeker (+5), as we all saw, completely fell to pieces on the back nine. He ended up signing for 79, but that's only eight shots adrift. And let me assure you, the lead will not be stretched by the close of play.

I predicted that Tiger Woods would be in the lead by the end of the day. Well, it looks like he'll be just one shot off the pace. Cut me some slack, yeah?

The scoring has followed a similar pattern to yesterday, with the afternoon starters finding the course a far more troubling prospect. If that remains the case tomorrow, it could well be an advantage starting from around four-over. And you know who's at four-over, don't you? That's right, G-Mac. When he makes the cut he wins.

A clutch putt at the 18th to finish for Phil Mickelson (+1), who signs for a 74.

Zach Johnson (-2) flew his approach to the 17th over the flag, setting up a decent birdie opportunity. However, he's unable to take advantage and remains two-under-par. The American is three-over for his second round as he heads to the last.

Very few players have been able to stiff their approaches, firing at the flag is risky business on these greens. It's just out of the question, really. It's actually a surprise to see so many Americans crowding the top of the leaderboard, considering a lot of their golf consists of target practice on soft, watered courses. They're doing very well so far this week.

ZJ (-2) from the wheat with his second shot at 18. A radio goes off as he stands over the ball, but no Tiger-style tantrums. He's very mild mannered, even with tension soaring. Not exactly a great recovery and he's got a battle to make par.

Cabrera (-2) going with the big stick at 18, looks like trouble for the Argentine.

ZJ (-2), once again from thick rough on 18, chops it onto the green. If he can save par from there, though, it'll feel like a shot gained. It's a long way from the cup.

BOGEY! Zach Johnson (-1) lets another one go at 18 to finish with a four-over 75. By no means a disaster for the 2007 Masters champion.

Cabrera (-2) went way right with his tee shot at 18. He's allowed a drop within one club length and gets a decent lie. However, he tugs his approach to the green and is scrambling for par. That effectively confirms Jimenez's place at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage.

Thomas Bjorn (+5) finishes with a bogey for a round of 74. He'll go out early tomorrow and could well challenge the top, it's not out of the question.

Cabrera (-2) digs his ball out from the cabbage and leaves himself a bit to do for a four.

BOGEY! Like ZJ, it's a dropped shot to finish for Angel Cabrera (-1).

As it stands, the cut is projected at eight-over-par. Those missing out include Alvaro Quiros (+9), Kyle Stanley (+9), Camilo Villegas (+9), Bill Haas (+9), Marcel Siem (+9), Nicolas Colsaerts (+9), Jim Furyk (+10), Luke Donald (+10), Justin Rose (+10), John Senden (+11), Tom Watson (+11), Thorbjorn Olesen (+12), Rory McIlroy (+12), Rickie Fowler (+12), David Duval (+13), Matteo Manassero (+15), Sir Nick Faldo (+15),

LEADERBOARD: (-3) Jimenez; (-2) Stenson, Westwood, Woods, D. Johnson; (-1) Laird, Cabrera-Bello, Z Johnson, Cabrera; (E) Moore; (+1) Spieth, Clarke, Schwartzel, Scott Simpson, Molinari, Watson, Poulter, Mickelson; (+2) Leonard, Mahan, Day, Matsuyama; (+3) Wagner, O'Meara, Lehman, English, Donaldson, Grace, Kapur, Wiesberger, Curtis, Streelman; (+4) Gallacher, McDowell, Bourdy, De la Riva, Kaymer, Coetzee, Duke, Tiley; (+5) Willett, Fraser, Jacobson, Kuchar, Sink, Snedeker, Bjorn, Teater; (+6) Yang, Lyle, Harrington, Garcia, Fisher, Lowry, DeLaet, Els, Clark, Kim, Wright; (+7) Fitzpatrick, Henley, Van Pelt, Cauley, Dufner, Couples, Bradley, Fernandez-Castano; (+8) Weekley, Jaidee, Ramsey, Lawrie, Ogilvy, Brown, Senior, Hamilton, Ilonen, Wood, Choi, Blixt, Pettersson, Sterne, Katayama, Mullen

Jimmy Mullen (+8) is currently negotiating the par-five 17th, so he's by no means home and dry. If he fails in his quest to make the cut, the amateur championship will belong to Matthew Fitzpatrick (+7). Either way it'll be a baby-faced Englishman.

So it's the Spanish seadog Miguel Angel Jimenez (-3) leading after two rounds of the Open Championship. The weather forecast tomorrow is more conducive to good scoring, so the early starters could well be challenging. After all, it's not called 'moving day' for nothing!

Join us tomorrow for all the action from the third round at Muirfield. Until then it's farewell...