Intro:

Rory McIlroy shoots a second successive round of 66 to take a strong lead into the weekend at Hoylake.

Script:

Rory McIlroy carded a second successive round of 66 to secure a four-shot lead heading into the weekend at the Open.

Those anticipating the Northern Irishman's feathers to be ruffled by his 'Freaky Friday' trend were disappointed.

McIlroy followed up his overnight lead with these birdies, first at the eighth...... and then at the 12th to take a commanding lead at Hoylake.

Tiger Woods needed a birdie on the final hole to make the cut with a second-round 77. The 14-time major winner moved level with the two over cut mark.

Fellow American Dustin Johnson sank this birdie on the 11th before carding a 65 and ending the day in second place, four shots off the lead.

Sergio Garcia holed his second shot for eagle at the second. The Spaniard is six shots behind McIlroy and is tied in third with South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, Italian Francesco Molinari and Americans Rickie Fowler and Ryan Moore.