American Cameron Tringale led by three shots at the halfway stage of the Scottish Open as world No 1 Scott Scheffler was among a host of big names to miss the cut on Friday.
A stellar field in North Berwick ahead of the 150th Open at St Andrews next week included 14 of the world’s top 15.
Half of them can now head to the Old Course early as reigning Open champion Collin Morikawa as well as Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Will Zalatoris, Hideki Matsuyama and Billy Horschel failed to make the cut at three-over par.
Tringale could not match his heroics of Thursday when he equalled the course record with a nine-under-par 61, but a round of two over kept him clear of compatriots Gary Woodland and Doug Ghim.
US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick is among the group on three under par after a stunning round of 66 despite bogeys at his final two holes.
“I wasn’t in the best of positions going into today given yesterday’s weather, but it was fantastic to get off to such a great start,” said Fitzpatrick. “To score as well as I did on the back nine I was absolutely delighted.”
World No 3 Jon Rahm and three-time Major winner Jordan Spieth will be around for the weekend, but dropped back to level par after rounds of 72.
Justin Harding is the best-placed South African, on one under, after carding a second-round 74.
© Agence France-Presse
