Tommy Fleetwood moved into contention to succeed Ryder Cup partner Francesco Molinari as Open champion as Tiger Woods tried to avoid an early exit at Royal Portrush.
Tommy outscored Woods by 10 shots in the first round and took advantage of ideal conditions for the early starters on Friday to card a superb 67 and set the clubhouse target on seven under under par.
World number one Brooks Koepka, who is seeking a fifth major victory in his last 10 starts, was ominously poised on five under following a 69, with South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen on four under and England’s Tyrrell Hatton a stroke further back after an eventful 71.
Overnight leader JB Holmes had carded five birdies and a bogey in his first 13 holes to remain out in front on nine under par.
Fleetwood was expected to contend for one of the game’s biggest prizes this year after his consistent displays in 2018, the Ryder Cup star finishing 17th in the Masters, second in the US Open – after a record-equalling 63 in the final round – 12th in the Open and 35th in the US PGA.
However, so far this season his best result is a tie for 36th at Augusta National and the 28-year-old also failed to convert good chances to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship earlier in the year.
A bogey on the first was quickly cancelled out by a birdie on the par-five second and Fleetwood also picked up shots on the fifth, 12th, 13th and 15th before bouncing back from a bogey on the 16th to birdie the last.
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