Lyle faces anxious wait

As the morning went on, the scoring became trickier and, with the projected cut expected to be at around five over, the 49-year-old looks likely to make the final two rounds for the third Major of the season.

In the second group out at 6.41am, Lyle got off to the ideal start by picking up a birdie at the second.

But he immediately handed that back with a bogey five at the next, setting the tone for a topsy-turvy round.

The 49-year-old bogeyed the fifth and birdied the sixth to take him back to two-over and there was more movement around the turn with a dropped shot at the 10th was followed by a third birdie of the day at the short par-four 11th.

Lyle got back to one-under for the tournament with a birdie at the par five 14th, but immediately gave the shot back at the 15th.

And he made two fives at the tricky finishing holes to see him slip slightly further down the leaderboard.

Overnight leader Sergio Garcia gave himself an excellent chance of remaining at the top for the halfway stage as he remained at six-under-par with just three holes remaining.

Garcia had two bogeys but birdies at the two par fives, the sixth and 14th, kept him at level par for the round.

The Spanish were rising to the top with Miguel Angel Jiminez carding a 69 to go with yesterday's 70 to lie at three under par.

Lee Westwood was leading English hopes as he was two under for his round and the tournament with just two holes to play.

Paul Broadhurst, from the West Midlands, kept himself near the top of the leaderboard with a second successive 71.

He was joined in the clubhouse on even par by Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els who were round in 70 and 73 respectively this morning.

Amongst the afternoon starters were high-flying Paul McGinley, Tiger Woods and Shropshire duo Peter Baker and Scott Drummond.