Cameron Smith heads into weekend up 2 strokes in Open Championship

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — While Tiger Woods made an early and emotional departure Friday at St. Andrews, Cameron Smith can only wonder if the 150th Open will be his arrival as an undisputed elite player.

Smith already won the Players Championship this year and has risen to as high as No. 3 in the world. His 8-under 64 at The Open gave him his first lead in a major, by 2 shots over PGA Tour rookie Cameron Young. Rory McIlroy was lurking another shot behind.

«It's obviously a really good spot to be in,» Smith said. «I feel like I've been in this spot a lot over the past couple of years, and things just haven't quite gone my way yet.»

Young overcame a few mistakes and closed with a birdie for a 69, putting him in the last group with Smith going into the weekend.

McIlroy got one of the loudest cheers — for a shot, not a farewell — with his 25-foot birdie on the tough Road Hole at the 17th. He missed a birdie chance on the 18th. Still, it was important for him to back up a great start (66) with a solid round (69).

He was tied with Viktor Hovland, who delivered his own thrills by holing out from 139 yards for eagle on the par-4 15th hole and finishing with a birdie for a 66.

Smith was at 13-under 131, the lowest 36-hole score in The Open at St. Andrews.

Even a weekend without Woods, who missed the cut after carding a 3-over 75, is set up for great theater.

Dustin Johnson, who already has a Masters green jacket and a U.S. Open title at Oakmont, played early in the best conditions of the week — light rain that took some of the fire out of the Old Course and then a warming sun — for a 67. He was 4 shots back. Right behind was Masters champion Scottie Scheffler with another 68.

Australian Cameron Smith is 13-under par through two