Johnson, Scheffler make moves as Woods toils

ST ANDREWS, Scotland :Americans Dustin Johnson, Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth made significant moves in the British Open second round as Tiger Woods continued to struggle under grey skies at St Andrews on Friday.

Twice major champion Johnson shot 67 to get to nine under par, one ahead of overnight leader Cameron Young, world number one Scheffler and Briton Tyrrell Hatton.

Young teed off looking to continue the form which brought him eight birdies in a sparkling 64 on his Open debut.

Woods began his second round needing a huge improvement on his opening 78 to make the cut at the venue of two of his three Open titles.

The American 15-times major champion, who carded two double-bogeys as he continued his comeback from serious injuries sustained in a car crash last year, flickered into life with a birdie at the third but two bogeys quickly halted his momentum.

At seven over par through 12 holes, the 46-year-old Woods's hopes of playing the weekend were fading fast.

Johnson, a former world number one, bogeyed the first before riding a hot putter to make six birdies including one at the final hole.

Scheffler also bogeyed the first but soon rediscovered his usual smooth rhythm to conjure up four birdies around the turn before signing for a second successive 68.

Hatton moved into contention with a flawless 66 to finish one ahead of Americans Talor Gooch and Patrick Cantlay, and Australian Adam Scott, the former Masters champion who tore up the Old Course with a sparkling round of 65.

South Korean Si Woo Kim finished on six under, one ahead of American Aaron Wise who signed for a 67 and was joined at five under by Spieth.

The 2017 Open champion made four birdies on the front nine to boost his bid for a fourth major title.

World