Clarke leads but McIlroy in the mix

SANDWICH, England (AP):

On a sunny day when the old-timers did very well, the kid made sure he was right in the thick of things at the British Open. Another major title is still in Rory McIlroy's grasp, though he isn't going to run away with this one.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland tenaciously carved out a 1-under 69 yesterday that left him four strokes off the lead at Royal St George's, where just seven strokes will be separating the field heading into what figures to be a wild - and possibly stormy - weekend.

Darren Clarke and Lucas Glover are at the top of a leaderboard filled with experience, from 40-somethings Thomas Bjorn, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Davis Love III to 52-year-old Tom Lehman.

But there's something for everyone (except maybe the home country). Phil Mickelson, check. Sergio Garcia, check. Major champions Martin Kaymer and Charl Schwartzel, check and check.

And McIlroy, lurking in the rear-view mirror, looking to add the claret jug to his US Open title.

"It was a grind," he said. "It would be nicer to be a couple better, but I'll take that going into the weekend. I'm very happy with my position."

So are a lot of guys, including another Ulsterman.

Second straight 68

Clarke shot his second straight 68 to show his younger countrymen a thing or two. Once the face of golf in his country, the 42-year-old became an afterthought when first Graeme McDowell, then McIlroy claimed major titles.

Maybe it's time for the old guy to get his, too.

"It would mean an awful lot," Clarke said. "But obviously, this is only after two rounds. There's an awful long way to go yet."

Clarke rolled in a 90-footer for eagle at the seventh and closed his round with a birdie at the tough 18th, sending him to the clubhouse tied for the top spot with Lucas Glover at 4 under 136.

Glover, the 2009 US Open champion, followed an opening 66 with a solid 70 along the English seaside.

"I didn't hole as many putts as I did yesterday," the bearded Glover said. "But I'm happy to grind out even par."

Also in contention from the other side of the Atlantic: Chad Campbell, who shot 68 and was one shot back at 3-under 137; Dustin Johnson (68) and old-timers Love (68) and Lehman (67), all at 138; and, yes, even Mickelson, who came to England trying to forget his Open record.

Lefty has only one top-10 finish in 17 previous appearances. Despite missing several short putts over the first two days, a 69 made him a factor at 139.

McIlroy won't be romping to an eight-stroke victory like he did at Congressional, but he wasn't complaining about the way he played in the afternoon, when the wind picked up and the tricky pin positions made things treacherous.

He saved his best for last, pulling out a par after plugging his approach in a pot bunker in front of the green. McIlroy somehow knocked it on the green and sank a 12-foot putt, pumping his fist as he reached the midway point of the tournament at an even 140.

Bogey out

All four current major champions were headed to the weekend, but not the top-ranked player in the world. England's Luke Donald closed with four straight bogeys for a 75 to miss the cut of 3-over 143. Lee Westwood, No. 2 in the world, shot 73 and missed the cut by one stroke. Ian Poulter headed home after a 78.

Their dismal finish epitomised the woes for the English, who had hoped to make a big splash at the club that has hosted more Opens outside Scotland than any other.

PGA champion Martin Kaymer (67) was at 137, with Masters winner Charl Schwartzel (68) another stroke back. Defending British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen (70) also was safely above the cut line at 142.

Eight years ago, Bjorn squandered a two-stroke lead in the final three holes, allowing Ben Curtis to sneak away with one of golf's most improbable wins.

Getting into the tournament on Monday as an alternate when Vijay Singh dropped out, Bjorn played only one practice round, then went out and shot a 65.

So did 20-year-old Tom Lewis, who became the first amateur to lead the Open since 1968, the first to pace any major since Mike Reid at the 1976 US Open.

But Lewis seemed more his age in the second round, bogeying the final two holes for a 74 that dropped him three strokes off the pace."