Majestic Scheffler leads British Open, McIlroy hangs on

American Scheffler finished on 10 under par, one clear of Matt Fitzpatrick who carded 66 to boost his hopes of becoming the first Englishman to lift the Claret Jug since Nick Faldo in 1992.

American Brian Harman, the 2023 Open champion who made a big move with a flawless 65, and China's Li Haotong were a further shot back.

Scheffler, a three-times major champion seeking his first British Open title, racked up four birdies on the front nine and four more after the turn, a bogey at the 11th hole the only blemish in a sublime display of shot-making.

"I felt like I hit a few more fairways than I did yesterday, hit some really nice iron shots, and was able to hole some putts," Scheffler said.

"We only had maybe four or five holes where it was really coming down (raining), and I was able to take advantage of the holes where we had some good weather."

Fitzpatrick made four birdies going out and an inspired run of four more in a row lifted him two shots clear of the field.

A bogey on 14 dropped him back, however, and the 2022 U.S. Open champion missed a three-foot birdie putt on 17 before holing a nerveless 23-footer for par at the last.

"Giving myself an opportunity to win the golf tournament, but there's still a hell of a long way to go," he said.

"The aim of the game is to stay in it for as long as possible and hopefully you can pull away right at the death."

Li picked up five birdies in his first 12 holes, but the world number 111 bogeyed the 14th hole, his first dropped shot of the tournament.

Li, who finished third in the 2017 Open after shooting a closing 63, safely parred the last four holes to complete a second successive 67.

"Very pleased, I didn't expect this," he said. "Actually, the last few holes being quite easy I got lucky."

Harman lifted the Claret Jug at a soggy Royal Liverpool two years ago but arrived on the Northern Ireland coast under the radar after enjoying little success since his first major triumph.

The world number 26 birdied the first two holes, however, and picked up four more shots, sinking an eight-foot putt at the last.

"I love the golf over here," Harman said. "It suits me. Distance, of course, matters over here, but it doesn't matter as much as maybe some other tournaments because the ground is so firm that the ball rolls."

McIlroy roler-coaster

Northern Ireland's McIlroy scrambled to an opening 70 and it was a similar story early in his second round as he mixed mistakes with brilliance.

The 36-year-old, bidding to win his second Open 11 years after his first, had the crowds roaring with a birdie on the first and did brilliantly to salvage a par at the second after slicing his drive into deep rough and taking a penalty drop.

He wasted several opportunities with careless putts before birdies at the 12th and 14th completed a round of 69 to finish at three under par.

"I didn't have this opportunity six years ago, so to play an extra two days in this atmosphere in front of these crowds, I'm very excited for that," McIlroy said, referring to the 2019 Open at Portrush when he missed the cut.

"I feel like my game's definitely good enough to make a run. I'm excited for the weekend."

Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard ended on five under alongside Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, England's Tyrrell Hatton and Americans Harris English and Chris Gotterup.

The weather fluctuated all day, with bright conditions and light winds greeting the early starters before a few heavy rain showers.

Joint overnight leader Jacob Skov Olesen began his second round in horrible fashion with a quadruple bogey eight after driving out of bounds twice off the tee.

In one hole, the Dane dropped to 36th place but he battled to a 76 to make the cut.

Among the big names failing to make the weekend were former Open champions Collin Morikawa, Darren Clarke, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink, Louis Oosthuizen, Padraig Harrington and Cameron Smith.