British Open Golf - Sergio Out Front, Tiger Limps

Sergio Garcia took a confident step towards winning an elusive first major by holding off a chasing pack to keep his lead nearing the halfway stage of the British Open on Friday.The 27-year-old Spaniard came in early with a level par 71 in his second round and watched in comfort as the biggest names in golf tried but failed to match his numbers. At the end of the day his six-under par total of 136 gave him a two strokes lead over in-form Korean KJ Choi who carded a 69 despite a bogey-five at the last. A further stroke back came Garcia's veteran compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez who had a 70 alongside Canada's 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir, who had the day's best round of 68.

Tournament favourite Tiger Woods was out of sorts, heaving his opening tee shot out of bounds and struggling to a 74, his highest score in the Open since the 81 third round he shot in the teeth of a storm at Muirfield five years ago. The world No.1, aiming to become only the second player in 125 years to win three Opens in a row, is one over for the tournament, seven shots adrift of Garcia.

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