Davis Love III sets Open pace

American Davis Love III set the British Open second-round clubhouse pace at Royal St George's on Friday, becoming the first player to beat par for 36 holes.

At one stage, he led by three strokes but bogeys at the 10th, 12th and 13th sent him dropping towards the field and a failed attempt to escape a greenside bunker at the treacherous 17th pulled him further back.

He looked likely to make his fifth bogey at the last after a drive into the rough, but a masterly pitch, using the contours of the green, saved his par for a round of 72, one under par overall following Thursday's 69.

"I'm putting real well, and I've had two or three putts that maybe I did not like over two days," said Love, who was fortunate when his ball struck an out-of-bounds marker at the par-five 14th and bounced back into play.

"That was three good bounces all used up in one shot," the 39-year-old American said of his lucky break.

"This course is a great test. It lets you get a few early birdies and then it just gets harder and harder.

"These pin placements are some of the hardest I've ever seen. I feel fortunate just to have got in under par."

"Anything under par would be very good come Sunday night. If I can get to four or five under, that would be good enough."

With the cut projected for eight over par and many top players struggling to master a tricky crosswind in baking sun on the difficult south-eastern English links, it left Love perfectly poised for a weekend charge for his first Open title.

The 1997 U.S. PGA champion's three birdies on Friday came at the long seventh, ninth and 11th holes.

His 141 total led by two in the clubhouse from South Korean S.K. Ho who followed Thursday's 70 with a 73.

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