Snedeker takes lead at Open

Lytham - Brandt Snedeker took sole possession of the lead in the second round of the British Open at Royal Lytham on Friday, birdieing the par-five seventh to get to seven under for the tournament.

That eased the 31-year-old American ahead of first-round leader Adam Scott of Australia, who had a 64 on Thursday and was not due out until mid-afternoon in the second round.

Snedeker, who missed the cut in his three previous Opens, started with a birdie at the par-three first to get to five under and moved level with Scott with a monster birdie putt at the sixth.

Steve Stricker of the United States remained at three under through the turn, but Peter Hanson fell back to two under.

World No.1 Luke Donald briefly got to three under with four birdies in five holes from the fourth, but he fluffed a chip from the back of the 10th green to drop back.

Rory McIlroy, one of eight players at three under at the start of the second round, had a wild outward half with two birdies against two bogeys and a double-bogey at the par-three ninth to fall back to one under.

Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts, who had a 65 on Thursday for a three-way tie for second place with Paul Lawrie of Scotland and Zach Johnson of the United States, vanished off the leaderboard with an outward half of 39. Lawrie and Johnson were due out later in the day.

It was proving to be a disastrous morning for Phil Mickelson, who dropped three strokes in his first six holes to stand at six over, leaving the American in danger of missing the cut.

Others to shoot 67 on Thursday were Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Graeme McDowell, all of whom had mid-afternoon starts.