Smyth snatched the lead in the closing holes

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
(GB& Irl unless stated)
-2 D Smyth
-1 G J Brand, T Watson (US), E Romero (Arg), S Ginn (Aus)
Level N Faldo

Birdies at the last four holes ensured Des Smyth carded a second successive one-under-par round of 70 to lead the Senior Open Championship at halfway.

In difficult conditions, joint first-round leader Nick Faldo hit a round of 74 to drop back to level par.

Gordon J Brand, one of the other joint first round leaders, three-putted at the last and ended the day one under.

He shares second with eight-time major winner Tom Watson, Eduardo Romero and Australia's Stewart Ginn at Muirfield.

Returning to the scene of two of his three Open wins, Faldo began with three bogeys in his opening four holes, although birdies at the third and fifth lessened the blow.

Three more bogeys on the back nine, and just one birdie - at the 11th - ensured a difficult round for the 50-year-old.

"It felt quite good at the start but as the day wore on it started eating at me," he said.

"I needed some help on the greens because I was making more of a mess of it.

"The crazy thing is I'm still in there, which is nice as it lifts your hopes a lot."