Alastair Forsyth carded a 70 on Friday

The 27-year-old Glaswegian is in a tie for fourth place just three strokes behind halfway stage leader Davis Love III.

After a commendable 74 in Thursday's tough opener at Royal St George's, Forsyth looked in comfortable command of his game making two birdies and just one bogey to take the early clubhouse lead.

"I'm chuffed with the way I played today and thought yesterday I deserved better than what I got," he said.

"There were times out there today where some of the par threes were straight into the wind and it kind of reminded me of playing at home 10 years ago when it was playing a gale."

Forsyth said that he was now reaping the benefit of a lot of hard work put in over the winter with his coach.

"I have been chipping away for a while at improving and it's coming around gradually," he said.

Andrew Oldcorn was the only other Scot to make the cut, which came at eight over par.

Bogeys at the final two holes gave Oldcorn a 74 to lie at four over par for the tournament.

Oldcorn was unhappy at being put on the clock for slow play over the closing holes and blamed the decision of the officials for disrupting his concentration.

"Just as I did at Loch Lomond last week, I made some crucial mistakes right at the death and, instead of being right in contention, I�m on the fringes," Oldcorn said.

Things did not go so well for former Open winners Sandy Lyle and Paul Lawrie.

Lyle, the 1985 winner at Royal St George's, started Friday with a triple bogey seven and a miserable day ended with three consecutive bogeys for a 79 to lie at 10 over.

1999 winner Lawrie shot a disastrous opening day 81 and a second round 74 means he will be packing his bags early.

Euan Little improved slightly with a 77 to follow his first round of 80. His hopes of turning his tournament around vanished when he made a double bogey six at the first.

Colin Montgomerie abandoned the championship after just seven holes on Thursday with a hand injury.