Seven Major champions, including Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, are all battling for the Open Championship after an action-charged second round in Troon on Friday.
Els and Singh are four-under for the tournament and only three back from the second-round leader, American Skip Kendall.
A shot further back is Mike Weir, Retief Goosen and Phil Mickelson. Even Tiger Woods is firmly in contention despite only managing a level par 71 on Thursday.
He, along with Davis Love, is one-under and well placed to close on the leaders on Saturday.
Four other champions — former USPGA winner Rich Beam; former Masters and British Open victor Sandy Lyle; the last man to win the Open at Troon, Justin Leonard; and Nick Price are also in the hunt.
Altogether the 11 Major winners have 24 championships between them.
Els fired his fifth consecutive two-under 69 over the Royal Troon links in an Open but he was not overly happy.
”I could have shot a little better than that,” he said. ”I guess I could have been a little bit more aggressive.”
Singh, who finished second at Royal St George’s last year, said he had put himself into the ideal position for the weekend.
”I liked the way I played today. I don’t know if I am owed one [Open] but I know that I have to go out there and grab it.
”I was given chances before and I didn’t take them. I am in a great position again this week and the way I am playing right now I feel I have a good chance on Sunday,” said a confident Singh.
Former Masters champion Mike Weir carded a stunning three-under 68.
”I’m controlling the ball well,” said Weir. ”I hit a couple off line but you’re going to do that and I’ve been able to scramble well.”
US Open champion Retief Goosen kept himself firmly in contention with a one-under 70 to join Weir at three-under.
The South African said Friday’s tougher conditions were a bonus.
”When it’s tough the better players will come to the top,” he explained.
Mickelson played himself into contention with the best round of the day — a five-under 66.
The current Masters champion started the day at two-over par but his bogey-free 66 took him to three-under.
”It was a wonderful round,” beamed the left-hander. You have to make birdies here on the first nine holes and I made four of them. I’m very pleased to get myself back into the tournament.”
Mickelson refused to be drawn on his chances come Sunday evening — he has never finished better than 11th in the Open.
”I’m not thinking about winning just yet,” he said.
Woods was more than happy with where he stood.
”I am very happy. I played well and could have done a couple of shots better on the front nine. You can get shots going out on this course but it’s difficult to get anything on the back nine,” said Woods.
”It’s tough coming over here and playing in these conditions, but at least it’s warm out there. I am right in the championships and I have a great chance of winning it at the weekend.”
Alongside the proven Major winners are a host of wannabes including Kiwi Michael Campbell, three off the lead, Korea’s KJ Choi, two-off, home hope Colin Montgomerie, three back and joint first-round leader Thomas Levet of France, one back.
Choi says he feels at home here.
”I feel like the Troon course fits me very well because it reminds me of where I grew up. It makes me very comfortable,” he explained.
For Montgomerie, he knows he is two rounds away from finally making the breakthrough.
The only question is whether he will be able to cope with the pressure — home-town boy winning his first Major on home soil.
”I’ve got myself in a half decent position,” said the 41-year-old Scot. ”It is a seven-mile walk round here and there are still 14 to go.”
Campbell, who finished second at last week’s Scottish Open, was delighted with his performance.
”Today the course has shown its teeth,” said Campbell, who played in the more difficult morning winds. ”I think shooting even par today is a great score.”
Levet, runner-up to Els in the Open two years ago, refused to wilt as golf’s top guns began marching up the leaderboard.
Brimming with confidence after winning the Scottish Open last week, he carded a one-under 70 to go with his opening five-under 66.
”I just wanted to play a good round and not think about the Open,” said Levet.
England’s Paul Casey, who had held the first round lead with Levet, collapsed with a six-over 77.
”I just didn’t know what to do out there today,” admitted the 26-year-old. ”It’s just very, very fustrating.”
Kendall, who has never won on the US Tour in 14 years of trying, refuses to be intimidated by the glittering line-up facing him.
”I really feel like I can win out on the PGA Tour as well as anywhere else. If I can stay relaxed and get caught up in what we are really doing and just play golf I think I’ll be fine,” said the 39-year-old. — Sapa-AFP