Golf: Woolly hats cast aside as sun arrives

There was hardly a puff of wind either as Fifer Peter Whiteford got the second day's play underway at 6.30am.

It was expected to stay dry most of the day, though weather forecasters were predicting the wind to pick up in the afternoon and evening.

Gusts of up to 25mph were "possible" from 6pm onwards, meaning those early birds were in the favourable half of the draw.

That had also been in the case in the first round, when the wind that had proved testing in the morning had died away by early evening.

Amateur ace Tom Lewis made the most of that change in the conditions to earn a share of the lead with Dane Thomas Bjorn on 65.

Lewis, who has three Scottish grandparents, was among the early starters today, when he was due out just after 9am along with five-time champion Tom Watson.

Former US Open champion Lucas Glover, one of three players a shot behind the joint-leaders, also had a chance to post a low number before Bjorn and the other afternoon starters set out.

They also included Lothians star Stephen Gallacher, who opened with a fine 70, and tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, who insisted he can still win back-to-back Majors despite making a slow start with a 71 in Kent.

Last month's US Open winner said: "I think it is a decent score. If the conditions stay the same then I will take the same score again definitely. There is a long, long way still to go."

The outlook for the rest of the championship suggested today was the day for players to try and do some damage in the battle for a 5 million prize find.

Wet conditions are being predicted for tomorrow morning, with the wind increasing up to 35mph around the middle of the day.

The afternoon starters in the third round are likely to get the best of the conditions but the tables are set to be turned on Sunday.

Afternoon showers could turn heavy in the final round with the wind again picking up as the day goes on.