Des Smyth (65): “I don’t remember shooting a lower round than that in this tournament. Anything can happen now, although I don’t foresee that. There’s too many good players and they are all doing good out there. I’m just happy with the way things worked out today. Delighted to be into the last 36 holes and looking forward to the weekend.”

Padraig Harrington (66): “It was nine shots better than Thursday. I played a lot better and I was more aggressive today. I’m never happy with my game and it can always be a lot better but it’s getting to where I want it. I got frustrated towards the end of yesterday’s round, but you can’t dwell on the past and you have to think of the good points of the round. I went to Fairhaven last night and hit a lot of shots in the right to left wind and that helped today. I do feel I am back in the tournament after shooting such a good score.”

Nick Price (67): “I had a good day and made a lot of birdies but 15 was a bit disappointing. It was a perfect day for scoring with the greens like billiard tables, so the course was there for the taking. For me, if the putter works I’m in shape. You want to be aggressive on this course but it doesn’t take too much to miss some of the smaller greens. You play with trepidation out there and sometimes on the greens you get stung. If I play like I did the first two days, I have a real chance.”

Pierre Fulke (67): “I have been struggling a bit for five months, as you all know, and it’s nice to be back, and especially at this tournament because it’s one of my favourite tournaments all year. That’s it basically. It’s great to be back. I worked pretty hard on my game, trying to find some good form again. It didn’t quite work out at Loch Lomond, but the experience of playing links golf, helped me along a little bit. I went to St Andrews, played a few courses there and, you know, it just gradually builds up to something good and, you get your good feelings back.”

Jesper Parnevik (68): “I feel very confident right now. I’m probably playing better than I have been in a very long time. When you have so many holes, where you’ve cross-winds it’s ball control, and that’s what I feel I’ve got right now. I can comfortably say that I have drawn the ball, which helps when the wind is blowing. I knew I had to hit a fairly low score today just to hang in there.”

Joe Ogilvie (68): “I’ve been fortunate enough for the last two days to avoid just about every bunker out there off the tee, except for just two of them. That is my goal for the entire week, to avoid as many bunkers as possible, because it truly is a one shot penalty if you’re in a bunker. I didn’t even think I’d be here to be honest. I would have been in the BC Open in New York, which is, if you have ever seen pictures, a pretty place.”

Greg Owen (68): “It’s fantastic. Even though a three putt at the last for bogey, you won’t see me smiling after a three putt like I am doing at the moment. I looked up at the leaderboard near the last and said to my caddie that we were leading the British Open! He laughed and it sent shivers down my spine. It’s just a great feeling and I’m still trying to take it in.”

Raphael Jacquelin (68): “I’m very happy. Played very well. Missed only one shot, at the 12th. I hit something like 16 greens. The game was very good. I missed some short putts but today was very good for me. I’m learning all the time, all the tournaments, every day. For the weekend, my plan is to not hit any bunkers on the fairway, then try to hit the middle of the greens and try to have a chance on every green.”

Retief Goosen (68): “I am really hitting the ball terrible, I’m not hitting it well at all, scrambling along really. I’m sort of just hanging on, hitting a lot of bad iron shots out there and level is just about as good as I could be. I played pretty well on Thursday but then I had a bad finish, and today not such a great finish again, but really happy with the round. Actually it’s about all I could have done out there today. But I’m still not out of it and at the weekend it might blow and then it’s going to get tight at the top.”

Tiger Woods (68): “I’m very happy, very pleased. I felt like I hit the golf ball better today. I felt a lot more comfortable with my swing, with the shots. Consequently I put the ball in some good spots, made some birdies, and also some great par saves. So all in all it was, I thought, a pretty good round today. I think anyone who’s under par is going to be pleased because you’ve still got a great chance of winning the Championship. This golf course is not playing easy. Birdies are not easy to come by, and today was a good example of that. It’s hard to make birdies, especially with these pin locations where they are.”

Ian Woosnam (68): “I had a few pints last night and it seemed to do the trick so I’ll have a few again tonight. I’m very happy with that. I managed to crack quite a little bit of stuff from yesterday. I wouldn’t say I played fantastic. I kept it in play, made the birdies at the right time and really didn’t make many mistakes. I got the rhythm back a little bit and tried hard to stay behind the ball. When I stay behind I can hit it lower. Just trying to do that.”

Darren Clarke (69): “Not too bad considering I didn’t hit the ball that well. I was always going to make a couple of mistakes and I did that at 15 and 16. I had a chance to go six under at 14 but if I stay in the frame of mind I’m in at the moment I will give myself a real chance. But if you don’t it the ball in the right place on this course, you are dead! I didn’t hit the ball as nice as yesterday but hopefully I’ll put some good scores on the weekend. I gave myself plenty of opportunities and three under is not all that far away.”

Rory Sabbatini (69): “I’m tired right now as I had to work hard to stay in the game out there. I made some good par putts and I missed a few. I just tried to stay out of harms way. I made as much as I could out of the round, it was a kind of bad day for ball striking and I wasn’t doing anything particularly well in my game. I was trying to limit the damage and get through it without hurting myself too badly.”

Alex Cejka (69): “I was playing very solid today and made a few good putts, especially the long one at 13, good to see it drop in. But I knew the last few holes were going to be a little tricky and difficult, but I was fighting until the end. I’m comfortable so far, making good shots, putting well, keeping out of trouble, or trying to. It has worked so far, we’ll see if we can continue for the next few days.”

Lee Westwood (69): “Got lots of satisfaction from grinding it out. That’s all you can do. Off to a bad start. Conditions are obviously easier today so scoring will be lower. But it’s still a demanding course, it’s still tough out.”

Colin Montgomerie (70): “It’s good to be leading the Championship, although not as good as yesterday, because it was by three, and not one. I would have taken 70 at the start of the day and that’s what I got. It’s not easy playing in front like that, and having to always look over one’s shoulder is never an easy task, especially at an Open. Obviously I have led at US Opens but not my own Open as such, and it is difficult watching everybody’s performances and watching the view boards. Trying to concentrate on what you do yourself is tiring, but at the same time I am on top of it and I’m glad to be there.”

Ernie Els (71): “Putting, putting, putting. That was the weakness, Chances went begging absolutely. I never took one opportunity really. I just made one putt, on 18. That was five feet. Don’t know what was wrong. I hit the ball really nice. I just couldn’t score. The back is fine.” Frank Lickliter (71): (hit hole-in-one at par three fifth) “At number five I actually hit the it right at the pin. The wind was a little out of the right. I just hit it super-solid on a perfect trajectory and that’s one of the few shots I kept at least short of the pin! I’ve had six in my career and this is the best. I actually wasn’t going to come over to the British Open until I qualify because it takes too much of our own tour to come over and qualify. But as long as I’m exempt, I’ll be here.”

Sergio Garcia (72): “I am very disappointed with my score, I haven’t played this bad in over a year but I’m happy with the way I held it together. I will just go to the range and work on it, I’m not that far away and hopefully I can get it back. I think in these conditions I will need to shoot 64 or 65 to get back into it.”

David Duval (73): “Nothing much to say about the round. Everything went wrong. Just made stupid mistakes, hit it in the wrong places and shot 40 on the back nine. It’s difficult, the ball’s rolling a bit more now. You still have to get it in play and I failed to do that. I just hit bad shots.”

Adam Scott (73): “It’s such a great experience to compete in an Open Championnship, but to play with five times former Open winner Tom Watson was just something else. It was that hard to concentrate on my own golf. Everyone showed Tom so much respect. I just didn’t get anything going with the putter. I had three, three putts over two days and that just killed me. I won’t be too disappointed if I miss the cut because my putting was just pathetic. It’s sad but I didn’t have any real expectations this week.”

Sir Bob Charles (74): “Time to retire. I’m going back to the farm in New Zealand to shear some sheep and bale some hale. But seriously I’m committed to the Seniors Tour. Seniors golf is where I am now. This is my very last swing around Royal Lytham and St. Annes course in the Open Championship. I’ve enjoyed every one of them but my game wasn’t great this week. I’m no longer competitive against these younger players and that is why I won’t miss it.”

Gary Player (82): “It was a great reception at the 18th and it’s something I appreciate very much indeed. I think they’re going to have a wonderful final two days. The course is in wonderful condition and these people out here today were really enthusiastic and it was terrific playing in front of them. In terms of my score, golf is a game that punishes you and I think it’s one of the things we enjoy so much. You play well but it’s game you never master, it’s a great game, a humbling game.”