Colin Montgomerie (64): "I started with a 65 there (at Lytham last year) and it got gradually worse. Hopefully this year I can start with a terrible 74 and go forwards from here."

Ernie Els (66): "I didn't feel very good about my game at the start of the week, but I feel like a different player now."

Darren Clarke (67): ``I did not quite keep going around the back nine, but at three under I'm back on the fringes of contention so I am quite pleased."

Retief Goosen (68): "I played nicely, kept the ball out of the rough stuff and made a few good putts coming in. It's playing quite a bit more difficult today, especially on the back nine."

Nick Faldo (69): "I keep giving myself chances but my putting is letting me down. I hope the weather is going to change and we get some wind."

Des Smyth (69): "My first hurdle was to make the cut and I've done that, now top 15 is the next target so I come back next year. Anything else is a bonus."

Andrew Coltart (69): "I'm very happy. I think a 69 is a very good score especially in the conditions. It was pretty miserable. I'd like to be a bit more confident with the driver. But the rest of my game is alright and I'm pretty happy."

Soren Hansen (69): "I really didn't play that well from tee to green and it was just a long grind, but I didn't have any bogeys and I have a pretty strong mind."

Thomas Bjorn (70): "If you said at the start of the week I would be two shots back after two rounds I'd be quite happy."

Carl Petterson (70): "Hopefully I can keep this going. I have a low ball flight, so that could be handy if it gets windy."

Phil Mickelson (76): "It was a frustrating day. I never felt like I was hitting it great. I don't yet feel like I could stand up and rip it. There's too much thought process going into the set-up and it's not quite fitting in yet. I think I'll need a bit of help from the weather if I want to make a big charge."