Senior British Open 2022: Darren Clarke Holds 2-Shot Lead After 2nd-Round 67

Darren Clarke opened up a two-stroke lead on the field Friday at the Senior British Open at Gleneagles in Scotland after second-round play.

Clarke shot a three-under 67 to move to eight-under for the event, two strokes clear of the United States' Scott Parel.

Eight golfers are tied in third (five-under) behind them.

Outside a pair of bogeys on the Nos. 2 and 7, Clarke had himself a solid second round after posting a 65 on Thursday.

"Around the front nine today, I was so-so. I slipped. My right foot slipped a couple of times. But apart from that, I played really nicely," he told reporters. "I'm trying to hit a lot of fairways and give myself decent looks. All the way around the back nine, I kept hitting nice shots and could have been a few better. But, you know, it's the way it is."

Parel is looming, however.

"I putted quite well. Didn't hit the ball maybe quite as good as yesterday but the conditions are a lot tougher, so very happy with 68," the American said after his round. "[There is] a little bit more wind, and the tough holes are into the wind. No 12 was a bear today. I hit every shot like I wanted and made a double bogey. But that's what you're going to get here."

And then there was Padraig Harrington (five-under) who undoubtedly had the most interesting birdie of the day:

Y.E. Yang and Michael Watson posted the top scores in the second round, shooting 65s. Stephen Ames, the co-leader after Thursday, shot just a 71 and dropped into the group tied for third.

Glen Day, the other co-leader coming into the second round, shot a 72 on Friday and dropped into a tie for 11th.