British Open Scores 2013: Which Stars Are on Top After Day 2?

After a wild and unpredictable Friday at Muirfield Golf Links in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland, the Claret Jug is very much up for grabs. A number of top stars and unsung players are in contention as only a couple of strokes separate the leaders from a sizable group of trailers.

The course has played much tougher later in the day, so things will be very interesting during Saturday's third round. Tiger Woods was able to stabilize himself and shoot an even round on Friday, as he had an earlier tee time, but most of those with later tee times shot over par on the day.

Since all of the players near the top of the leaderboard will be playing later on Saturday, it's impossible to know what to expect. Here is a complete breakdown of the stars that are in contention for the Open Championship after two rounds of play.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

Spanish veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez always seems to be in the hunt at major championships, but it's usually the same story as he ultimately falls off in the latter rounds and is unable to remain in contention. It remains to be seen if that will happen once again at the British Open, but Jimenez is in ideal position through two rounds as he leads the field at three-under par.

Jimenez had a very steady round on Friday as he had just two birdies and two bogeys. His round was littered with pars, which is never a bad thing in the Open Championship. Jimenez had an in-between tee time, so the conditions weren't terrible when he was on the course. He'll be in the final group on Saturday, though, which should really test his mettle.

At 49 years of age, Jimenez is well past his prime, but he is a very consistent player who doesn't allow the big moments to overwhelm him. He'll have some big-time players breathing down his neck this weekend, though, so he'll have to earn it.

Tiger Woods

After a disappointing showing in the U.S. Open, there was some concern about Tiger Woods heading into the Open Championship. Despite his four victories this season and his place atop the world golf rankings, Woods hasn't exactly been himself lately. Woods came out strong in the first round with a two-under showing, though, and he supplemented with an even round on Friday.

Woods was far from spectacular in the second round, but he didn't beat himself, which is more than most players can say. Woods struggled to hit putts, and if he had putted even a little better, he would likely be leading by a few strokes. Woods came up huge on the 18th hole, though, as he sunk a huge birdie putt, which prompted him to lift his putter in celebration.

Woods hasn't even come close to playing his best golf in this tournament so far, yet he is just one stroke off the lead, and he is in prime position to surge to the front and win this event. The big issue for Woods over the past several majors has been his performance on Saturdays and Sundays, though. He'll need to conquer those demons in order to win his 15th major, but he couldn't ask to be in a better spot.

Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood has come close to winning a major championship on many occasions, but he has never been able to finish. Westwood looks like he will have yet another opportunity in this year's British Open, but he still has to prove that he can close. Westwood has finished second or third in every major on the calendar, so it is no surprise that he is currently tied for second behind Jimenez.

Although Westwood didn't have a great first round, he played much better on Friday. Westwood had six birdies through the first 12 holes, but he closed with three bogeys in the final six. That gave him a three-under par score for the day and put him at two-under for the tournament. Had Westwood been able to keep himself together, he would have entered the third round with a fairly big lead.

That isn't the case, but he is just one stroke back, and he clearly has the skill set necessary to hoist the Claret Jug. Westwood will be paired with Woods, though, which will add even more pressure to the equation. If Westwood can play great and win with Woods in his group, it could lead to multiple titles in the future.

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