McIlroy gains four shot lead with 12 under 66 on second day of Open Championship

Northern Irish golf ace Rory McIlroy displayed a commanding performance at Hoylake to tighten his grip on the Open Championship as he stretched his lead to four shots at 12 under with a second 66.

American Dustin Johnson fired a 65 to reach eight under with Sergio Garcia (70), Francesco Molinari (70), Rickie Fowler (69), Ryan Moore (68), Charl Schwartzel (67) and Louis Oosthuizen (68) at six under.

Tiger Woods managed to scrape inside the cut with a 77 at two over in his first major of the year after back surgery, while world number one Adam Scott had 73 to slip to three under, The BBC reported.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson took 70 to end level par, with England's Justin Rose two under after a 70, but Masters champion Bubba Watson, two-time winner Ernie Els, England's Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter were among those to miss the cut, which fell at three over.

McIlroy said that his second rounds this year has been terrible and there isn't really any explanation and added that he hopefully put it to bed at the Open.

The Northern Irishman opened his second day with a bogey but soon eased into his rhythm and made his first birdie at the long fifth after a drive of more than 375 yards followed by birdies at the par-three sixth, the eighth, the 10th, the 15th, the 17th and the 18th.