Els drops one short of record

Ernie Els fell just one shot short of a major championship record which has stood for 19 years at the Open today.

The 28 which Manchester professional Denis Durnian produced on Birkdale’s front nine in 1983 has been matched only by American Brad Faxon at the 1995 US PGA since.

Els birdied all but the fourth and seventh holes - both par threes - in his second round at Muirfield to turn in 29.

‘‘It was quite amazing really,’’ he said. ‘‘I couldn’t do anything wrong.’’

The big South African led by three at that point, having started the day three behind, but he managed only 37 for the inward half to drop back to six under and alongside Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama.

Els has not won a major since the 1997 US Open in Washington - he beat Colin Montgomerie by one - but two years ago finished second in the first three majors of the season.

‘‘I’m in a position where I’m challenging for a major again. I have an opportunity to achieve one of my goals - and that’s to win a claret jug.

‘‘Obviously other players would also like to win, so it’s going to be exciting.’’

British Open Leaderboard

6 under - Ernie Els (Rsa) (36)

Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) (36)

Padraig Harrington (36)

5 under - Soren Hansen (Den) (36)

Carl Pettersson (Swe) (36)

Des Smyth (36)

Duffy Waldorf (USA) (33)

Bob Tway (USA) (32)

4 under - Colin Montgomerie (36)

Nick Price (Zim) (36)

Stephen Ames (Tri) (36)

Thomas Levet (Fra) (36)

Mark O’Meara (USA) (36)

Tiger Woods (USA) (36)

Thomas Bjorn (Den) (36)

Ian Poulter (33)

3 under - Retief Goosen (Rsa) (36)

Darren Clarke (36)

Corey Pavin (USA) (36)

Lee Janzen (USA) (36)

Warren Bennett (36)

Steve Stricker (USA) (36)

Jeff Maggert (USA) (36)

Scott McCarron (USA) (36)

Ian Garbutt (29)

Selected others:

2 under - Andrew Coltart (36)

Paul Lawrie (36)

Sergio Garcia (Spa) (36)

Even - Nick Faldo (36)

1 over - Justin Rose (36)

David Duval (USA) (36)

2 over - Sandy Lyle (36)

Ian Woosnam (36)

Lee Westwood (36)