McDowell off again

Overnight leader Graeme McDowell did not have long to wait to resume his bid for British Open glory at Hoylake this morning.

McDowell, who carded a six-under-par 66 to lead by one after the first round, was among the early starters on the second day.

There was no repeat of yesterday’s 30-minute delay due to the threat of thunderstorms with Ulsterman McDowell due to tee-off at 7:47am alongside American Lucas Glover and Australian Peter Lonard.

The 26-year-old will not have been taking anything for granted however, especially after seeing some of the early scores being posted.

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, the first man out this morning, did manage to par the first, but it was all downhill from there with playing partners Scott Drummond taking five and former USPGA champion Rich Beem a double bogey six.

There was even worse to come in the next group, Fred Funk running up a triple bogey seven to drop from three under to level par. The 50-year-old American, who became the oldest winner of the Players Championship in 2005, went from a share of 20th place to 66th and concerned about making the halfway cut.

Funk's seven - the result of tangling with a greenside bunker and three putts - was followed by a bogey on the second and at one over par he was down in 90th place and outside the projected cut mark.

Beem had also bogeyed the second but Wiratchant picked up a birdie on the third to improve to two under par, four shots behind McDowell.

England’s Robert Rock had parred the first to remain three under.