Spieth takes early lead on Day 2

US OPEN CHAMPION KOEPKA DROPPED A STROKE AT THE NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT 6TH HOLE TO GO BACK TO FOUR UNDER PAR

SOUTHPORT: Overnight joint leaders Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka dropped shots on the front nine in their second round at the British Open on Friday before play was halted by heavy rain.

With torrential downpours on the north-west English coast leaving some greens waterlogged, play was temporarily suspended.

After opening with a superb 65 at Royal Birkdale on Thursday, Spieth picked up a birdie at the first hole but bogeyed the third and dropped another shot at 9 after over shooting the green with his approach.

That saw him drop back to four under par, although in increasingly heavy downpours, the world number three then saved par at the 10th by holing a chip from just off the back of the green.

He, however, returned to take his score to 6-under par after 13 holes.

US Open champion Koepka dropped a stroke at the notoriously difficult 6th hole to go back to four under par, where he remained at the turn.

Matt Kuchar, the other joint leader overnight, shot 71 earlier in the day to lead in the club house on four under par.

Also out on the course on -4 was Richard B land. The Englishman, whose last Open appearance came here at Birkdale 19 years ago, built on his opening 67 with two birdies in the first four holes but then dropped a stroke at the 6th.

Ian Poulter was three under par after 16 holes, with world number two Hideki Matsuyama also -3 after eight holes.

GARCIA RELIEVED

Meanwhile, Masters champion Sergio Garcia was relieved at being able to complete his second round, and shoot a 69, after hurting his shoulder with an angry swipe at a gorse bush.

The Spaniard hit a poor tee shot at the short fourth hole at Royal Birkdale and was then left with a difficult second from off the green, with the bush hindering his backswing. After struggling to play out, he thrashed his club against the off ending bush in frustration before wincing as he held his right shoulder in pain.

Garcia eventually bogeyed the hole before completing his round in one-under-par 69 to move to two-over for the championship.