England's Justin Rose climbed to within four shots of the second-round clubhouse lead with a four-under-par 68 this afternoon.
The 34-year-old carded six birdies on a rain-affected second day at St Andrews, but back-to-back bogeys at the 11th and 12th mean that he is currently four shots behind fellow Englishman Danny Willett.
Rose was playing with Rickie Fowler, the pick of many for victory this weekend after his triumph at the recent Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, but the American could not match the former's charge up the leaderboard.
A birdie on the final hole gave Fowler a one-under-par 71 to follow his level-par 72 from yesterday, meaning that he should just make the cut for the weekend.
The third member of the group was veteran Sir Nick Faldo, who vastly improved after yesterday's 11-over 83 by posting a one-under 71 that included a lengthy birdie putt at the 17th to delight the supporters at St Andrews.
Faldo, a three-time Open champion and the last English winner in 1993, was playing in his final Open at St Andrews and his 71 was the first time in nine years that he has gone under-par in a Major.
Pascal Lemesre
