Crowded leader board as the second round of the British Open continues

A player from Northern Ireland sits atop the leader board as the second round continues at the British Open.

And his name isn’t Rory McIlroy.

Darren Clarke shot his second straight 2-under 68 on Friday, putting him solidly in contention as the field heads into weekend play.

Once a prominent name in Northern Ireland golf, the 43-year-old Clarke fell out of the spotlight when Graeme McDowell, then Rory McIlroy won their first major championships.

Simon Dyson of England, an alternate, got off to a blistering start with three straight birdies in the afternoon to push his score to 5 under.