[The Open] McIlroy Tied 3rd, Johnson 5th 'Smooth Sailing'... Woods 'Cut Off'

150th The Open Day 2: Smith Leads by 2 Strokes, Young 2nd, Hovland Tied 3rd, Kim Siwoo Tied 12th, Kim Juhyung Tied 25th

Rory McIlroy is cheering after making a birdie on the 17th hole during the second day of the 150th Open. St Andrews (Scotland) = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] World No. 2 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) is cruising smoothly.

On the 16th (Korean time), at the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland (par 72, 7,313 yards), the second day of the 150th Open, the last major of the year (total prize money $14 million), he shot 4 under par to tie for 3rd place (10 under par, 134 strokes). Cameron Smith (Australia) leads (13 under par, 131 strokes), Cameron Young (USA) is 2nd (11 under par, 133 strokes), Viktor Hovland (Norway) is tied for 3rd, and 'LIV Golf star' Dustin Johnson (USA) is in 5th place (9 under par, 135 strokes).

Starting 2 strokes behind in 2nd place, McIlroy made six birdies and two bogeys. After back-to-back birdies on the 5th and 7th holes, he took a brief breather with a bogey on the 8th hole (par 3), then surged with three consecutive birdies from the 10th to the 12th holes. He recovered from a bogey on the 15th hole with a birdie on the 17th hole (both par 4s), promising a strong 'moving day.' He is 3 strokes behind the leader, increasing his chances for his third win of the season and 22nd career victory since winning the RBC Canadian Open last month.

This is a golden opportunity to add a major title for the first time in eight years since the 2014 PGA Championship. McIlroy is a leading player supporting the PGA Tour against LIV Golf, sponsored by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Smith swept up one eagle and six birdies to quickly take the top spot on the leaderboard. Leading by 2 strokes, he has a chance for his third win of the season after the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January and The Players Championship in March.

Dustin Johnson is teeing off on the 3rd hole on the second day of the 150th Open. St Andrews (Scotland) = Getty Images / Multivitz Photo by Multivitz

Cameron Young, who led the previous day, recorded five birdies and two bogeys to reduce his score by 3 strokes but dropped to 2nd place. Johnson shot 5 under par to join the race for the title. After a bogey on the 1st hole (par 4), he caught six birdies in a row in an exciting run. 'Masters Champion' Scottie Scheffler (USA) is tied for 6th place (8 under par, 136 strokes), eyeing his second major win. Adam Scott (Australia) and Patrick Cantlay (USA) joined in a tie for 8th place (7 under par, 137 strokes).

Siwoo Kim is walking on the green of the 14th hole on the second day of the 150th Open. St Andrews (Scotland) = Getty Images / Multibits

Korea's Kim Si-woo (27) is performing well, shooting 3 under par to tie for 12th place (6 under par, 138 strokes). Kim Joo-hyung (20) is tied for 25th place (4 under par, 140 strokes), and Im Sung-jae (24) is tied for 66th place (even par, 144 strokes), making the cut on the last train. Lee Kyoung-hoon (31), Kim Min-kyu (21), and Cho Min-kyu (34) were cut. 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) managed only one birdie, two bogeys, and one double bogey. He tied for 148th place (9 over par, 153 strokes) and failed to advance to the third round. Defending champion Collin Morikawa (USA) was also cut.