Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

Co-leader Keith 'Cashmere' Mitchell has wisely eschewed the knitwear today.

The visor-sporting American is an effortlessly cool dude and walks with something of a swagger.

He's eyeing a fourth birdie of the day, but won't be thrilled with his wedge to the front of the seventh green where the pin is back right. Still, par made and no harm done.

Mitchell's solitary PGA Tour win was back in 2019 - could this be his week?

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In these warm and calm conditions, there are multiple players making multiple birdies and climbing the leaderboard.

England's Harry Hall and the United States' Chris Gotterup are both at six under after a fast opening to day two.

When the sun shines, it doesn't get much better than Scotland.

It's absolutely glorious today in East Lothian.

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They say everything in links golf feeds towards to ocean. That couldn't be more true of the majestic 13th hole at the Renaissance Club.

All three find the green with solid approach shots.

And all three walk off with a par.

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Rory McIlroy pours in another putt for birdie.

He's three under for the day and five for the tournament - his game looks in top order.

Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland also convert with the flat stick.

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Three delightful iron shots at the par-three 14th.

Viktor Hovland is closest, almost at tap-in range, but Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele will fancy their chances too.

England's Marco Penge has made it a four-way share for the lead.

Back-to-back birdies to start his round as he joins the leading pack.

It's literally and figuratively heating up out there on Scotland's east coast.

A par, a biride, and a bogey here.

Connor Syme plays the par-three 12th in three, while Tommy Fleetwood can take advantage of a stellar tee shot and get his dropped shot from the previous hole back.

JJ Spaun's tee shot is short of the green, and he drops to one over par for the tournament with a bogey.

American Keith Mitchell is shooting up the board.

He is now three under through five, seven under for the tournament and in a tie for the lead.

66 was his score yesterday, and that's no surprise. He is one of the world's best when it comes to playing golf on a Thursday.

He's the number one player on the PGA Tour for scoring in round one, and 35th for round two.

Image source, Getty Images

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

A second bogey in three holes costs Victor Perez the outright lead.

He finds trouble out right off the 18th tee, but does well to thrash one out of the thick stuff and on to the dancefloor although 90 feet from the flagstick.

Three putts ensue to drop the Frenchman back to seven under at the turn.

Three good birdie looks for this morning's featured group at the short par-four 13th.

Xander Schauffele blasts his past the hole, Rory McIlroy's misses low and Viktor Hovland misses high.

Three pars - on we go.

Tommy Fleetwood watched a squirly birdie putt breeze past the hole, much to his annoyance.

He had to settle for a bogey.

Connor Syme and JJ Spaun both parred.

Ewen Ferguson would have been slightly frustrated to only shoot 66 yesterday, but the Scot has just birdied 13 to move back to two under after a bogey at 11.

Rory McIlroy has started on fire this morning.

A lovely iron shot to 10ft at the par-three 12th, which he rolls in for his second birdie in three holes.

Pars for Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland.

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• 1. Victor Perez –8 (8)
• 2. Matti Schmid –7 (7)
• 3. Keith Mitchell –6 (4)
• T4. Marco Penge –6 (1)

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

Can Victor Perez make instant amends for his ugly bogey on 16?

The Frenchman has a birdie putt from distance on the par-three 17th and sends it up and over the ridge. It's good for pace but a foot wide left. A par it is then, with his playing partners doing likewise.

Birdies could be hard to come by on this hole as the pin is front right and protected by a large mound. A tough one to get close.

A very makeable birdie chance goes begging for Rory McIlroy - too much pace.

Xander Schauffele gets somewhat of a read off the Northern Irishman's effort, but he leaves his short.

Two pars for McIlroy and Schauffele, but it's another dropped shot for Viktor Hovland, who makes a three-putt bogey.

That chip-in eagle from Connor Syme is a timely one.

It's his 30th birthday today. Some birthday luck, eh?

What a present it would be to capture his second title of the year on Scotland's east coast.

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

Michael Kim stays at three under with a nervless par putt on 17.

The American is two under for the day as he approaches the turn.

Incidentally, Kim is a brilliant follow on social media. Check out his X account if you haven't already.

Oh, Connor Syme, that is beautiful. A deft touch from the thick stuff left of the green to chip it out and stun the ball just a foot or so shy of the hole... and it trickles in!

The links golf touch that only a Scotsman could conjure up for eagle there.

A par for JJ Spaun after a wayward second, and for Tommy Fleetwood too, after an errant tee shot.