Birkenhead amateur John Singleton birdies the last for a sparkling round of 70. He misses the cut by two shots but what a week it's been for the factory worker, who may never experience the like again. His playing partner, Scotland's Marc Warren, will be back on Saturday after an even more impressive 68 left him five under, seven shots off the lead and in a tie for ninth. Warren's former swing coach? The sadly departed Bob Torrance. Night.

Leaders: -12 Rory McIlroy; -8 Dustion Johnson; -6 Sergio Garcia, Francesco Molinari, Ryan Moore, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Rickie Fowler.

We have a two-tee start on Saturday, because of the expected bad weather - first tees are 0900 BST, BBC coverage starts at 1000. Sir Nick Faldo is in with a 77 for +9 overall, he'll presumably be in a commentary box for the rest of the weekend.

Here are some more favourites from BBC Sport's Ken Brown after his Q&A session on Twitter earlier today.

Daniel Trotter: Clearly the wind has picked up, who do you think is the best wind player in the field this year?

KB: I'd say Sergio Garcia - he's a wonderful ball striker in the wind.

Jamie Kellett: Who decides where the pin is each day and When do the players find out where it is?

KB: They can find out from 5am on the day's play, when they're released by the R&A.

Jess CB: Have you ever played a shot out of a tree a la Bernhard Langer's effort at Fulford in 1981?

KB: No, although I have chipped of gorse bushes and all sorts of other stupid spots.

So at 12:45 BST, BBC Sport's Ken Brown answered your golfing questions on the BBC Sport Twitter page when you used #kenonthecourse

Here's a selection of the favourites:

Eoin Cooper Marsh: Who would bring home the bacon amongst the BBC team in a match these days?

KB: It certainly wouldn't be me. I think it would be Mark James.

LinksRobbie: What course not on the open rota would you like to see added?

KB: I'd like to see Royal Dornoch added, and Harpenden Common Golf Club.

Weather-wise, it's looking rotten - at least for the early starters on Saturday. Thundery showers are expected, with torrential downpours and hail also likely. Luckily for the leaders, it's expected to dry out later on - Rory McIlroy bombing into damp greens could be a sight to behold.

Image source, Getty Images

Rory McIlroy carded a second successive round of 66 to secure a commanding four-shot lead on 12 under heading into the weekend.

Watch his top five shots by clicking here.

Sad news about super-coach Bob Torrance, who died today. Bob coached his son Sam and many, many others, including two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington, former world number one Ian Woosnam, the great Seve Ballesteros, Sir Sean Connery and many ordinary Sunday hackers.

Image source, Getty Images

Sergio Garcia holes out with a stunning approach shot on hole two of his second round at the Open Championship at Hoylake.

After a round of 68 on Thursday, an early eagle on the par-four second was the perfect start for the Spaniard still hunting his first major title.

Watch it by clicking on this link.

Good to see local hero John Singleton enjoying himself today - the resin factory worker came through regional qualifying in Cheshire and is one under for the day through 16, after a 78 on Thursday.

Mark James
Former Ryder Cup captain on BBC TV

"The late starters yesterday and early starters today were burned by the draw but there's nothing you can do.

"Rory McIlroy's play is phenomenal. He not only drives it further than most, it's straighter too. He's chipping well, putting well and using his head.

"He probably was a little bit anxious. When you hit a bogey at the first and misjudge it quite badly. He got up and down at the third and then when he birdied the fifth he settled down and saw that there were birdies in him.

"He was purring along on the back nine and it was just a case of how many birdies he was going to make coming in."

BBC Radio 5 live

Rory McIlroy spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live after a second consecutive six-under-par 66 to lead the Open by four shots from American Dustin Johnson.

On the curse of 'Freaky Friday': "I think you guys were making a bigger deal out of it than I was. But, yeah, I played really well. Overall, another, really, really good day."

On waiting at the eighth green until a pheasant allowed him to putt: "There's a first time for everything. I'm sure there have been some swans or geese or something but never a pheasant."

On feeling in prime form, physically and mentally: "It's good. I've been lucky enough to have this feeling at majors before and hopefully I'll be able to do it again.

"It gives me a lot of confidence, I haven't been in this position before in an Open championship though I feel really in control of my golf game."

It's a 68 for 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen, he's six under and six behind leader McIlroy. Graeme McDowell cards a 69 for level.

Image source, Reuters

Rory McIlroy speaking to BBC Sport after a second successive round of 66 helped him take a four-shot lead on 12 under: "Watching the coverage this morning it looked tough, they were struggling for birdies and to make ground. I just wanted to stick to my gameplan. I had a shaky start with a bogey at the start but settled in and just played really well.

"Bogeying the first, I think I had 85 yards to the pin for my second shot, it wasn't the best start but I knew I was playing well and was just telling myself to stick to my gameplan and do what I can do.

"Depending on what weather we get, I'm looking forward to it. I've been in this position before and enjoyed it and I'll try to enjoy it again. My self belief knowing I've been here before that will stand me in good stead over the weekend."

Dubuisson makes birdie number six at 16 and moves into a tie for 14th on three under par. Three-time champion Sir Nick Faldo is eight over through 16, only one birdie in two days for the old master.

Image source, EPA

Did you miss the pheasant interrupting Open leader Rory McIlroy's putt on the eighth hole? Well, it's been clipped up and you can watch it here on the BBC Sport website.

Not many Frenchmen out there today but Victor Dubuisson is going well, four under through 16 and two under for the week. Stephen Gallacher drops in a long par putt on 17 to stay two under, McDowell finds the sand with his second at 18. Oosthuizen joins him.

Image source, Reuters

Francesco Molinari speaking to BBC Sport after shooting a round of 70 that leaves him six under par with a share of third place going into the weekend:

"It was very tough but I'm very proud the way I fought back on the back nine," said the Italian. "It's great to see how I recovered, played some really good golf on the back nine and I'm happy with what I did.

"I usually keep an eye on the leaderboard but it's still tough conditions out there. You need to be 100% focused on what you're doing.

"It's nice to be up there with my brother Edoardo. Matteo didn't have a great day today but he can still recover and it's great to see for my brother and for Italian golf in general."

Selected others: -5: Louis Oosthuizen (SA), Jim Furyk (US), George Coetzee (SA), -4: Robert Karlsson (Swe), Hideki Matsuyama (Jap), Jmimy Walker (US), Marc Warren (Sco); -3: Adam Scott (Aus), Edoardo Molinari (Ita), (SA);-2: Justin Rose (Eng), Stephen Gallacher (Sco), Matteo Manassero (Ita)

-1: Shane Lowry (Ire); Par: Phil Mickelson (US), Jason Dufner (US), Darren Clarke (NI); +1: Henrik Stenson (Swe); +2 Tiger Woods (US), Luke Donald (Eng); +3 Ian Poulter (Eng)

Projected cut: +2

Set to miss cut: Lee Westwood (Eng), Bubba Watson (US), Ernie Els (SA)

Official Open leaderboard, external; Clubhouse scores

We do our best to bring you up close and personal coverage and some of you are loving the constant buzzing noise today as it appears a bee, wasp or fly has set up camp next to one of the microphones.

Jamie Morrall on Twitter:, external ‏Seriously, how loveable is the BBC Open 'Fly'? Bring him back for the weekend. What a character.

James Blake:, external Is there a fly in the commentary box at 18?

Ok, not all of you.

Jane Wood:, external Send someone to @Morrisons for fly spray!!

Chris Donnell:, external They need to kill the fly that's near the microphone on the golf coverage! Annoying!

Still, it makes you want to fetch the picnic basket, graze in some hay and soak up the rays doesn't it? Make the most of it, tomorrow the weather doesn't look so appealing.

Marc Warren with a slip-slider down the hill on 15 and that's a neat effort, he'll remain four under. Poulter makes birdie at the last to move to +3, but it doesn't look like it will be enough for a weekend spot. Jimmy Walker in with a 71, including five birdies on the back nine, and he's four under. Dustin finishes with birdie for a 65 and eight over for the week - not a single bogey on his card and he heads into the weekend four behind leader McIlroy.