Cameron Smith breaks Open record 

Australia's Cameron Smith confidently stepped into the spotlight vacated by Tiger Woods as Rory McIlroy remained firmly in contention at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrew's.

After Woods' emotional early exit from what was almost certainly his last competitive appearance on the Old Course,

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Smith shot a flawless 64 for a 131 under par at the halfway mark, 131. That broke the previous high for the Open at St Andrew's - a set. by Nick Faldo

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and Greg Norman in 1990 and tied by Louis Oosthuizen in 2010 - by a shot to give Smith a two-shot lead over Cameron Young,

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a set. by Nick Faldo and Greg Norman in 1990 and tied by Louis Oosthuizen in 2010 - by a shot to give Smith a two-shot lead over Cameron Young,

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with McIlroy and Ryder Cup teammate Viktor Hovland a shot further back. Smith birdied his first three holes, birdied three more on the turn,

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and then birdied a 60-foot eagle on the 14th hole to raise his prospects of equaling the lowest round in men's major history,

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Branden Grace's 62 at Royal Birkdale in 2017. And I fail to make any further gains, the 28-year-old from Brisbane still held the top spot in a ranking full of world-class players.

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