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British Open: Mickelson retains lead

Phil Mickelson, in pursuit of his second British Open and sixth major championship, shot a two-under par 69 in the second round of the British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland on Friday and holds a one-stroke lead over Henrik Stenson.

Mickelson completed 36 holes in 10-under par, while Stenson, a 40-year-old Swede, had the best round of the day, a six-under 65, in pursuit of his first major victory.

Keegan Bradley and Soren Kjeldsen, meanwhile, are three strokes back of Mickelson at seven under and tied for third.

The four aforementioned players all played in the morning wave, when the weather was more benign than those in the afternoon wave experienced, with torrential rain and 30 miles per hour gusts of wind.

Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler were among them. McIlroy shot even-par 71, while Fowler shot one-over 72. They are tied for 15th and 22nd, respectively.

Jason Day began his round in danger of missing the cut at two over, but pulled it together in tough conditions with a one-under 70, the best score of any player in the afternoon wave. He is tied with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke at one over, and 11 shots off the lead.

Jordan Spieth struggled, shooting a four-over 75 and finished 36 holes at four-over par146, making the cut on the number, as did Mastes champion Danny Willett. It was Spieth's ninth consecutive round in a major without breaking par.

Notable players to miss the cut included Ernie Els (five over), Hideki Matsuyama (eight over), John Daly (nine over) and Louis Oosthuizen (12 over).

[Click here for the entire leader board from Royal Troon.] (http://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-leader-board)