Brooks Now in Front at Scottish Open


England's Daniel Brooks followed up his opening 6-under 64 with a 65 to take a three-stroke lead at the Scottish Open. The European Tour event, a tune-up for next week's Open Championship at St. Andrews which has attracted many of the world's top players, got underway Thursday at Guillane Golf Club in East Lothian.

The 28-year-old Brooks, who earned his first title last year in the weather-shortened Madeira Islands Open in Portugal, carded four birdies, an eagle on the par-5 second hole, and his first bogey in 36 holes to reach 11-under 129, three clear of the field.

"I played really solid and I've not missed many shots at all," Brooks told the European Tour's website. "The last three weeks now; Germany, I started playing nicely, just missed the cut there but played some nice golf. France, I had a load of silly mistakes, bogeys. Cutting them out this week and it's worked out nicely so far.

"It's hard to miss that many cuts. It does get you down. It only takes one good week out here and hopefully that's what I'll have. I've been there, done it, hopefully can have a good weekend and see what happens."

Tied for second at 132 are Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (66), Brits Matthew Nixon (67) and Justin Rose (66), American Ryan Palmer (65), Ireland's Shane Lowry (66) and Swede Johan Carlsson (67).

Rose, the defending champion, posted five birdies and a bogey for his second straight 66. The 34-year-old said his game isn't quite there yet, but he's hoping it will be soon. "There are still a couple of loose shots that I am getting away with on this course that I wouldn't on other courses.

"But I feel like I have managed my game well, played the hard holes well and kept it clean."

Dutchman Joost Luiten fired a flawless 63 to match Thorbjørn Olesen's opening round. Unfortunately for 18-hole leader Olesen, he skied to a 77 on Friday to miss the cut of 2-under 138 by two strokes.

Other scores included a 68 by Phil Mickelson, who made the cut by a stroke, and 68s by fellow Americans Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar, who enter Saturday trailing Brooks by five at 134.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015052/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y#KbSEu5e2RsQrUTQf.97.