GULLANE, Scotland - Robert Rock was already heading to Carnoustie Golf Links next week to work at the British Open in a coaching capacity.
He might have to take his clubs.
Rock, No. 244 in the World Golf Ranking, set the record for the lowest 36-hole total since the Scottish Open was launched by the European Tour in 1972, shooting a 7-under-par 63 in the second round Friday after opening with a 64. So far, he has made 13 birdies and has not dropped a shot at Gullane Golf Club while building a two-shot lead at 13-under 127.
The 41-year-old Englishman has a great chance of earning one of the final qualification spots for the British Open just up the east coast of Scotland.
"It's everything for me," Rock said.
With wind not a factor, the course record was broken twice - by Scotland's Connor Syme (62) and then Japan's Hideto Tanihara (61). Gullane is hosting the Scottish Open for just the second time; the first was in 2015.
Jens Dantorp (65) and Tyrrell Hatton (64) were tied for second, with seventh-ranked Rickie Fowler (66) and Eddie Pepperell fourth at 10 under. Alexander Bjork (64), Scott Fernandez (67), Haotong Li (65) and Lee Westwood (67) were another stroke back in sixth.
Former Baylor School and Vanderbilt University standout Luke List, who set the course record and led after opening with a 63, was in a five-way tie for 10th at 8 under after a second-round 69.
One of golf's more nattily dressed players, Rock is most famous for overcoming Tiger Woods in a last-group, final-round shootout at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2012. That remains the second and most recent professional win for a player who never wears a golf hat and seemingly never has a hair out of place.
The former club pro has started coaching again, and his part-time pupils include Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn and up-and-coming English player Matt Wallace, whose two wins this year have secured him a British Open spot for the first time.
"My job is to be there with him (Wallace) and help him prepare. I was looking forward to that anyway," Rock said, before adding with a smile, "But I'd love to play there, of course."
To do that, he has to be one of the leading three players to finish in the top 10 and ties who are not otherwise exempt for Carnoustie. With Gullane as defenseless as it has been this week, that's far from guaranteed.
Weather worries for PGA Tour
SILVIS, Illinois - Michael Kim took a four-shot lead at the John Deere Classic, which was suspended twice Friday because of weather concerns.
Kim, winless in 84 career PGA Tour starts, was 16 under through 35 holes, with the second round to be completed this morning at TPC Deere Run.
Kim birdied eight of his first 14 holes without a bogey to race past first-round leader Steve Wheatcroft, who shot a second-round 68. Wheatcroft was at 12 under, along with David Hearn (64) and Johnson Wagner (66).
Francesco Molinari (66), who won the Quicken Loans National two weeks ago, was tied for fifth at 11 under with Matt Jones (63) and Bronson Burgoon, who made two eagles on Friday and was 8 under for the round with three holes to play.
Baylor School graduate Keith Mitchell (68) was tied for 16th at 7 under. Two fellow former Red Raiders were further back - Stephan Jaeger, who was at par for the round with two hoes to play, was tied for 82nd at 2 under, and Harris English (69) was tied for 99th at 1 under.
The projected cut was at 3 under.
Crowd near top of LPGA leaderboard
SYLVANIA, Ohio - Brooke Henderson shot a bogey-free 5-under 66 to move into a tie for the lead after two rounds at the Marathon Classic.
Sweden's Caroline Hedwall (67) joined Henderson at 9-under 133 through 36 holes, and they were one stroke ahead of first-round leader Thidapa Suwannapura (69).
Hedwall and Henderson each birdied the final two holes, both par 5s, at Highland Meadows Golf Club. Henderson, a 22-year-old Canadian, has six LPGA Tour wins; Hedwall, 29, is looking for her first.
In Gee Chun (69), Jacqui Concolino (69) and Emma Talley (67) were tied for fourth at 7 under, with six other golfers within three shots of the lead.
Parel pulls ahead at senior major
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. - Scott Parel grabbed a one-stroke lead in the Constellation Senior Players Championship, shooting a 6-under 66 in the second round to reach 11 under.
Parel, 53, made seven birdies after starting the day two shots out of the lead. He is seeking his first PGA Tour Champions victory.
Brandt Jobe (67) and Jeff Maggert (68) were tied for second at 10 under in the fourth of five annual majors on the 50-and-older circuit.
Three-time tournament champion Bernhard Langer (67) and 2017 tournament champion Scott McCarron (68) were part of a seven-way tie for fourth at 9 under. That group also included Bart Bryant (69), Tom Byrum (68), Glen Day (69), Kenny Perry (70) and Vijay Singh (67).