Rory McIlroy is coming but American Matt Kuchar defied buffeting winds to retain the clubhouse lead after a sturdy second round at the British Open at Royal Birkdale.
After holding a share of the first-round lead with countrymen Jordan Spieth and US Open champion Brooks Koepka, Kuchar posted a one-over-par 71 in brutal conditions on Friday to hold firm.
At five-over, Spieth and Koepka were expected to confront the worst of deteriorating weather later in the afternoon, leaving Kuchar well placed to be the halfway leader.
McIlroy remains in hot pursuit after continuing his spectacular fightback with a superb 68.
The 2014 champion and four-time major winner surged to within three shots of the lead with a front nine three-under 31, having slipped 10 behind through six holes of his first round.
After rallying with four back-nine birdies in an opening 71, the Northern Irishman immediately picked up from where he left off to storm into red numbers on Friday.
Birdies on the first, third and sixth - the toughest hole on the course where he knocked his approach to little more than a metre - had McIlroy at two-under for the championship.
With the wind strengthening by the minute, McIlroy, in a tie for 11th when he finished his round, remains very much a factor heading into the weekend.
Kuchar mixed four bogeys with three birdies to keep the morning challengers at bay.
"There's a whole lot of trouble to be had," he said before kicking back in his hotel room to watch the expected afternoon carnage unfold.
"That's one of the cool things over here, whether it's Thursday or Friday, whatever your morning round is, getting to go back to the room, put on the TV and watch the guys play in the afternoon, and particularly in tough conditions.
"That's kind of what we know about The Open and I think that's what people enjoy about the British Open; is watching the hard wind, the rain, the guys just trying to survive out there. Today is my day."
Richie Ramsay's even-par 70 left the Scot resting up in a tie for seventh at two-under, no doubt hoping the leaders would falter further.
Young Canadian Austin Connelly was one stroke further back after a 72.
Playing with Australian Jason Day, American Zach Johnson returned a brilliant 66 to soar to one over in his quest for a third major title after winning the 2015 Open at St Andrews and the 2007 Masters.
"I just don't mind grinding," Johnson said.
"I don't mind having my back against the wall and having to fight. That's just what I've always done."
At one point Day was only five behind late in his round after making a birdie on the 15th, but he capitulated with three straight sixes to finish, slumping to five-over after a 76.
Adam Scott looks Australia's best weekend hope after being satisfied with a 74 that left the former world No.1 seven behind Kuchar.
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