The Open 2017: Jordan Spieth leads the way on day two as Phil Mickelson among leading names to miss the cut

A day of trying conditions at Royal Birkdale ended with Jordan Spieth topping the Open leadboard after a one-under 69.

The 23-year-old Texan is two shots clear of fellow American Matt Kuchar, with Ian Poulter and Brooks Koepka a further shot back at three-under.

Despite a disastrous start to the Open Rory McIlroy remains firmly in contention having carded a 68 in the second round to reach one-under.

McIlroy's round was one of the most impressive of a second day in which conditions dramatically deteriorated on Merseyside, with rain and high winds the order of the day as Royal Birkdale bit back.

The top 10 as it stands...

Only 10 of the field ended under par as the cut was projected to be made at five-over par.

That will leave former champions Padraig Harrington (+6), Darren Clarke (+8) and Phil Mickelson (+10) heading home after two days.

For now the field will have their eyes on two-time major winner Spieth, whose 69 included three birdies, four bogeys and an eagle. After rating his first round 65 at nine out of 10 the American admitted he needed a decent smattering of luck to reach 134 at the halfway mark.

"I give myself a B grade today," Spieth said. "I got pretty frustrated through the turn, hitting it into pot bunker after pot bunker and squeaking out pars somehow, but I thought we did a good job after the horn blew.

"It couldn't have been better timing and I could play the last eight holes almost as a new round. I didn't get everything I could out of yesterday's round and I got more than what I deserved today."