BBC SPORT | Golf | The Open | Harrington takes share of Open lead

The South African birdied the opening three holes and added four more at the fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth to go out in a phenomenal 29.

Only one player in Open history has gone out in fewer strokes, and remarkably Els took only 10 putts in his first 10 holes.

Unsurprisingly, he could not maintain that pace on the back nine, bogeying the 11th and 13th, but still came home in par to card a 66.

Els moved to eight under par at one stage after an opening 70, but finished on six under.

He was joined there by Maruyama, twice a winner on the US tour, who carded a second successive 68 playing in the same group as Tiger Woods.

And right at the end of the day's play overnight leader Waldorf and Tway also came in at six under for the tournament.

Colin Montgomerie enjoyed a sparkling round

For Els, twice a runner-up at the Open and third last year, it was an impressive statement of intent.

"You are not always going to shoot 29 in a Major and I played pretty solid on the back nine, but I guess I just ran out of birdie holes," Els said.

"But I can't be too disappointed. I am in the lead and I came out of nowhere really.

"But there are still another couple of days to go and we are just playing for position at the moment."

Joint first-round leader Carl Petterson added a 70 to his opening 67 to finish a shot behind the leaders on five under par.

The Swede was joined in second place by Denmark's Soren Hansen, who came in with a 69, and Ireland's Des Smyth, who enjoyed his second successive sub-70 round.

Monty finds Muirfield form

Colin Montgomerie's stunning new course record of 64 saw the Scot storm up the leaderboard in the morning.

Retief Goosen eyes up a putt on the 13th hole
Goosen carded 34 for the front nine

He is in a group on four under par that includes former champion Mark O'Meara and world number one Woods.

Woods failed to find top gear but did not drop a shot all day, still managing three birdies in a 68 to leave him two behind the leaders.

South African Retief Goosen was another overseas contender to make a move, carding a 68 to finish in a group on three under including Darren Clarke, who hit a fine 67.

Nick Faldo, twice an Open winner at Muirfield, edged back into contention with a 69, offsetting a disappointing opening 73 to finish the day on level par.

Faldo moves past Nicklaus

But joint overnight leader David Toms managed to undo all the good work of his opening round, carding a 75 to drop back to level par.

Disqualifications

Meanwhile, American Jonathan Kaye and England's Roger Chapman were both disqualified after Friday's second round for signing incorrect scores.

Kaye signed for a four at the 389-yard 11th where he scored a five and a five at the 381-yard 12th where he collected a regulation par-four.

Chapman signed for a three at the 185-yard seventh where he carded a bogey-four.