Garcia brilliance keeps him in front at Carnoustie

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland, July 20 (Reuters) Sergio Garcia pulled off a stunning rescue shot to keep his British Open title bid on track in the second round today.

The Spaniard led by two overnight after a six-under-par 65 but looked sure to drop at least one stroke after pushing his approach to the 406-yard first hole into thick rough.

With a bunker guarding the putting surface and precious little green to play with, the 27-year-old somehow contrived to float the ball up with his most lofted wedge and land it gently just over the sand and it rolled to within a foot of the hole.

He then tapped in for par.

There were no such problems at the 463-yard next where Garcia drove arrow-straight down the middle before collecting a regulation par and he followed suit at the third.

That left him still six under and two clear of Irishman Paul McGinley, who was due to start later in the day, and 2003 U.S.

Open winner Jim Furyk.

Furyk started the round at one under but his unorthodox, looping swing was propelling the ball straight as a die on an overcast but calm day on the Scottish east coast links.

He opened up with a birdie-bogey-birdie start and then converted from 10 feet at the sixth and seventh to join McGinley.

Irishman Padraig Harrington turned in a one-under 35 to move to three under and his former Ryder Cup team mate Miguel Angel Jimenez reached the same mark thanks to a birdie three at the fourth.

World No 1 Tiger Woods, gunning for a third Open title running, was scheduled to tee off at 1420 local time (1320). He was ''ideally'' placed after his first round following a two-under 69.

REUTERS BJR KP1604