The golf star had a tough start to the competition, starting with one over par. His play improved significantly in the second round, while conditions at Royal Birkdale were significantly better on Friday morning than on Thursday evening.
Links greens late at night are a bit random, a bit more jump and bounce and play. This morning they (the putts) rolled really well, Åberg tells Viaplay.
The Swede recorded seven birdies in the round. However, there were also three bogeys, but a total of 66 strokes means that he makes a big leap up the standings to shared 17th place at -3 halfway through The Open.
I got a little better grip on the game today. The left misses that I had throughout yesterday felt like I got a little better at least, and it was nice to roll in a few putts and get a good score, says Åberg.
Svensson near HIO
Jesper Svensson, who also got out fairly early, also played good golf and also recorded a 66. His round included four birdies - and an eagle that was close to becoming a hole-in-one on a par-4 hole.
"From what I heard from the crowd, it sounded like it was very close. I thought the ball rolled off the green, but it found the right bump and got a very good bounce," Svensson tells Viaplay.
Svensson is at -1 overall and will be allowed to continue playing this weekend. So will Alex Norén, who was one under par and is at par overall.
Stenson lost
However, the 2016 Open champion, Henrik Stenson, cannot do that. He followed up Thursday's 68 with a 74 on Friday and is +2. The qualifying limit was +1. Joakim Lagergren, who also went two under par on Thursday, also went four over par on Friday and misses the cut.
Two players, Lucas Herbert of Australia and American Sam Burns, tied the record for the lowest round in a major with 62. Herbert leads The Open at -8.
American Bryson DeChambeau was one stroke behind and tied for second before it was determined he had incurred a two-stroke penalty for stepping on tall grass near his ball on the fifth hole. The violation drops him to tied for fifth place, at -5 overall.
