GRAEME STORM was still limbering up for his second round of the Open Championship when overnight leader Sergio Garcia made an early slip up this morning.

Garcia, six under after Thursday's first round, had failed to find the consistency of yesterday and was left saving par in his first three holes at Carnoustie.

And, after bogeying the 412-yard fourth, it handed the initiative to American Jim Furyk, who had climbed to join Paul McGinley on four under par with eight holes still to play.

But Garcia did make a quick and perfect response, making a birdie at the long par five sixth hole, to reclaim his two-shot cushion.

Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy had slipped back to level par by the ninth after starting the day in an impressive position of tied third.

Tiger Woods is also expected to make inroads towards top spot later, when he goes out with Justin Rose and former Open champion Paul Lawrie at 2.20pm.

Storm, on the other hand, will need a minor miracle if he is to even make his second Open cut.

The Hartlepool golfer, after carding a seven under par score of 78 yesterday, was due out on the first tee at 11.52am with American Kevin Stadler and Irishman David Higgins.

Among the early starters who were back in the clubhouse, Paul Broadhurst was the pick.

The Englishman carded a second successive 71 to remain on level par, while American Shaun Micheel wasted his good overnight position.

After starting near the top of the leaderboard on one under, Micheel plunged to a 76 and is unlikley to make the cut from his position of four over par.