GULLANE -- The stretching routine that Miguel Angel Jimenez goes through before each round may look a bit ridiculous. Its sure working out, though. The fun-loving Spaniard, again showing how much experience matters at golfs oldest major championship, scrambled for an even-par 71 on Friday that was good enough to lead midway through the British Open at baked-out Muirfield. He can hardly relax. Tiger Woods was among four players just one stroke behind, a group that also included English favourite Lee Westwood, long-hitting American Dustin Johnson, and Swedens Henrik Stenson. Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera and first-round leader Zach Johnson were another stroke back, still in the game despite tough finishes. The course was the real winner on this day -- dry as a bone and firm as a snooker table, giving up only four scores in the 60s. Another warm, sunny day along the Forth of Firth had nearby beachgoers frolicking in the surf, like this was Southern California instead of Scotland, but it made things miserable out on a course that is more brown than green. There were balls scooting all over the place. They wound up behind grandstands, in knee-high grass, up against the face of pot bunkers. Dustin Johnson had to intentionally hit a sideways shot into the rough just to escape a bunker. Phil Mickelson four-putted a hole. Darren Clarke made a quadruple-bogey. And get this -- they were all still in contention for the claret jug. Leading the way was Jimenez, a cigar-smoking, wine-loving golfer nicknamed "The Mechanic" who is perhaps best known outside Europe for the unique way he gets ready for a round. Upon arriving at the range, hell put his knees together and gyrate his hips both clockwise and counterclockwise -- silly looking enough as it is, but especially for a guy with a hefty belly and even heftier ponytail. Then hell pull out a couple of clubs to help stretch his legs and loosen up his arms, though none of it looks very strenuous. "Im amused by his warm-up routine," Mickelson said. "I would hurry to the course to watch it." But this golfer is all business out on the course. Jimenez has bounced back from missing four months recovering from a broken right leg sustained in a skiing accident last winter. If he can keep it going through the weekend, he might take a run at Julius Boros, the oldest major champion in golf history when he won the PGA Championship at age 48. Heck, Tom Watson nearly won this tournament a few years ago at age 59. "Why not?" asked Jimenez, whose was at 3-under 139 through two days. "Theres two more rounds to go. You never know whats going to happen. Im just going to have fun on the golf course. When I finish here, Ill have a glass of red wine later on. Im just going to keep doing the same thing." Hes not exactly leading the conventional way, far down in the rankings for fairways hit and greens in regulation. But no one has done a better job scrambling for pars. Jimenez ranked first in the putting, seeming to always find a way to get the ball up close to the hole even during the frequent times he ran into trouble. "Im playing very solid," Jimenez said. "In these conditions, its not easy. With these pin positions, its very, very tough to get in close." Woods plodded along most of the day, lipping out a putt from 2 1/2 feet, missing another short putt and settling for a bunch of pars -- 12 in a row until his final stroke of the round. Then, he looked like the Tiger of old, rolling in a 15-footer for birdie on Muirfields tough closing hole. He raised his putter toward the blue sky with a flourish, fully aware he was positioned again to break the longest major drought of his career. "It will be a fun weekend," said Woods, who also shot 71. "I was kind of fighting it." Everyone was. Westwood was among that minuscule group putting up a score in the 60s, but even he was staggering a bit by the end. After a brilliant front nine -- he carded five birdies -- the 40-year-old bogeyed three of the last six holes to finish with a 68. The last English golfer to win the British Open was Nick Faldo in 1992. Westwood wants to end that streak with his first major title. "Why not enjoy it out there?" he said. "Its tough for everybody. So smile your way through." Woods is trying to break a drought of his own. Hes 0-for-16 at majors since the 2008 U.S. Open, and missed four others during that stretch recovering from injuries. Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., the lone Canadian in the field, will be around on the weekend. DeLaet, playing in his first major, shot 1-over 72 Friday to sit at 6 over after two rounds. Whoever wins this one will have to earn it. While the conditions look perfect for scoring, nothing like the miserable weather that struck the Open the last time it was at Muirfield in 2002, there werent many chances for going low. The greens were just too slick, the pin placements just too tough. It was too much for old-timers such as Mark OMeara, the 1998 Open champion who started with a surprising 67 that left him one stroke behind Zach Johnson after Day 1. The 56-year-old lost his ball at No. 6, leading to a double-bogey, and stumbled to the finish with a 78. "Its pretty simple: If you dont hit it good in an Open championship with the rough the way it is out there, youre going to make some bogeys," OMeara said. "The short game is key. You have to putt well. I did none of those well." Tom Lehman soared to 77 after opening with a 68. Todd Hamilton followed up a 69 with an 81. The young werent spared, either. Jordan Spieth, the 19-year-old who last weekend became the PGA Tours youngest winner since 1931, made only two bogeys through his first 32 holes and was 3 under. Then came a double-bogey at the 15th, back-to-back bogeys at the next two holes, and a missed chance at No. 18 when a 4-footer for birdie slid by the cup. Just like that, the youngster found himself at 1-over 143. He bent over in frustration alongside the green. Rory McIlroy wont even be around for the weekend. He finished at 12-over 154 after two miserable rounds, missing the cut. So did Luke Donald and U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, two British favourites who never got anything going. Maybe they should try Jimenezs routine.Air Max 97 Silver Bullet . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. 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And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers.Jose Mourinho is trying to force Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw out of Manchester United after comments made following the win over Swansea, according to Andy Walker.Smalling, Shaw and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were missing from the United squad for the 3-1 victory at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, with Mourinho revealing that Shaw informed him in the morning that he could not play.Mourinho told MUTV before the game in South Wales: Smalling doesnt feel that he can play 100 per cent with his pain, and added: Luke Shaw told me this morning that he was not in the condition to play so we had to build a defensive line. Jose Mourinho issued a warning to certain members of his United squad Speaking on Sky Sports Now on SSNHQ, former Celtic striker Walker insists Mourinho is used to working with players who can play through plain, and that given his post-match comments, he is obviously trying to push the pair out of Old Trafford.Look at the players hes used to working with. John Terry, [Frank] Lampard, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, you can tell these guys are playing through the pain barriers. Jose Mourinho issued a warning to certain members of his United squad I think what it does tell you is he cannot trust Luke Shaw, he cannot trust Chris Smalling. When a big game comes along they wont be considered, because hes clearly trying to get them out of the club I think.Nobody is advocating that you have a hamstring injury and try to play through it. But the mentality to play with a knock or play with something uncomfortable, how many times has John Terry played through that under Mourinho? Chris Smalling missed the Swansea game after telling Mourinho he could not play through the pain Hes looking for a certain type of player.dddddddddddd Remember, its early days in Joses tenure as manager, hes just trying to shape the squad, and these transfer windows only come around twice a year, and I dont think he can trust Smalling or Shaw given his comments.After the match, without directly talking about individuals, Mourinho warned his squad that he only wants players that are willing to put their bodies on the line in his dressing room. Highlights: Swansea 1-3 Manchester Utd There is a difference between the brave that will be there at any cost and the ones that a little pain can make a difference, Mourinho told Sky Sports.Former Manchester United midfielder Ray Wilkins, also speaking on Sky Sports Now, questioned why the pair travelled with the team down to South Wales. United defender Luke Shaw also deemed himself unfit I do know that you have to play in a bit of discomfort more often than not, said Wilkins. The good thing about Jose, from Joses perspective, is that he would have spoken to the player first. They know where he stands, hes just extremely disappointed.When youre playing for the elite clubs, you have to put yourself forward, because you may not get another game.Theyve travelled to Swansea on the Saturday to play, why havent they told him on the Friday? Theyve taken them there, and Luke Shaw has told him on the morning of the game.Also See:Jose questions Utd playersVOTE: Goals of the weekPogba, Zlatan net in Utd winPremier League hotlist ' ' '