Overnight leader Jimenez toils as bad weather rolls in

By Tony Jimenez

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Typical Turnberry weather greeted the players when murky skies, light drizzle and fresh winds moved over the Ailsa Course for the start of the British Open second round on Friday.

Early birdies were scarce as the glorious sunshine of Thursday gave way to conditions more traditionally associated with a links layout.

Overnight leader Miguel Angel Jimenez was among the casualties as he dropped three consecutive shots from the second hole to drift from six under to three under for the championship.

That left 59-year-old American Tom Watson and little-known Japanese Kenichi Kuboya, due to start later in the day, at the top of the leaderboard on five under.

One shot off the pace were late starters John Senden and Mathew Goggin of Australia, Americans Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker and Camilo Villegas of Colombia.

Out on the course alongside Jimenez on three under were American pair John Daly (three holes) and Jim Furyk (four) and South African Retief Goosen (seven) as gusts of 18-mph (29-kph) swept across the Ayrshire course.

American Ben Curtis, the 2003 winner, and Canadian left-hander Mike Weir were among the players struggling to cope with the elements.

Curtis limped to the turn in 42 to plunge from five under to two over.

Former U.S. Masters champion Weir, partnering Curtis, also recorded an outward half of 42 including an eight at the par-five seventh. He was four over for the tournament.

(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)