Rory McIlroy in action at the short 13th at Carnoustie (picture by Dave Cannon/Getty Images).

Austrian Brier at home with

the chill factor as he takes

over halfway lead on 136

Austria’s Markus Brier was perfectly at home in the chilly conditions on the Old Course, St Andrews as he took over the lead after the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship today.

In a brisk wind which gusted up to 30mph, Brier shot 70 for an eight-under-par total, then revealed the secret of playing in the cold. “We’re playing in Austria in winter when it gets down to three degrees, but with the wind it can feel much colder. I even play in December sometimes. The trick is to do a bit more warm-up in the morning to get the body moving.

"And you have to keep warm on the course and have the gloves out after every shot. Today I also have a big partner, Schalk Burger, so I can shelter behind him a bit.”

Brier, whose only tournament win was in June 2006 when he took the BA-CA Golf Open in his native Austria, has a one-shot lead over Denmark’’s Soren Hansen, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, Germany’s Martin Kaymer and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy, the precocious 19-year-old, who finished third in last year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, crafted one of the finest rounds of the day with a 69 at Carnoustie which included five birdies and two bogeys. Earlier in the year he lost a play-off in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland after he had been leading, but clearly this has had no effect on his buccaneering game.

Rory said: “Padraig Harrington called me over on Wednesday and said hard luck and that he knew how it felt. We’ve all blown tournaments that we should have won. He’s been second 29 times on the Tour and learned how to win. He said just get yourself in there.

“I have good memories from last year at this tournament and Carnoustie is a course that has been very good to me and I have shot a lot of good scores. It just suits my eye. It’s a real ball striker’s golf course and I feel like I am a good ball striker.”

England football legend Sir Bobby Charlton, who partnered McIlroy in the team competition, said: “I didn’t play well, but I didn’t have to, because my pro was so sensational. Today was just really tough with the wind which kicked everyone into touch. But we’ve had one of the bright spots of the day here with Rory, who was just sensational.”

McIlroy got his reward from Sir Bobby who has invited him to a Manchester United's Champions League match as his guest. McIlroy said: “He is a legend. I’m a big Manchester United fan. He was very supportive of me and let me get on with it. He said he would take me round the ground and the dressing rooms so that would be great.”

The pair finished the day on 11-under-par in the team competition, five shots behind the leaders. On seven-under-par along with McIlroy is Denmark’’s Soren Hansen, who shot 73 today, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson (70) and Germany’s Martin Kaymer (72), all playing at St Andrews.

A further shot behind is a large group of players which includes two-time Open champion and current US PGA champion Padraig Harrington, 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell, England’s Lee Westwood and Scotland’s top placed player Gary Orr.

On a day of difficult conditions, in addition to McIlroy there were only two rounds under 70; Magnus Carlsson, who shot 68 at St Andrews and Paul Broadhurst with a 69 at Kingsbarns.

In one of the most thrilling team competitions for years, rock star Ronan Keating, partnered by Graeme Storm, led on 16-under-par, after a better-ball 66 at St Andrews which featured six birdies and a net eagle.

Keating said: “Graham Storm and I have played together a number of times before. It makes it much easier. When your pro is someone new, the first few days are spent getting to know each other. I know Graham which means I feel much more relaxed and we can just get on with the game and have a laugh out there. St Andrews is my favourite course, but tomorrow is Carnoustie so perhaps I’ll change my mind if we have an equally good score there!”

Keating and Storm are one shot ahead of England cricket legend Sir Ian Botham, who was playing with David Howell. Botham was wearing a natty pair of mustard plus fours which followed a red pair on Thursday.

He said: “Tomorrow I might be wearing grey and blue, not sure yet though, I’ll work it out later. I started wearing them at the beginning of the year in Qatar. I really like them, they are very comfy and keep me warm. Unlike Ian Poulter, I’ve got the legs for them, you’ve got to have a bit of meat on the calves.”

Botham said he was really looking forward to the next round at Carnoustie. “I made the cut in 2004 with Ian Woosnam. It would be fantastic to make the cut again this year. It was a delight to watch David play. It is good to play with someone who is coming back into form after a few injuries.”

Among a group of teams on 14-under-par are British Olympic rowing hero Sir Steve Redgrave and his partner Francesco Molinari. The highlight of his round was a dramatic net 4 on the Old Course 17th - the Road Hole.

He said: “My partner was in the Road Hole bunker. I was short of the green in two. I hit my chip too hard and it went over the green onto the road and into the grass strip beyond. I wasn’t quite sure how to play it. I decided the sand wedge, and caught it absolutely right. It rolled off the back of the Road Hole bunker and right up to the pin, and I sank the putt for a 5, net 4. The crowd was very excited and it was a great moment.”

FORMER SPITFIRE PILOT (85) PARTNERS

GARY ORR TO BETTER-BALL 70

A former Spitfire pilot shot down behind enemy lines shortly before D-Day, is in contention for the team competition after the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews..

Anthony Bryan, now 85, and Scottish professional partner Gary Orr, shot a better-ball score of 70 on the Old Course for a 12-under-par total to be four shots behind the leaders Ronan Keating & Graeme Storm.

Bryan, the oldest man ever to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, volunteered to fly in the Royal Canadian Air Force when war broke out and he flew Spitfires from Kenly in the south of London.

Shot down over France shortly before D-Day in May 1944, he worked with the French underground for over four months before he could rejoin his squadron. He flew on numerous missions and was awarded the DFC in 1944.

Bryan said: “I’ve greatly enjoyed the event. I have had a wonderful player and a great gentleman to play with. Though I don’t think I have ever been so cold on a golf course and my game showed it.”

Bryan’s family were English, but he was born in Mexico and then he became American when he went to work in the United States. He said: “After today I think I’m an honorary Scotsman.”

To access the live scoring for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, please direct your web browser to: http://www.alfreddunhilllinks.com and click on the Live Scoring link at the bottom of the page.