In wet conditions, the 23-year-old managed to get round the course in Southport in 69 strokes, with three birdies and an eagle on the 15^th hole.

He also carded four bogeys, but Spieth, the 2015 Masters and US Open champion, was still able to keep hold of the lead he had shared overnight with compatriots Matt Kuchar and Brooks Koepka.

Kuchar, the bronze medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, finished the day in second place on four-under after a round of 71.

He followed up a bogey on the second with consecutive birdies, but dropped a shot again at the ninth.

He picked up a birdie on the 15^th, only to get bogeys on two of the last three holes.

Koepka, who claimed the US Open title last month, frustratingly failed to pick up any shots during his second round and bogeys at the sixth and 13^th holes have left him three behind Spieth.

England’s Ian Poulter is also on three-under with Koepka after carding a round of 70.

Among the names making a move up the leaderboard included Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy with his round of 68, with third birdies in the opening six holes, pushing him to one-under and into a tie for seventh place.

US golfer Zach Johnson, the 2015 Open champion, was the biggest mover of the day with a round of 66 being the best of the second round, taking him to joint-21^st on one-over-par.

The cut was set at five-over, with Rio 2016 gold medallist Justin Rose of England just sneaking into the field who will contest the last two days.

Notable casualties included several former Open champions include 2010 winner Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and the US’ Phil Mickelson, who claimed the title in 2013.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington and American Mark O'Meara, the last two winners of the tournament when it has been at Royal Birkdale in 2008 and 1998 respectively, also missed out.