SANDWICH, England — A player from Northern Ireland charged up the leaderboard at the British Open.

Just not the one you might expect.

Darren Clarke shot his second straight 2-under 68 on Friday, putting him solidly in contention heading to the weekend and showing his younger countrymen a thing or two.

Once the face of Northern Ireland golf, the 42-year-old Clarke became an afterthought when first Graeme McDowell, then Rory McIlroy claimed major championships. Maybe it’s time for the old guy to get his title, too.

Clarke rolled in a 90-footer for eagle at the seventh and closed his round with a birdie at the tough 18th, going to the clubhouse tied for the lead with Lucas Glover, Thomas Bjorn, Simon Dyson and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Tom Watson produced some more British Open magic.

The younger Tom looked more like an amateur.

Twenty-year-old Tom Lewis, the first amateur to lead the Open since 1968, bogeyed two of the first six holes Friday to give up the top spot he shared with Thomas Bjorn.

Lewis was named after Watson, the five-time Open champion who still has plenty of game at age 61.

Two years ago, he nearly won the claret jug for a sixth time, losing to Stewart Cink in a playoff after making bogey on the 72nd hole. Watson got off to a slow start in this one, opening with a 72, but he gave everyone a charge at the par-3 sixth hole.

Going with a 4-iron, Watson sent the ball soaring to the green, then watched it bounce one time before dropping into the cup for a hole-in-one.

He threw both arms in the air, high-fived playing partner Henrik Stenson, shook hands with his other partner, Lewis, then took a bow toward the grandstand.

“Wish I could have seen it go in,” Watson quipped as he walked toward the hole to retrieve his ball.

His was the second hole-in-one at this Open. Dustin Johnson aced the 16th during the opening round.

While Tom & Tom went in opposite directions, Clarke made the biggest charge up the leaderboard. He rolled in a 90-footer for eagle at the seventh, then birdied three of the next six holes to pull even with Bjorn, who had an afternoon tee time.

Clarke took advantage of perfect conditions for going low. There was barely a cloud in the sky and little wind off the Strait of Dover, the flags hanging limply above the grandstand.

The British Open gave Clarke a chance to shine again.

“I enjoy any time I get back on links,” the 42-year-old said. “It’s the biggest and best tournament in the world — why wouldn’t I enjoy it? It’s the only major that’s played on the turf the game started on.”

Another prominent player dropped out. Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen withdrew Friday because of a back injury. He was unlikely to make the cut anyway after opening with a 76.

Also in danger of going home: Ben Curtis, who won the last Open played at Royal St. George’s in 2003. He shot 77 in the first round.

Lewis began Day 2 as the first amateur to lead the Open since 1968, the first to pace any major since Mike Reid at the 1976 U.S. Open.

He was realistic about his chances.

“I’ll be happy just to make the cut and be leading amateur,” Lewis said. “Never mind the top of the leaderboard.”

He gave up that spot after an errant drive into a pot bunker at the fourth. Lewis barely got it out, advancing the ball only about 10 yards, before hitting an approach to the edge of the green and two-putting for a bogey.