ST. ANDREWS, Scotland Branden Grace shot a 5-under 67 and extended his lead to five shots after the second round of the Dunhill Links Championships on Friday.

Grace credited a practice round with British Open winner and fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen for helping him improve to 17 under.

“Louis gave me some lines off the tee which was very helpful, especially with the wind off the left,” he said. “The first six holes are not the easiest driving holes out there. Having Zach [Rasego], who caddied for Louis when he won the Open, also helped.

Grace teed up on the Old Course, where Oosthuizen won golf’s oldest major two years ago. He birdied four straight holes mid-round to add to his opening-day record 60 at Kingsbarns.

Joel Sjoholm of Sweden, in his first competitive round on the Old Course, matched Grace’s score of 67 to move into second at 12 under, tied with Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark (69).

Grace created a sensation at the start of the year on the European Tour, winning three events before May. He struggled after that, but arrived in Scotland having won the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at Fancount last week on the South African Sunshine Tour.

Martin Kaymer was the best finisher of the four competing Ryder Cup players with a 71 at Kingsbarns to move to 3 under. Peter Hanson (70) was a stroke back, American Dustin Johnson shot 71 for 1 under and Paul Lawrie (70) was 1 over.

“It has been a little difficult to get motivated,” Kaymer said. “I had that fantastic experience on Sunday, and I’m still very inspired. But on the other hand your body is just a little tired, and you have to listen to your body.”

Former champion Colin Montgomerie (70), British Open champion Ernie Els (70) and two-time champion Padraig Harrington (73) were well behind the leader.

Coastal Carolina alumnus and former Myrtle Beach resident Dustin Johnson shot a 1-under 71 on Kingsbarns to move into a tie for 89th at 1-under 143. Johnson birdied the fourth, ninth and 18th holes while making bogeys on holes 14 and 17. Johnson has St. Andrews remaining to play Saturday.

Champions Tour

CARY, N.C. Russ Cochran topped the SAS Championship leaderboard Friday in his return from a back injury, hitting all hit all 18 greens in regulation and shooting a 6-under 66.

Cochran, the 2010 tournament winner, is making his first start since the U.S. Senior Open in July.

“I came here hoping to finish the tournament really,” Cochran said. “But I fell into a great mode and played a good, solid round. Maybe I need more time off, I don't know.

“Of course, when you're playing well, you feel like you could do it all the time,” Cochran said. “But I've got to give myself a lot of room and be very, very patient and realize that I haven't been in the heat in a long time. I haven't played much less been in the heat. I'll be pretty calm (Saturday), I think.”

Steve Pate, Andrew Magee, Fred Funk and Jay Don Blake were a stroke back. Funk, the Insperity Championship winner in May, missed a birdie putt on 18 by inches that would have given him a share of the lead.

“I had a really efficient front nine,” said Funk, who made the turn with a 30. “I got everything out of that front nine. Obviously, shooting 5 under's great. I'm playing really good. I'm playing solid, close to playing really, really good, and it's more – it's fun just to play.”

Magee extended his streak without a three-putt to 190 holes, the third-longest run on the Champions Tour this year.

Defending champion Kenny Perry and Bernard Langer topped a group at 68.

Neal Lancaster, from Smithfield, shot a 72 in his debut on the 50-and-over tour. He won the 1994 Byron Nelson Classic for his lone PGA Tour title.