SANDWICH, England – On a sunny day when the old-timers shined, the kid made sure he was right in the thick of things at the British Open.

Another major title is still in Rory McIlroy’s grasp, though he won’t run away with this one.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland tenaciously carved out a 1-under 69 on Friday that left him four strokes off the lead at Royal St. George’s, where just seven strokes separate the field heading to what may be a wild and possibly stormy weekend.

Darren Clarke and Lucas Glover were at the top of a leaderboard filled with experience, from 40-somethings Thomas Bjorn, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Davis Love III, to 52-year-old Tom Lehman.

But there’s something for everyone. Phil Mickelson, check. Sergio Garcia, check. Major champions Martin Kaymer and Charl Schwartzel, check and check.

And McIlroy, lurking in the rearview mirror, looking to the add the claret jug to his U.S. Open title.

“It was a grind,” he said. “It would be nicer to be a couple better, but I’ll take that going into the weekend. I’m very happy with my position.”

So are a lot of guys, including another Northern Ireland player. Clarke shot his second straight 68. Once the face of golf in his country, the 42-year-old became an afterthought when first Graeme McDowell, then McIlroy claimed major titles.

Maybe it’s time for the old guy to get his, too.

“It would mean an awful lot,” Clarke said. “But obviously this is only after two rounds. There’s an awful long way to go yet.”

Clarke rolled in a 90-footer for eagle at the seventh and closed his round with a birdie at the tough 18th, sending him to the clubhouse tied for the top with Glover at 4 under 136.

Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, followed an opening 66 with a solid 70.

“I didn’t hole as many putts as (Thursday),” Glover said. “But I’m happy to grind out par.”

The U.S. has gone five straight majors without a title — its longest drought of the modern Grand Slam era. Glover shrugged off the slump; besides, he could be in line to snap another streak.

“They told me no one has won the Open championship with a beard since the 1890s,” he said.

Also in contention from the U.S.: Chad Campbell, who shot 68 and was one shot back at 3-under 137; Dustin Johnson (68) and old-timers Love (68) and Lehman (67), all at 138; and even Mickelson, who came to England trying to forget his Open record.

He has only one top-10 finish in 17 appearances. Despite missing several short putts over the first two days, a 69 made him a factor at 139.

“It’s fun to be in contention heading to the weekend of the British Open,” he said.

McIlroy won’t be romping to an eight-stroke victory like he did at Congressional, but he wasn’t complaining about the way he played in the afternoon, when the wind picked up and the tricky pin positions made things treacherous.

He saved his best for last, pulling out a par after plugging his approach in a pot bunker in front of the green. McIlroy somehow knocked it on the green and sank a 12-foot putt, pumping his fist as he reached the midway point at an even 140.

Garcia, showing again how his game is rounding into shape, matched McIlroy with his second 70. Both endured the wrong end of the draw, playing in tougher conditions during the morning Thursday and the afternoon Friday.

“Obviously I would have loved to have finished at 2 under,” said Garcia, who bogeyed two of the last four holes. “But under the conditions that we played in, if you had given me even par I would have been happy.”

All four current major champions headed to the weekend, but not the top player in the world. England’s Luke Donald closed with four straight bogeys for a 75 to miss the cut of 3-over 143.