HOYLAKE, England -- Rory McIlroy only saw birdies at Royal Liverpool, mostly on his scorecard, and even one pheasant that trotted across the eighth green as he was lining up a putt. That was but a minor interruption in his command performance Friday in the British Open. Once he made a birdie, and then another, nothing could stop McIlroy. Not another collapse in the second round. Not anyone in the field. And certainly not Tiger Woods. After a bogey on his opening hole stirred memories of another "Black Friday," McIlroy looked more like the Boy Wonder who won two majors in a runaway. With three birdies in his last four holes, he posted a second straight 6-under 66 to build a four-shot lead over Dustin Johnson. McIlroy spoke of an "inner peace," and the two secret words that triggered his powerful swing and set up birdie chances on just about every hole. "People call it the zone, people call it whatever," he said. "Its just a state of mind where you think clearly. Everything seems to be on the right track. Ive always said, whenever you play this well, you always wonder how youve played so badly before. And whenever youve played so badly, you always wonder how you play so well. Im happy where my game is at the minute. And hopefully, I can just keep up the solid play for another couple of days." Woods is fortunate to even play for two more days. He started the second round only three shots behind. He finished it on the 18th hole, standing over a 6-foot birdie putt just to avoid missing back-to-back cuts for the first time in his career. Woods made the putt for a 77, matching his second-worst round as a pro in the British Open. Woods hit driver five times -- four more than he hit all week when he won at Royal Liverpool in 2006. None found the fairway. Woods was 14 shots out of the lead and still thought he had a chance, referring to Paul Lawrie making up 10 shots in one round to win at Carnoustie in 1999. That was against Jean Van de Velde. This is Rory McIlroy, who has won both his majors by eight shots. "Two 66s from Rory is a bit special, but he is just that -- he is a bit special," Graeme McDowell said. "So hes going to be tough to catch this weekend if he keeps that up." McIlroy was at 12-under 132 -- the same 36-hole score of Woods in 2006. Dustin Johnson birdied the last two holes for a 65, the low score of the week. That ordinarily would put him in the last group with McIlroy, except they will have company in a historic decision at golfs oldest championship. Because of a nasty storm approaching England, the Open will go to threesomes teeing off on both sides Saturday. Francesco Molinari (70) will join them. He was part of a large group at 6-under 138 that included Rickie Fowler (69), Sergio Garcia (70), Charl Schwartzel (67), Louis Oosthuizen (68) and Ryan Moore (68). David Hearn (73) of Brantford, Ont., is tied for 24th at 1-under par, while Graham DeLaet (76) of Weyburn, Sask., missed the cut. Johnson had a chance at the claret jug three years ago until a 2-iron that went out-of-bounds on the 14th hole at Royal St. Georges. He also lost a three-shot lead in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, and missed out on a playoff at Whistling Straits for grounding his club in sand at the 2010 PGA Championship. "Im glad and Im in the last group," Johnson said. "Just go out there and try to shoot a big number." Four shots can be lost quickly in any major, especially in links golf, particularly in nasty weather. McIlroy followed up a record-tying 63 at St. Andrews in 2010 with an 80 the following day. Even so, the ease with which he moved around Royal Liverpool was more frightening than any forecast. McIlroy picked up his first birdie with two putts from across the green on the par-5 fifth. But it was on the par-3 sixth, when McIlroy deposited an 8-iron to 7 feet for birdie, that he found that peace and put the pedal down on the rest of the field. He ushered the pheasant off the eighth green, regrouped and holed a 7-foot birdie putt, chipped to tap-in range on the 10th and then kept giving himself chances on all but one hole until ending with three birdies. McIlroy was in such a groove that with the wind at his back, he hit driver 396 yards on the 17th hole and pitched to 8 feet. It was only Friday -- a fantastic one, not a freaky one -- but the kid looked like he was going for a knockout. "Once I got to 7 (under), I felt like, OK, this time I feel good. I can get to 8. I can get to 8, 9, 10, 11, 12." The 17th hole is where Woods fell apart. He started double bogey-bogey and made only pars the rest of the way until his tee shot on the 17th was about 100 yards short and 50 yards wider than McIlroys drive. Hanging his head, Woods was walking down the fairway when he was told it was out of bounds. Back at the tee, he hooked that shot closer to the 16th fairway and made triple bogey. A birdie enabled him to make the cut, a small consolation considering what McIlroy is doing. "Its not a surprise. Hes done this before," Woods said. "Once he gets going, he can make a lot of birdies and he plays pretty aggressively to begin with. And when hes going, he can get it going pretty good." As for those two secret words that keep McIlroy locked into what hes doing? "Ill tell you on Sunday, hopefully," he said. Cheap USA Jerseys .com) - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mat Latos had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right elbow last week, the teams official site reported Wednesday. Cheap Atletico Madrid FC Jerseys . Western and the second-ranked Laval Rouge et Or (7-0) once again received 20 and 10 first-place votes from the Football Reporters of Canada panel, respectively. 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Wade is posting a short film on his website next week, with a sneak preview scheduled to come out Wednesday.TORONTO -- Toronto FC finally found a home for Richard Eckersley on Monday, sending the English fullback to the New York Red Bulls for a fourth-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. The move, long expected, was money-related. The MLS Players Union listed Eckersleys salary last season at US$310,000, second-highest among the numbers made public for Toronto players. His number for 2014 was even higher, thanks to a contract renegotiation last year to help ease the 2013 salary cap burden. Toronto declined comment when asked if the club was absorbing any of that salary. "As per team and league policy, we cant disclose terms of the deal," a Toronto spokesman said. Which sounds like a yes. Toronto was more interested in ridding itself of Eckersleys wages than getting something in return, which other clubs knew. While a fourth-round draft choice is a modest prize -- there are only four rounds in the SuperDraft -- Toronto GM Tim Bezbatchenko can add it to the draft choices obtained for the rights to goalie Stefan Frei and midfielder Bobby Convey, two other players who did not figure in TFCs future. Eckersley, 24, made 92 appearances for Toronto over three seasons after joining the club on loan from English side Burnley FC in April 2011. The loan became a permanent deal in January 2012. Eckersley established himself as a starter at right fullback, filling in at centre back when needed. Signed to a rich contract by a previous regime, he found himself on the outs towards the end of last season because of his salary cap hit. The red-haired Brit wass a fan favourite for his marauding runs and combative style.dddddddddddd But manager Ryan Nelsen used Mark Bloom for the last six games of the season, electing to keep Eckersley on the sidelines with his future on the club uncertain. The team recently signed veteran English fullback Bradley Orr on loan from Blackburn Rovers. "Weve been really honest with Richard," Nelsen said prior to flying to Florida for training camp Sunday. "Hes given great service to the club. Hes done really well and its not his fault that a contract was given that was probably not appropriate." NOTES -- The Vancouver Whitecaps filled a void at right back by acquiring Steven Beitashour from the San Jose Earthquakes for allocation money. Born in California to Iranian parents, Beitashour holds dual American-Iranian citizenship and has represented Iran. The Whitecaps also announced the signing of midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy, acquired in Stage 2 of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft ... Former Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu has joined the Philadelphia Union on a one-year loan from Stoke City of the English Premier League. Edu, who was MLS rookie of the year in 2007 with Toronto, returns to MLS in a bid to get more playing time in advance of the World Cup. The American joins the Union via the leagues allocation process, which previously was not valuable as a way to sign designated players. The league has changed that rule for 2014, saying it reviews roster rules on an annual basis "and reserves the right to modify them prior to each season."