A SENSATIONAL day at the 142nd Open Championship ended with one Scot closing to within two shots of the lead and another complete a drive of 300 miles to continue to playing in the tournament.

Martin Laird's level-par round of 71 at Muirfield yesterday left him two shots off the lead held by Miguel Angel Jimenez, the 49-year-old from Spain. His sixth place position makes him the highest Scot at the Open after 36 holes since Colin Montgomerie led at Royal Lytham in 2001.

But as Laird relaxed before the trials of a demanding Muirfield track over the weekend, Paul Lawrie was making the 150-mile journey from Aberdeen after driving home following a 69 that left him eight over par and seemingly a victim of the cut. However, scores soared in line with the temperatures and Lawrie made the cut on the limit.

"That's the first time in 20 years on tour that I've had to go back to a tournament," he said. "I had something to eat at the course and then drove back home because I thought I had no chance of making it in. I thought six over would struggle and that seven would be a real stretch – but not eight in a million years."

Lawrie, winner at Carnoustie in 1999 when he came from 10 shots back on the final day, said: "We got back to Aberdeen around 5pm when Marian [his wife] got a text saying I was tied 84th and I thought: 'Man, there's still a few hours to go. So I went into the garage and pottered around for a bit with the TV on in the background so I could keep an eye on the scores."

The 44-year-old said: "I got a new set of Wilson irons yesterday so I put new grips on them and did a few other bits and pieces. Then we went out to walk the dog when my eldest boy Craig texted to say I was back in. So not only have I had to drive home and back, I've also re-gripped my clubs and walked the dog. It's been a productive day."

The Ryder Cup player returns to the course today with memories of yesterday's superb round spurring him on. "I'm delighted to be playing over the weekend and it's a great reward for digging in and not giving up after having a bad first round. It just goes to show that you should never give in," he said.

Laird, meanwhile, praised the home support for spurring him on to his lofty place on the leaderboard. The Scot, who is just one shot behind Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood, said: "I probably have higher expectations of myself than anyone in the crowd. You can only look at the support as something that can help. They can pull you along."

The Scots contingent for the weekend also includes Stephen Gallacher, Richie Ramsay and Sandy Lyle.