Japan's Hideki Matsuyama slid down the leaderboard after shooting an even-par 72 in the second round of the Open Championship on Friday while his countryman Yuto Katsuragawa had a 68 to sit eight shots off the lead.
Matsuyama, seeking his second major title after winning the 2021 Masters, had three birdies and three bogeys at the Old Course in St. Andrews to advance to the final rounds tied for 55th at 1-under.
Australian Cameron Smith had a 64 to close the second round at 13-under with a two-shot lead over first-day leader Cameron Young of the United States.
Matsuyama had a fine start with birdies on Nos. 1 and 3 but slumped to three bogeys in the final six holes.
"I was okay at the start but could not play the way I wanted to after that," said the 30-year-old.
Katsuragawa, meanwhile, had five birdies and a bogey on the day to sit in a seven-way tie for 18th at 5-under. The 23-year-old began the round with a bogey but got the shot back immediately on the par-4 second hole by sinking a 1.5-meter birdie.
"I was aiming much higher than just making the cut," said Katsuragawa, who had back-to-back birdies on Nos. 9 and 10 before wrapping up the day with a birdie on the 18th.
The five other Japanese in the field all failed to make the cut with Takumi Kanaya missing out by one stroke at 1-under. Three-time Open Championship winner and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods of the United States also missed the cut at 9-over.
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