Even more impressively, the 29-year-old was the only player not to record a single bogey in his opening 70, despite playing in the worst of the conditions in the afternoon.

And that proud record was still in tact after four holes this morning to keep Jacobson just two shots off the lead held by South African Hennie Otto.

Before the start of the week, Jacobson had been a total of 48 over par from four previous appearances in The Open, making just one halfway cut at his first attempt at Birkdale in 1998.

But he has been nothing short of a revelation this season, winning twice on the European Tour and finishing fifth on his US Open debut last month, also adding two other top 10s in three starts on the US Tour.

While Ian Woosnam endured a rollercoaster start to his round with three bogeys in a row followed by two birdies, Jacobson started with four straight pars, although he had to work hard for his five at the fourth.

Finding a fairway bunker off the tee, Jacobson could only hack out onto the fairway and was still short of the green in three, but played a good approach to six feet and holed the putt, punching the air in delight.

Jacobson was playing alongside Korea’s KJ Choi in a two-ball after Steve Elkington became the fourth player to withdraw from the championship.

Elkington, who lost in a four-man play-off for the title at Muirfield 12 months ago, pulled out with a shoulder injury before the start of this morning’s second round.

The Australian had carded an opening 86, 15 over par, which included a quadruple bogey nine on the par five 15th.

With playing partner Colin Montgomerie also withdrawing after seven holes yesterday, it would have left American Brad Faxon playing on his own, but former champion Mark Calcavecchia was moved from the previous group to partner his compatriot.

There had yet to be any rain and the wind was much lighter than yesterday, but it was still far from plain sailing for the early starters.

Phil Mickelson for example started with a bogey on the first, pulling his drive into the left rough and only moving his second shot a matter of feet, in the end doing well to get up and down for a five to lie four over.

It was still possible to make a move up the leaderboard however, Ireland’s Gary Murphy picking up shots at the second and third to improve to level par and a share of sixth place.