( CNN ) -- It 's been a year of up and down form for Rory McIlroy , but could major championship winning consistency finally be on the horizon ? The Northern Irishman stretched his overnight lead at the British Open at Hoylake Friday with a majestic second round of 66 -- matching his score Thursday -- to finish the day on 12-under-par . Despite starting with a bogey at the first , McIlroy recovered to sink seven birdies and comfortably leads the way from America 's Dustin Johnson who lies four shots back in second place at 8-under-par . A chasing group featuring Francesco Molinari , Ryan Moore , Rickie Fowler , Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen are all tied for third at 6-under-par . It was almost a disastrous day for Tiger Woods , however , as the three-time Open champion carded a round of 77 to end the day at 2-over-par and only just make the cut . After an opening round of 69 , Woods was only three shots off the pace going into Friday but dropped like a stone on an often windy but sun-kissed afternoon on England 's northwest coast . In truth , Woods exhibited the kind of frustrating yo-yo form between first and second rounds that has inhibited McIlroy over the past months . Just last week , McIlroy backed up an opening round of 64 with a 78 to slip off the way off the pace at the Scottish Open . There were to be no such worries Friday , however . There was even a moment of light relief when a pheasant wandered across the eighth as McIlroy prepared to putt . `` I just wanted to stick to my gameplan , '' McIlroy told BBC Sport upon reaching the clubhouse . `` I had a shaky start with a bogey at the start but settled in and just played really well . '' Looking towards Saturday and the stormy weather that is forecast for the early morning , McIlroy added that he hopes his major championship experience will stand him in good stead . `` Depending on what weather we get , I 'm looking forward to it . I 've been in this position before and enjoyed it and I 'll try to enjoy it again , '' he said . McIlroy will have to watch out for the red-hot Johnson whose impressive 65 , which included seven birdies , was the lowest score of the day . The 30-year-old South Carolinian has yet to win a major but revealed he was relishing the challenge at Hoylake . `` I 'm glad I 'm in the last group and playing with Rory , '' Johnson said . `` But I 've got to go out and play my game . I ca n't worry about what he is doing . I 'll just go out there and try to shoot a good number . '' Further back , Francesco Molinari will also fancy his chances if he can replicate the shot-making he displayed on the back nine after a tough start while Sergio Garcia is still in with a shot of claiming his illusive first major . `` I played some really good golf on the back nine and I 'm happy with what I did , '' Molinari said . `` I usually keep an eye on the leaderboard but it 's still tough conditions out there . You need to be 100 % focused on what you 're doing . '' Despite a brutal of round that saw him record two double bogeys , Woods struck a similarly optimistic tone in conversation with reporters . He even highlighted the dramatic victory of Paul Lawrie at the 1999 Open at Muirfield as his inspiration for the weekend . `` I had some opportunities but I never made anything . I had myself in good position to make birdies but I never did . `` Hopefully I can do something like Paul did in 1999 , make up 10 in one day . '' Elsewhere on the course , there was no luck for big hitters Ernie Els , Bubba Watson and Lee Westwood who all missed the cut .
Rory McIlroy extends lead at Northern Irishman Open after eighth round of four . British leads by four shots going into Just last week . Tiger Woods falls down the leaderboard and only just makes cut .