Carnoustie, Scotland ? Sergio Garcia is on track to win his first major. And he might not have to go through Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to do it.

Spain's Sergio Garcia chips from a bunker at the sixth hole during the second round of the British Open Golf Championship on Friday at Carnoustie, Scotland.

After racing out with a 65 on Thursday, Garcia accomplished his goal of not giving anything back Friday with an even par 71 during the second round of the British Open at Carnoustie. At 6-under, he holds a two-shot lead over K.J. Choi, who had a 69.

But the best part of Garcia’s day might have been what happened to Woods and Mickelson. Woods hooked his opening tee shot out of bounds, leading to a double bogey on his first hole. He never mustered anything from there, falling back to 1-over with a 74.

It was even worse for Mickelson. The left-hander is going home after a round of 77 caused him to miss the cut.

After Friday, it looked like Garcia’s main competition is going to come from Choi, who has increased his stature after winning the Memorial and AT & T National in recent weeks.

Garcia, though, only focused on himself Friday. He did what he needed to do.

“I was hoping for a little bit better than what I did, but that was not a bad round,” Garcia said. “Every time you shoot an under-par or even-par round on a difficult course, you know you’re not too far away. It was more of a grinder’s day today.”

Indeed, the Open looks like it will be a grinding session the rest of the way, especially with bad weather forecast for Saturday. Garcia got his low number on Thursday. If he can stay around 70 or 71 the rest of the way, he will be in good shape.

If Garcia does win Sunday, he might look back at what he did on the first hole Friday as a pivotal point. After hitting a perfect drive, all Garcia had was a 9-iron into the green. But he hit it dead right.

The shot, especially if repeated, is enough to put a golfer into therapy.

Faced with a bad lie and a tight pin, Garcia knocked a terrific chip to within inches of the cup for a tap-in par.

“I was just trying to hit it 10, 12 feet right of the hole and see if you can start with a good, solid putt and make a good par,” Garcia said. “But the club just got tangled a little bit in the high grass and when I saw the ball came out, I thought this could be really good. It was a great save to start with.”

Woods has a chance to atone for his mediocre round. But he knows it isn’t going to easy.

“It’s not going to be playing any easier this weekend, so you’re just going to have to go out there and grind it out and stay away from the big mistakes,” Woods said.

Garcia is trying his best not to look ahead. But inevitably he was asked about if he feels any pressure to win his first major.

“The first I heard (the question),” he joked about a question he has faced a million times.