Jordan Spieth says the rain delay on Friday was the turning point in his second round after moving two clear at The Open Championship.

The American battled through the wind and the rain to shot a one-under 69 to take him to six-under for the Royal Birkdale showpiece, two clear of his compatriot Matt Kuchar.

The 23-year-old, who had started the day in a three-way share of the lead with Kuchar and Brooks Koepka, had to overcome a disappointing front nine, dropping shots at the third and ninth before play was brought to a halt for 20 minutes due to adverse weather conditions.

Following the resumption of the second round, the two-time major winner got himself back in to the groove, collecting back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 12th before an eagle at the 15th, either side of two further bogeys.

Spieth admits the break came at just the right time for him as he was able to regather himself after his poor start and is excited to be leading the race for the Claret Jug.

"I give myself a B grade today which is giving myself some credit," Spieth told Sky Sports.

"I got pretty frustrated through the turn there in the middle of the round, just hitting it in pot bunker after pot bunker, squeaking out pars somehow. But I thought we did a really good job once that horn blew and we had a few minutes to kind of sit back.

"I thought that I didn't get everything out of yesterday's round and I thought I got more than what I deserved today. So I'm playing about where my score stands I think.

"[I will] try and straighten it out off the tee a bit and with the long clubs. The next couple of days, who knows what we are going to get - we got a little bit of everything today.

"But it's fun, it's an Open, it's what it's supposed to be. It's a level playing field now, everybody has got the same conditions and we go out and try and play our best golf."

Three shots behind the leader is Koepka after a two-over 72 on Friday and he's joined by England's Ian Poulter in a share of third following his level-par 70.