CAROUNSTIE, Scotland — Tiger Woods is in contention for the 147th British Open at Carnoustie.

Woods, who is seeking his first major championship in 10 years, enters the weekend six shots out of the lead at even par after shooting his second consecutive 71 on Friday.

“I played a little bit better [Thursday],” Woods said. “[Friday] wasn’t quite as good, but I finally birdied the par-5 (No. 14), so that’s a positive. I’m six back. It will be a pretty packed leaderboard, and I’m certainly right there in it.”

Meanwhile, one of Woods’ playing partners the past two days, Russell Knox, failed to make the cut — in part because of Woods.

Knox, who entered the week as one of the legitimate dark-horse favorites to win the Open based on his solid play of late, never recovered from his stage fright being around Woods, whom he called his idol. He finished 4-over after shooting 73 Friday for the second consecutive day and will not get to play the weekend with Woods.

After his opening round, Knox, who is from Scotland, conceded to feeling nervous playing in the presence of Woods, saying, “I’m not going to lie, I’m in awe of him a little bit. He’s a person I’ve seen on the range in the past and he’s almost like a mythical figure. I knew it was going to be an uncomfortable round. I was never going to feel like I was out playing with my buddies, just freewheeling it, and that’s understandable.’’

The irony was that it was Knox, not Woods, who entered the week in good form with the Irish Open win and a runner-up at the Open de France earlier this month.

After Friday’s round, Knox insisted that he was “over” his Woods anxiety.

“You’re only going to ever get to play the first time with him once, and that was mine,” he said. “We chatted away. He was nice to me. I was nice to him, I think. I think it was important to get it out of the way.

“And next time I’ll bury him,” Knox joked.

“It was my first round with Tiger, obviously I expected to feel a little bit different,” he said. “I think he’s the best golfer of all time. He’s definitely the person I looked up to, so getting to play with him is pretty unique. It’s a major championship, at the Open in Scotland, playing with your hero … you’re never going to feel like you’re just winging it.

“It’s cool playing with Tiger but I’ve got to get over that.’’

He never did, and now he’s going home early.

No one has had a wilder ride at Carnoustie than reigning U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, who was 4-over par through his first eight holes Thursday, shot 41 on the front nine and followed it with a 31 on the back.

On Friday, he shot a 2-under 69 and enters the weekend very much in contention at 1-under. This is not new territory for Koepka, who was 5-over through his first 14 holes at Shinnecock en route to winning the U.S. Open

Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, and Justin Thomas, ranked No. 2, both missed the cut Friday. The last time the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked players in the world missed a British Open cut was in 2011 when Luke Donald and Lee Westwood failed to make it to the weekend.

Sergio Garcia missed the cut, making it four consecutive major championships that the 2017 Masters champion failed to make the cut.

Rory McIlroy’s face lights up when you mention the 2019 Open Championship, which will be played at Royal Portrush in his home country of Northern Ireland.

“It’s been over 50 or 60 years, I guess, from when the Open was at Portrush, and I personally never thought I’d be able to play an Open Championship at home,” said McIlroy, who grew up about an hour south of Portrush in Holywood. “The Open 2019 has been something that’s been on my radar for a long time. As someone from that part of the world, I’m going to be very proud to showcase where I’m from and to play in front of all the people who have supported me throughout my career.’’

Mark McCormick, the head professional at Suburban Golf Club in Union, N.J., is making the trip to Scotland to try to qualify for the British Senior Open. McCormick, who played in the U.S. Senior Open last year at Salem Country Club in Massachusetts, will play the qualifier at Ladybank on Monday. McCormick played in the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic Club. … When he’s finished caddying for Zach Johnson this week, Damon Green will also try to qualify for the British Senior Open.

Sandy Lyle, the 1985 Claret Jug winner, closed out his Open Championship career in style Friday, carding a birdie on the final hole of his final Open. Lyle shot 75-76 and missed the cut by shooting 9-over, pretty respectable for a 60-year-old.