Danny Willett: Who is the Englishman who feared Armageddon now leading The Open?

Willett is the leading hope for a British winner at St Andrews

Danny Willett (GETTY IMAGES)

Despite fearing the 'Armageddon' weather conditions forecast for the second day of play at St Andrews, Danny Willett has taken advantage of the conditions to lead The Open.

"It could be Armageddon-type stuff by the looks of the weather forecast," he said before getting his second round under way.

"When the wind and rain gets up it can be a lottery."

Despite the concerns, the balls seem to have landed in Willett's favour on day two with the Englishman taking a commanding lead despite the delay to play this morning.

When play resumed at 10am, Willett - who carded an opening 66 to lie one behind overnight leader Dustin Johnson - took full advantage of the relatively benign conditions with birdies on the second and fifth to claim the outright lead.

The 27-year-old went into the tournament standing second on the European money list this season, having doubled his number of victories to two when he won the Nedbank Challenge out in South Africa.

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As to whether he now has the game to go on and win a big one, the Rotherham-born vicar's son has no need for the power of prayer - more the growing confidence he has in his own game.

"My game's been there for a while," he said. "The more you play with the guys the more you realise they can't do anything much better than you can, if at all, and that I'm actually equipped to do pretty well.

"In a major championship, you need a little bit of luck and to hit the right shots at the right time and, if it's your week, it's your week."

Willet's best placing at The Open to date is 15th, which he achieved in 2013.