Royal Portrush (Northern Ireland), July 19(HS): China’s Li Haotong and American Brian Harman both led the second round of the British Open at Royal Portrush with scores of eight under par. Li started strong with five birdies in twelve holes but bogeyed the 14th for his first dropped shot. Harman, who won the Claret Jug two years prior, played steadily, birdieing the first two holes and finishing with a flawless 65. He expressed his enjoyment of the challenging conditions that suit his game.

Rory McIlroy, the home favorite, had a mixed performance, finishing his first round at one under and his second at 69, totaling three under par. McIlroy showcased brilliant moments, including a birdie on the first hole, but also faced difficulties, such as a penalty drop. He reflected on the excitement of playing in front of large crowds after missing the cut at the 2019 Open.

World number one, Scottie Scheffler, moved to six under with three early birdies, tying with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick. Other strong contenders included Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, England’s Tyrrell Hatton, and American Harris English, all finishing at five under. The day’s weather saw improvements from Thursday’s heavy rain to bright conditions and light winds, allowing for better play on receptive greens.

Harman’s consistent play, highlighted by accuracy and successful putting, contributed to his placement. Conversely, notable past champions like Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink, and Louis Oosthuizen struggled, with some likely to miss the cut. Joint overnight leader Jacob Skov Olesen experienced a disastrous start to his second round, suffering a quadruple bogey that significantly impacted his standing on the leaderboard.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar