Brian Harman, the 2023 Open champion, made a statement with a flawless second-round performance, climbing to six-under‑par through impressive birdies on the opening hole and both par‑5s in his outward nine, reaching six-under by the 10th after another expertly executed approach and tap-in.
Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard matched Harman’s charge, also sitting at six-under after five birdies in his first 13 holes, offset by one bogey. Meanwhile, England’s Tyrrell Hatton and the American Harris English remained close at five-under.
Haotong Li also delivered a superb bogey-free second round, closing to seven under and staying firmly in the hunt behind Harman .
McIlroy’s Mixed Bag Continues
Rory McIlroy, the home favourite and 2014 Open champion, attracted raucous support yet delivered another inconsistent round. He followed a one-under 70 from Thursday with a round mirroring similar highs and lows.
Highlights included:
- Birdie on the 1st hole to rouse the crowd
- A scrambling par on the 2nd despite a drive into deep rough and a penalty drop
- A bogey at the tricky 3rd after a poor tee shot left him with a difficult stance
- A birdie at the 4th to stay one-under across his opening eight holes.
At the same time, reports noted McIlroy’s driving woes, with notably low fairway accuracy, contributing to his struggle for rhythm despite flashes of brilliance.
Standouts Beyond the Top
- Robert MacIntyre rose to three-under after an excellent outward nine of 33 .
- Jacob Skov Olesen, who had entered Day 2 as a co-leader, crashed after a disastrous quadruple bogey on the 1st, dropping to 36th position .
What It Means
Harman’s composed and accurate play has vaulted him into a commanding position as the tournament heads into the weekend. Rasmus Højgaard, Hatton, English, and Li remain within striking distance, setting the stage for a competitive weekend.
McIlroy needs more consistency—especially off the tee—if he is to capitalize on home momentum and contend for a second Open title.
