Summary

Live Reporting

Paul Higham, Phil Cartwright, Joe Bradshaw, Henry Cowling, Ros Satar and Tim Abraham

  1. Westwood -3 (70)

    Lee WestwoodGetty Images

    Another great round from Lee Westwood.

    Well might he smile.

  2. Lowry -1, Morikawa +8, Scheffler -7 (11)

    Scottie Scheffler is one of the best in the business at bouncing back after bogeys and he's flighted his second on the par-five 12th to the edge of the green.

    He'll fancy getting up and down for birdie from there.

  3. Three straight birdies for Burns

    Burns -2 (13)

    Sam Burns is well used to these conditions at a major, having tried to round out victory at last month's US Open in monsoon-like conditions at Oakmont.

    It wasn't to be on that occasion, but the American has made three successive birdies here to move well clear of the cut line.

    That run should ensure he can look up the leaderboard rather than down for the remainder of his round.

  4. 'Superb from Westwood'

    Westwood -3 (70)

    Graeme Storm
    Two-time European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

    That was absolutely superb (from Lee Westwood) getting up and down from where he was.

    I couldn’t believe that he could actually do that

  5. Westwood shoots 70

    Detry +1, Gotterup -5, Westwood -3 (18)

    Lee Westwood sinks a 27-foot putt for par on the 18th and raises a clenched fist in celebration. The crowd give him plenty of vocal support as well.

    A round of 70 for the 52-year-old Englishman who will be delighted to be staying for the weekend.

  6. Birdies for Schauffele and Spaun

    Rahm -1, Schauffele -1, Spaun -3 (12)

    Back-to-back birdies from Xander Schauffele put him back into red numbers and recovers the damage from a double bogey on the 10th in the space of two holes.

    It's four birdies in six holes now for US Open champion JJ Spaun, while Jon Rahm almost sinks his putt for birdie from about 30 feet.

    A par for the Spaniard.

  7. Fitzpatrick drops a shot

    Fitzpatrick -9 (14)

    A nice chip ends up six feet short of the hole and Matt Fitzpatrick leaks the par attempt right of the cup.

    A bogey cuts his lead in half.

  8. Scheffler drops a shot

    Lowry -1, C Morikawa +8, Scheffler -7 (11)

    A tricky par putt for Scottie Scheffler and he comes up short. Shane Lowry, meanwhile, is spitting feathers after he puts a little too much power on his infinitely more makeable putt.

    Both men collect a bogey for the first time today.

  9. Matt Gault
    BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Royal Portrush

    You don't have to wander too far from the comfort of the media centre for the rain to ruin your day.

    The rain is battering the mixed zone tent that questions aren't being asked so much as being shouted.

    I miss the sun.

  10. Fitzpatrick -10 (13)

    On the tough par-four 14th, Matt Fitzpatrick goes short and right of the green in two.

    It's an easier up-and-down from that position as he looks to protect - and maybe extend - that two-stroke lead before he gets warm in the clubhouse.

  11. Lowry -2, C Morikawa +7, Scheffler -8 (11)

    Shane Lowry voices his frustrations at the 11th tee after a wayward tee shot. We're before the watershed so unfortunately we'll have to leave that one to your imaginations.

    The Irishman gets himself back on to the fairway with his next stroke before landing his approach shot on the green and benefitting from some back spin.

    Scottie Scheffler overhits his approach slightly and the ball plugs. A tricky putt for par.

  12. 'I'm used to the expectation' - Li

    Li -8 (67)

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Haotong Li on day two of The OpenGetty Images

    Haotong Li is in a three-way share of second spot, two away from Matt Fitzpatrick's current lead, and he has been speaking to Andy Stevenson:

    "I'm very proud and didn’t expect that result especially compared to the last couple of weeks. It’s been really solid so far."

    On the level of interest in the Open in China: "The game in our country has been (growing) a lot. People are being very (interested) in this game and really enjoy it."

    Will they be watching now you are near the top of the leaderboard? "Not really because I have been in that position all the time. I am kind of used to those guys' expectation."

  13. Mickelson makes the cut

    Mickelson E (72)

    Phil Mickelson at The Open 2025Getty Images

    We mentioned Dustin Johnson finishing strongly to make the cut a little earlier, and fellow American Phil Mickelson will be staying at Portrush for the weekend too.

    A fairly uneventful round for the 55-year-old today really - two birdies and three bogeys in a one-over-par round of 72.

  14. Scottie SchefflerGetty Images

    Note to self:

    Pack a wetsuit next year.

  15. Jordan -3 (16)

    A rare second par in a row for Matthew Jordan, who brushes off the rain to avoid any trouble at Calamity Corner.

    Two more holes to play until some shelter for the Englishman.

  16. Birdie for Schauffele

    Rahm -1, Schauffele E, Spaun -2 (11)

    Xander Schauffele on day two of The Open at PortrushGetty Images

    There we go - a birdie three for Xander Schauffele, who is back to level par.

    14 minutes is a long time in golf (see 18:12 BST post...)

  17. Richard Winton
    BBC Sport Scotland at Royal Portrush

    I just saw a squad of animals walking two-by-two behind the 18th green...

  18. Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at Royal Portrush

    We said earlier that we call the downpour earlier "wet rain" in Northern Ireland.

    Well, this has progressed to "wet, wet rain".

    It is bouncing.

  19. Westwood goes three under

    Detry +1, Gotterup -5, Westwood -3 (17)

    A cloud burst on the green at the 17th just as Lee Westwood steadies himself for a putt for a birdie. The veteran saw an eagle chance come up just short but grabs his third birdie of the day in the pouring rain.

    Chris Gotterup and Thomas Detry make it a clean sweep of birdies for the grouping.

  20. If you're not already listening to the 5 Live commentary, whack play now.

    Can barely hear the commentators over the sound of the rain carrying through the microphones.

    Quite satisfying really.

    When you're inside anyway.