Summary

  1. Just shortpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time

    Fleetwood -2, McIlroy -3, Thomas -1 (14)

    Right idea, wrong execution from Rory McIlroy on 15, as he hit an iron off the tee to leave a full shot into the green, but with this tricky front pin you either go long and accept a long two-putt or get your numbers absolutely spot on for an aggressive dart at the flag.

    McIlroy takes the aggressive route but he's just short and the ball topples off the green and into a dell just in front. That's a tricky spot to get down in two from.

  2. Harman closes round of 65 with birdiepublished at 14:39 British Summer Time

    Harman -8 (65)

    Brian HarmanImage source, Getty Images

    Oh stop it, Brian Harman. What a way to finish.

    A world-class approach to the 18th, about eight feet for birdie, and in it goes.

    A six-under-par round of 65 for the American, who retakes the lead on his own.

    That's exactly the same score that he posted in the second round at Hoylake two years ago - and he went on to win the tournament.

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:36 British Summer Time

    #bbcgolf, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    You guys are still going with Name that Snail.

    Brandt Snail-deker

    Lynn, Sussex

    Ernie Shels

    Anon

    Justin Slows, Snory McIlroy

    Anon.

    Phil Barnickelson, Nicolas Escargotarria

    Anon.

    Do we assume that these Anons are ashamed of their snail puns?

    Don't be - own them and send us your name!

  4. Li joins Harman at the toppublished at 14:34 British Summer Time

    Li -7 (6)

    Haotong LiImage source, Getty Images

    Woah, how about that from Haotong Li?

    He's has destroyed the sixth with that tee shot, leaving it within two feet of the cup!

    What a way to join the lead.

  5. Westwood settles for parpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time

    Detry +1, Gotterup -1, Westwood -1 (4)

    Lee Westwood gives himself a chance of a birdie putt on the fourth but comes up a couple of feet short with a 25ft effort and has to settle for par.

  6. Postpublished at 14:32 British Summer Time

    Jordan -4 (3)

    After coming up a bit short of the green off the tee, Matthew Jordan has to settle with a par on the par-three third.

    He stays at four under.

  7. That birdie Rorpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time

    Fleetwood -2, McIlroy -3, Thomas E (14)

    A huge roar rings around Royal Portrush and that can only mean one thing - a Rory McIlroy birdie!

    I suppose it could mean there's free Guinness at the bar but the black stuff is in short supply in Portrush this week...

    Anyway, that huge drive on 14 left McIlroy with just 87 yards. His approach wasn't the best actually as he only got it to 17 feet, but the putter did the business.

    Rory's now three under and closing in on the leaders...

  8. Bogey for Bobpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time

    DeChambeau +2, MacIntyre -4, Rose -2 (16)

    A first dropped shot of the day for Robert MacIntyre, who gets into trouble off the tee and can't save par from the rough.

    He's back to four under.

  9. Another Aberg birdiepublished at 14:27 British Summer Time

    Aberg -3, Hovland E, Spieth -1 (15)

    Ludvig Aberg sends his approach to the 15th to within a couple of feet and it's a sixth birdie of the day for the Swede, who keep inching his way up the leaderboard.

  10. Fitzpatrick was 'lowest' in his career four months agopublished at 14:26 British Summer Time

    Fitzpatrick -4 (14:26)

    Peter Scrivener
    BBC Sport senior journalist at Royal Portrush

    Media caption,

    'Oh my word!' - Fitzpatrick slam dunks for a birdie

    A good few hours until Matt Fitzpatrick hits the links again, but the Englishman will do so after one of the better rounds of his year.

    The 2022 US Open winner finished round one joint top of the leaderboard after a chip-in birdie on the 16th helped him post a four-under 67.

    But between his victory at the 2023 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and his missed cut at the PGA Tour's flagship Players championship in March he recorded just four top-10s.

    After his Thursday round at Royal Portrush, he said he was "the lowest I've been in my career" following the Players.

    Since then though, he's been working with a new swing coach and has posted some better results, and came into The Open on the back of a joint fourth at last week's Scottish Open.

  11. Postpublished at 14:26 British Summer Time

    Harman -7 (17)

    Brian Harman won on the Open at Hoylake two years ago and is top of the pile during round two at Royal Portrush.

    Harman is clearly enjoying his links golf and Ken Brown tells us why he thinks it is so special...

  12. 380 yards!published at 14:25 British Summer Time

    Fleetwood -2, McIlroy -2, Thomas -1 (13)

    Look, Rory McIlroy has been nowhere near his best at The Open this week off the tee, but we've had glimpses of what he can do with the driver today - including this monster drive on 14.

    Another low bullet that's only about half as high as he usually hits it, has carried miles, then hit the links turf and taken off like a scalded cat.

    The result? 380 yards!

  13. Li moves into secondpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time

    Li -6 (5)

    Anyone thinking Haotong Li's challenge might fizzle in round two is being proved wrong.

    He's just rolled in his second birdie of the day, this time at the fifth and as things stand, he is the closest challenger.

  14. Par for Harmanpublished at 14:23 British Summer Time

    Harman -7 (17)

    Brian Harman can't sink that 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th. A bend of the knees as it rolls by the cup.

  15. Jordan lands a birdiepublished at 14:20 British Summer Time

    Jordan -4 (2)

    Matthew Jordan has put himself right in the mix with a birdie on the par-five second.

    The 29-year-old sinks a 10-foot putt to move into a share of seventh.

  16. Westwood drops a shotpublished at 14:20 British Summer Time

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

    Lee Westwood bogeys the par-three third hole. A 149-yard drive leaves Westwood short of the green and after chipping on he two putts. Can the experienced Englishman reignite this round?

  17. Par for Englishpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time

    English -5 (13)

    Harris English lined up his birdie putt on the 13th expecting it to turn left - only for it go plumb straight.

    He watches his ball kiss the side of the hole and trundle on.

    He'll have to settle for a par.

  18. Birdie for Rosepublished at 14:16 British Summer Time

    DeChambeau +2, MacIntyre -5, Rose -2 (15)

    All three in this group on the 15th green with birdie opportunities.

    Justin Rose has the most likely of them from about 12 feet - and gets it! Two birdies in four holes for Rose since that triple-bogey on the 11th - he's almost clawed those three dropped shots back.

    Bryson DeChambeau and Bob MacIntyre are a lot further away and will settle for pars.

    MacIntyre and DeChambeau are both currently five under for the day. A couple of great rounds of golf.

  19. Postpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time

    Harman -7 (16)

    Speaking of Brian Harman, another excellent approach to the 17th green is 15 feet from the hole and he'll have that for another birdie that would take him three shots clear at the top of the leaderboard.

  20. English slips backpublished at 14:08 British Summer Time

    English -5 (12)

    Harris English on day two of The Open, PortrushImage source, Getty Images

    That's a really clumsy bogey from Harris English and the kind of mistake we're simply not seeing from leader Brian Harman.

    He's left his chip onto the green 10 feet short and missed his par putt.

    That'll sting.