Summary

Live Reporting

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

  1. Lowry birdies the third

    Lowry -2, C Morikawa +5, Scheffler -4 (3)

    Shane Lowry reaps the benefits of a bold tee shot at the par-three third to nab his first birdie of the day. The Irishman rolls in a nine-foot putt and promptly raises a clenched fist as he moves to two under.

    Par for Scottie Scheffler.

  2. Fitzpatrick -6 (4)

    After a bit of a wait on the fifth tee, Matt Fitzpatrick fires his tee shot into the rough by the green.

    Rather than go for the flag, he bails out to make sure he finds the short grass and he'll have a lengthy two-putt left to save par.

  3. Jordan -4 (7)

    Matthew Jordan stabilises with a par at the seventh.

    After a messy showing on the green at the sixth, he'll be pleased not to further blemish his card towards the back end of the front nine.

  4. Westwood bogeys the eighth

    Detry +1, Gotterup -2, Westwood -1 (8)

    Lee Westwood and wife Helen StoreyGetty Images

    Lee Westwood, whose wife Helen Storey caddies for him, was all smiles earlier.

    However, he is back to one under after bogeying the eighth. Westwood had a simple putt from a couple of feet but a lapse in concentration costs him a shot.

  5. Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at Royal Portrush

    Fans at the Open

    Fair play to these fans, who have kept queuing to get into the 18th grandstand despite the downpour.

    The weather is grim but spirits are still high.

  6. 'As pure as it gets' - leader Harman on his Portrush experience

    Harman -8 (65)

    Brian HarmanGetty Images

    Clubhouse leader Brian Harman on links golf and the Open Championship:

    "I love the golf over here. It suits me. Distance, of course, matters over here, but it doesn't matter as much as maybe some other tournaments, and it doesn't matter because the ground is so firm that the ball rolls.

    "There's just a million different ways to play over here, whereas at some other majors you get kind of stuck into this 'well, I'm going to swing as hard as I can off this tee ball and try to hit this seven-iron as high as I possibly can and hope it stops'.

    "They have incredible respect for the game. The golf overall fan knowledge over here is unbelievable.

    "They all play. They love the game and being an Open champion over here is really cool.

    "They know who you are. They have respect for you. I love coming over here. As far as golf, it's as pure as it gets."

  7. Harman leads

    Harman -8 (65)

    This is the man they're all trying to catch.

    Brian Harman leads the way after a six-under 65 today.

    'On a piece of string!' - Harman birdies brilliant 18th to top leaderboard

  8. Spaun back to level par

    Rahm -2, Schauffele E, Spaun E (3)

    A nice birdie putt on the third from JJ Spaun puts the US Open champion back to level par for the tournament.

    Safe pars for Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm

  9. Lowry misses birdie chance

    Lowry -1, C Morikawa +4, Scheffler -4 (2)

    Shane Lowry played a quite beautiful chip on to the green at the second, but misses a relatively straightforward two-foot putt for a birdie.

    Scott Scheffler taps in for par.

  10. What will weekend bring for box office McIlroy?

    McIlroy -3 (69)

    Rory McIlroy at the Open ChampionshipGetty Images

    One of only six men to even win golfing's Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy is one of the best players of all time, but he has his flaws, both in his game and with his emotions too at times - but perhaps that's why he's such a huge star.

    His emotions seem in check so far at Royal Portrush but that driver, usually his biggest weapon, has become his biggest problem and no doubt he'll be looking to straighten that out ahead of Saturday.

    That's moving day, and he'll go out ahead of the leaders which could be ideal, and if he gets moving than this home crowd will let the rest of the field know about it.

    Will he make a huge run or will his challenge fall apart? Either could happen, and that's why everyone will be watching...

  11. Li moves into share of lead

    Li -8 (10)

    Haotong LiGetty Images

    We're not seeing a huge amount of Haotong Li but that seems unfair because he is three under through nine holes.

    And frankly he's just produced an outrageous recovery from the undergrowth flanking the 10th fairway to leave himself just four feet for a barely believable birdie.

    In it goes - and we have a tie at the top!

  12. English and Finau finish up

    English -5 (70), Finau -4 (68)

    Can Harris English inch his way any higher up the leaderboard on the 18th green?

    No, his putt comes up short - that'll be the rain! - and he settles for a par.

    A one-under 70 leaves him three back.

    Fellow American, Tony Finau follows him in and he's at four under par for the tournament.

  13. Lowry -1, C Morikawa +4, Scheffler -4 (1)

    Scottie Scheffler has popped a black gilet on over his grey hooded coat. Must be feeling the chill after the heavens opened.

    Faced with five intimidating bunkers on his approach shot at the second Scheffler manages to make the green, but faces a lengthy putt to collect back-to-back birdies.

  14. 'What a bonkers game it is'

    Fleetwood -1, McIlroy -3, Thomas -1 (F)

    Andrew Murray
    Former European Tour winner on 5 Live

    An absolute privilege and you can’t get better than that. Superb.

    What a bonkers game it is.

    Fleetwood has not missed a shot all the way round and hits one sideways on the 18th.

  15. 'Name of the game is to hang in there'

    MacIntyre -5 (66)

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Bob MacIntyre spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live's Andy Stevenson after a five-under-par 66 in round two:

    "The draw’s the draw. It's the Open Championship and the weather can do anything. I’m from the west coast of Scotland and one minute it can be beautiful and the next minute it can be like this.

    "I'm just delighted with the score I got. I feel I kept it so simple. I drove it nicely and wasn’t in trouble much. The approach play was good and putting was decent. The name of the game is to just hang in there and I feel I’m doing that well.

    "I’m not too far from home and this is as close an Open as I’m going to get. The Irish support and the British support has been good to me."

  16. MacIntyre in contention

    MacIntyre -5 (66)

    A round of 66 has put Scotland's Bob MacIntyre three shots off the lead held by Brian Harman.

    'Oh my!' - Macintyre shows finesse to hole back-to-back birdies

  17. A Matt finish on four

    Fitzpatrick -6 (4)

    Those two aggressive smacks deserved a birdie for Matt Fitzpatrick and he duly delivers as he guides home a 15 footer for a three.

    Six under now for the Englishman and two off the lead.

  18. Birdie for Rahm

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

    We join Jon Rahm on the second green licking his lips at a tasty eagle opportunity.

    It's on a good line but just doesn't drop for the Spaniard. He'll take home a birdie instead.

    US Open champ JJ Spaun also picks up a shot but Xander Schauffele can only make par.

  19. Feel the noise!

    McIlroy -3 (69)

    'Huge roar!' - McIlroy birdies on the 14th

    Rory McIlroy was better today than yesterday and did at least hit a couple of sparkling drives, but he still has work to do off the tee.

    He's in the conversation though, and at the weekend every single birdie he gets will be greeted by noise such as this in the video above.

    Can Portrush roar him on to glory though?

  20. Par finish for McIlroy

    Fleetwood -1, McIlroy -3, Thomas -1 (F)

    Plenty of support as you'd expect for Rory McIlroy as he makes a regulation par at the last to sign for a two-under round of 69 to sit on three under for the tournament.

    He's currently T12 and five shots off the pace but that's probably about as good as he could've scored given his problems off the tee.

    Work to do, but he's not too far back and will fancy making a run at the weekend. He won't be short of support as well!