Key events<\/p>\n
DeChambeau hit with two-shot penalty<\/p>\n
Bryson DeChambeau was controversially handed a two-shot penalty after shooting a 66 which had catapulted him into second place at the Open.<\/p>\n
The two-time major champion was adjudged to have improved his stance as he attempted to escape from the rough earlier in his round \u2013 although officials accepted that the movement DeChambeau made on the fifth hole was not intentional.<\/p>\n
The American had produced a brilliant birdie-birdie finish which he thought had put him in the final group for Saturday on seven under par. Moments after signing his card, he was informed there were issues with how he played the driveable par-four fifth and was taken out to the spot of the alleged infringement.<\/p>\n
After several minutes of animated discussion, which involved the 32-year-old \u2013 club in hand \u2013 attempting to show R&A officials how he had played the shot, the two-time US Open champion was driven back to the recorders\u2019 office with a face like thunder where further discussions were held.<\/p>\n
DeChambeau made bogey on the hole but as a result of the penalty, his score was amended to a seven on the official leaderboard, meaning his round was adjusted to a 68 \u2013 dropped him from second outright to a share of fifth place.<\/p>\n
\u201cBryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing, his backswing, when he was playing his second shot,\u201d said R&A\u2019s executive director of governance, Grant Moir.<\/p>\n
The two-time US Open winner walked past waiting media \u2013 to whom he has refused to speak in his previous five major rounds \u2013 and headed straight for the practice ground. \u201cI\u2019m going to hit some balls,\u201d was all he would say as he went to the range at 9.40pm. PA Media<\/p>\n
Share<\/a>Rahm avoids penalty for throwing club<\/p>\n Some more disciplinary news from Reuters: Jon Rahm got \u2060away with only a warning after throwing his club in frustration during his second round.<\/p>\n Rahm carded a round of 67 to sit four shots off the lead, but was sweating after his outburst following a pulled tee shot on the par-three \u206015th. \u201cI didn\u2019t think about it until I saw him (the official) on 17, and when he was walking up to me,\u201d Rahm said.<\/p>\n The former world No 1 avoided a penalty, and is now only one shot behind DeChambeau. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have reacted that way, but I did,\u201d Rahm added. \u201cI mean, you guys are acting like it\u2019s every single hole. I get it. I had a moment.\u201d Reuters<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The R&A executive director of governance, Grant Moir, is reading out a statement: \u201cBryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended back swing on the fifth hole, his second shot.\u201d He adds that DeChambeau \u201cgained an advantage\u201d despite accepting the action appeared to be incidental. \u201cThe player must not move, bend or break any natural object,\u201d he adds, quoting from the rule book. \u201cThis rule applies even when there is no intention,\u201d he concludes, before heading off.<\/p>\n Grant Moir, Executive Director of Governance at The R&A, speaks to the media regarding a two-stoke penalty assessed against Bryson DeChambeau. Photograph: Michael Reaves\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.25 EDT<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the updated leaderboard<\/a>:<\/p>\n -8: Herbert (F) Share<\/a>Bryson DeChambeau handed two-shot penalty<\/p>\n Sky Sports are now reporting that Bryson DeChambeau, who was sitting in second place, has been penalised two shots for \u201cinadvertently improving his lie\u201d on the fifth hole. The giant leaderboard at Birkdale has been updated, and an official statement is coming \u2013 presumably with a fair bit of fallout, to boot.<\/p>\n Bryson DeChambeau (left) departs scoring after being handed a two-shot penalty. Photograph: Andrew Boyers\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.10 EDT<\/p>\n Niall McVeigh<\/p>\n Thanks, David. The word among the press pack at Birkdale is that DeChambeau will receive a two-shot penalty on the fifth hole \u2013 and in fact, the official leaderboard<\/a> has updated, with the American dropping from seven-under to five-under-par \u2013 and from outright second place to a tie for fifth. Still no official announcement, though.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.25 EDT<\/p>\n Still no news on DeChambeau. I\u2019m going to hand over to Niall McVeigh while I interview key witnesses\/catch the shuttle bus home. He\u2019s live in the studio and will bring you news when we have it. This has been David Tindall, the Guardian live blog, Birkdale.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.31 EDT<\/p>\n DeChambeau investigation continues<\/p>\n Well, that was quite the day! Lucas Herbert just misses out on shooting a 61 and setting the lowest ever score in a men\u2019s major. And not long after he equals the previous best mark of 62, Sam Burns holes from a bunker at 18 to match it.<\/p>\n But, despite those incredible scores, Herbert\u2019s lead is only one while Burns is in the chasing pack in tied sixth.<\/p>\n And then there\u2019s the late twist involving DeChambeau. Zapruder footage shows him talking with officials after playing from hay at the 5th. His ball is buried. This could be a penalty, we just don\u2019t know. As it stands, he\u2019s one back from Herbert.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A few groups are still out there but no-one is threatening the lead. And it\u2019s now official that the cut will fall at +1. Let\u2019s do some housekeeping. First, a leaderboard:<\/p>\n -8: Herbert (F) And now a look at some big names who have missed the cut:<\/p>\n +2: Rai, Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here goes Gerard with his par putt at 18. In it goes. Quite a roar although they\u2019ve been bigger for a man called Gerrard in these parts. That leaves the American at -6 and tied third.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Breaking news: Reports saying the R&A are investigating a matter involving Bryson DeChambeau that occurred out on the course. Honestly, that\u2019s all we seem to know. All a bit odd. Apparently, all will be revealed shortly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ryan Gerard birdies 17 to move up to -6 and tied third. The leaderboard now shows an Australian leading the way ahead of five Americans and a Korean. The latter is Si Woo Kim who has come home in 5-under 31.<\/p>\n -8: Herbert (F) Share<\/a><\/p>\n A change of mood at 18. Suddenly the lights come up, the music stops and a voice asks if the owner of an Austin Ambassador Y reg can please move it as they\u2019re blocking the entrance. In golf terms, that\u2019s Fleetwood missing his birdie try and, more suprisingly, Rahm doing the same. The music soon kicks back in though as Fleetwood and Rahm clear the dancefloor while waving to the crowd following rounds of 3-under 67s. Both finish the day at -4 and in a tie for eighth.<\/p>\n Tommy Fleetwood acknowledges fans on the 18th green. Photograph: Andrew Boyers\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.45 EDT<\/p>\n The fun at 18 goes up a notch! Fleetwood isn\u2019t far away from holing his second, his ball running out to 14 feet, before Rahm outdoes him with a towering iron that stops four feet away.<\/p>\n Some funky stuff going on back at 17 where 2017 Open hero Jordan Spieth racked up a \u20189\u2019 a little while ago. Now we see Si Woo Kim just missing an eagle try from distance although the birdie takes him to -5, four back.<\/p>\n Tommy Fleetwood plays his second shot on the 18th. Photograph: Oisin Keniry\/R&A\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.43 EDT<\/p>\n There\u2019s a \u2018party atmosphere\u2019 on 18. \u201cWalking along, singing a song, walking in a Hatton wonderland\u201d is the song being belted out. Although I think they sang the same for Justin Rose in the previous group but just changed the name. Still, there\u2019s no need for originality when you\u2019re that many beers in.<\/p>\n Before Hatton finishes up, DeChambeau has a 15 footer for birdie. The crowd go silent as he stands over the ball but then erupt as it drops. A 66 for the two-time US Open champion and he\u2019s alone in second. Bryson in full-on entertaiment mode today and it was great to watch.<\/p>\n Scheffler\u2019s par putt from eight feet wriggles around the hole so he\u2019s in the hutch at -4 and very much in it.<\/p>\n Hatton adds to the positivity with a par to complete a 68 which leaves him at -3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jon Rahm has flipped the momentum after that bogey at 15. He birdied 16 after an approach to three feet and he\u2019s just missed an eagle try at 17 after two hefty blows with those popeye arms. That second straight circle on the scorecard has put him back in the top 10: tied seventh at -4.<\/p>\n Cheers for Rahm\u2019s birdie are followed by a \u2018BOOM!\u2019 as Fleetwood follows him in for a \u20184\u2019 of his own. Tommy to -4 and very nicely placed to make the fairytale home win an actual thing this weekend.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Bryson blasts another tee shot into orbit down the middle of 18. He deserves that after a smile and doff of the cap for Hatton\u2019s birdie at 17. DeChambeau needs birdie to get into the final group of the day tomorrow. Time for a leaderboard update.<\/p>\n -8: Herbert (F) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lovely touch from Bryson DeChambeau at 17. To the side of the green in two, his only chance of stopping the ball is bumping it into an upslope and he executes the shot perfectly. The tap-in takes him to -6 and tied second.<\/p>\n But the biggest roars are for Tyrrell Hatton. From much closer, he also has to come over the crest of a hill but there\u2019s no need for a tap-in here as his ball takes the rise, tracks towards the hole and drops. That\u2019s birdies at 14, 15 and 17 for the Englishman, who makes a playful move for the crowd to lap up.<\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler? He plays a delicate chip from a sidehill lie but he\u2019s holed nothing today and so it continues. The par keeps him at -4.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Silver Medal for leading amateur isn\u2019t handed out if none of them make the weekend. And, as it stands, all 10 are outside the cut line. There is still hope though. Irishman David Howard, who came through Final Qualifying at Dundonald Links in Scotland, is +2 with five to play. If he can pick up just one more shot, he\u2019ll be through.<\/p>\n Warm applause for Justin Rose as he walks up 18 but there\u2019s a sympathetic tone to it as, at +3, he\u2019s going to miss the cut.<\/p>\n Justin Rose acknowledges the crowd on the 18th. Photograph: Jacob King\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.32 EDT<\/p>\n Perhaps I\u2019ve got it wrong and the roar was just someone\u2019s TV belting out action from earlier. It runs in the family celebrating highlights. My Dad will often provide live reaction to a wicket even though it\u2019s old footage of a Botham five-fer from 1981.<\/p>\n Although hang on, Min Woo Lee has just holed from 22 feet for a birdie at 18 that will sneak him inside the cut line. Perhaps that was it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As Rahm stalls, fellow \u2018rage guy\u2019 Hatton makes it back-to-back birdies to join the Spaniard on -2. A wonderful approach over the top of the flag at 16 leaves him just over four feet and he pours it in.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, another big roar travels over to the Media Centere from the nearish-by 18th green. What happened there then?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As I walk back past the big TV screen in the Media Centre having just made a cup of free tea, I look up and catch sight of a furious Jon Rahm. He\u2019s bogeyed 15. Combined with his par at 14 and he\u2019s not a happy chappy. The Spaniard sits at -2 and will want at least one more birdie before the day is out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n DeChambeau\u2019s birdie try from 25 feet across the 15th green pulls up just short. He grimaces but not for long. A tap-in par and then he\u2019s touching hands with spectators as he files past and walks to 16, still at -5. It\u2019s fair to say a few drinks have been consumed up in the stands in what is a very mild version of TPC Scottsdale\u2019s infamous 16th.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.34 EDT<\/p>\n Next to play the par-5 14th are Jon Rahm (-3), Tommy Fleetwood (-1) and Jordan Spieth (+4). Rahm unloads an \u2018f bomb\u2019 after a poor drive that leaves him chipping out with his second while Spieth\u2019s chip with shot three ends in a sandy grave on the opposite side of the green. Fleetwood putts up the side of a bunker with his third and it pulls to a stop four feet away. Outcomes? Two-putt par for Rahm, messy bogey for Spieth and a welcome birdie for \u2018Tommy lad\u2019 but only after his four-foot trickler does a dance around the hole. Fleetwood nudges up to -2.<\/p>\n Jon Rahm plays his second shot on the 14th. Photograph: Warren Little\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.39 EDT<\/p>\n Despite nearly giving his driver a Basil Fawlty-style damn good thrashing on 14 after a vicious pull, Hatton trundles in his 10-foot birdie putt at the par 5 to get to -1. And there\u2019s a birdie too for Scottie Scheffler, the pre-tournament favourite rising to -4 with a six-foot conversion. But Bryson misses the party. A leaked approach and modest chip combine for poor course work and result in a final mark of par.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n England not reaching the World Cup final has avoided a mighty clash which the R&A seemed rather blas\u00e9 about. But if you\u2019re a spectator wanting to get away to watch Spain v Argentina, there\u2019s not much leeway. Using a technique called \u2018when did Scott Murray call the winner in the Guardian blog?\u2019 I\u2019ve discovered that, over the last five Opens, the champion golfer of the year was confirmed at 18:43, 18:24, 18:20, 18:40 and 18:36.<\/p>\n So add in time for players to get to the scorer\u2019s hut, some TV interviews and a couple of blokes in brown coats and flat caps bringing on a wonky table to plonk the claret jug on and we\u2019re getting worryingly near kick-off time.<\/p>\n Perhaps it\u2019s therefore in everyone\u2019s interest to hope for a winner who makes a quick and terrible speech. A candidate? Step foward Sam Burns, who could reprise his words from today. Despite shooting a 62 (a 62!) he came out with this: \u201cI would say I\u2019m not a huge fan of links golf. I just haven\u2019t played well on links golf. It\u2019s not something I\u2019m very familiar with. I get to do it maybe once a year. I don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d Throw in a \u201cthankyou and goodnight\u201d and we\u2019re good to clear off.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.12 EDT<\/p>\n Tyrrell Hatton hooks a tee-shot left at 14 and definitely thinks about standing on his misbehaving driver, leaving it in a tangled, sorry mess. He pulls out of the challenge but VAR are looking at it. The combustible Englishman has just one birdie and two bogeys today with five to play. At even par for the tournament, he has lots of catching up to do. Don\u2019t presume he\u2019ll unravel though. Hatton is in the McEnroe camp of being fuelled by his own rage.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Behind the scenes. The golf is on a couple of the TV sets in the media canteen but the sound is down, the airwaves instead filled by the sound of Bob Marley. It seemed very appropriate to be asked \u201cjust the one love?\u201d by Sheila on the till when I purchased a kit kat. But when she then burst into tears and I replied \u201cno lady, no tears\u201d, it was hard not to think I\u2019d missed an opportunity. Did the great man ever play golf? Not that I know of but you can buy a Bob Marley golf ball on eBay.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.53 EDT<\/p>\n DeChambeau is doing his best to bag a spot in Saturday\u2019s final group. At 13, he launches a towering iron \u2013 apex height 107ft \u2013 to around eight feet. Perhaps I\u2019m getting ahead of myself but if he holes that, DeChambeau will have the par 5s at 14 and 17 to go at. He\u2019d need to shoot -7 to be Lucas Herbert\u2019s playing partner tomorrow.<\/p>\n And\u2026 yes, I went a bit soon. His birdie try at 13 is always missing right. Still, birdies at 14 and 17 along with pars the rest of the way and -7 will be achieved. That\u2019s presuming no-one else gets in the mix. Ryan Gerard is the one most likely to disrupt that plan as Bryson\u2019s fellow American is also at -5 and still has seven holes to play.<\/p>\n Bryson DeChambeau putts on the 13th green. Photograph: Tom Shaw\/R&A\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.35 EDT<\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler is in Jack Nicklaus hanging around mode. The Golden Bear\u2019s major tactic was to put himself in contention and let others make mistakes, those errors often induced by being spooked from Nicklaus\u2019 presence on the leaderboard. It probably explains why Jack has 19 runner-up finishes in majors to go with the 18 he won. Clearly, not everyone caved in.<\/p>\n Anyway, Scheffler has made 11 pars and a birdie today. That\u2019s good enough for -3 although at some stage he\u2019ll have to push harder, won\u2019t he?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n David Howell, in commentary, describes Tommy Fleetwood as the \u2018fifth Beatle\u2019 as the locals roar a good approach. It sure is a lengthy list these days. Tommy has some John Lennon vibes or at least looks like one of the entourage that followed The Beatles and the Maharishi to India but I still think George Best\u2019s mid-period Fab Four look wins it if the label is given to a sportsman.<\/p>\n At this point, I\u2019ll trot out one of my biggest moments of incredulity: Hideki Matsuyama revealing at the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool that he\u2019d never heard of the Beatles! Astonishing! It was bad enough that Rory thought one of them was called George Lucas or that Bubba couldn\u2019t name any of them. But not to have actually heard of the greatest band of all time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Bryson DeChambeau creeps closer to the lead with birdie at 11. The Open<\/a> puzzle always seemed something he might struggle to solve but Bryson is now tied fourth here having finished tied eighth in 2022 (St Andrews) and tied 10th (Portrush last year) in two of the last four.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The roar at 18 is explained. It\u2019s Jake Knapp holing one from off the green for birdie. It gets him to +2 but that\u2019s not going to be enough, unfortunately.<\/p>\n Datagolf have a live prediction tracker and it reads: Share<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks Scott. The Media Centre is a decent clip from the 18th but pretty sure I just heard a roar coming from that direction. Watch this space.<\/p>\n As you join me, Jon Rahm has just birdied 10 to get to -3. Official status: lurking.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Francesco Molinari leaves a 20-foot eagle putt on 17 ten inches short. Some slight disappointment etched across his face, but he taps in for birdie that takes him right into the thick of it.<\/p>\n -8: Herbert (F) \u2026 and with that, I\u2019ll hand over to Dave Tindall. See you tomorrow for Moving Day!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A no-fuss two-putt par for Bryson DeChambeau on 10. But Daniel Brown can\u2019t make his 20-foot saver on 18. A closing bogey, which of course will sting, but once he\u2019s had a couple of draws on a calming ciggie, he\u2019ll reflect that his eagle on 17 has done a lot to limit the damage of an otherwise disappointing day. A 71 to follow yesterday\u2019s 66. He\u2019s -3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.59 EDT<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a stat from Sky Sports. Yesterday the field collectively shot 224 over par; today they\u2019re currently 45 under. A lot of that explained by the rough drying out: it\u2019s a lot less lush having been baked under constant sun, and thus easier to swish out from. The low scoring may not stop over the weekend \u2026 although there is a slight chance of showers tomorrow. Winds getting stronger throughout the day, as they have yesterday and today, so Moving Day could be will be a blast.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Bryson DeChambeau needn\u2019t worry about the face of the fairway bunker at 10. He\u2019s got enough room to whip into the heart of the green, but doesn\u2019t bother taking the pin on. But up on 18, Dan Brown has to chip out sideways. He wedges his third pin high, but will need to knock in a 20-footer if he\u2019s to save his par. Meanwhile Victor Perez pulls a short par putt on 15 and slips back to -3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Trouble off the tee at 18 for Daniel Brown, who finds a bunker down the right. The face shouldn\u2019t be an issue, but the stance might. And Bryson DeChambeau also finds fairway sand, at 10, but his problem may be set by the steep face. More when we have it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Bogeys for both Robert MacIntyre and Alex Fitzpatrick at the last. The former the result of a skied iron from the tee, the latter a drive yanked over some fences down the left. They sign for 69 and 67 respectively, and will start Moving Day at -4. A diminuendo end, but they\u2019re both in the mix \u2026 as is Dan Brown, who rolls in his eagle putt to return to where he began the day at -4! Smokin\u2019.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tommy Fleetwood finds a fairway bunker from the tee at 8, and having been forced to take his medicine by splashing out carefully, there goes his first shot of the day. He\u2019s back to -2. As is his playing partner Jon Rahm, but from the other direction, making birdie. Meanwhile Bryson\u2019s tee shot at 9 ended up in a swale to the right of the green, not quite as bad as the dramatic camerawork suggested. A delicate little bump and run to tap-in distance, and he\u2019ll be moving to -4 in a minute.<\/p>\n Bryson DeChambeau in action on the 8th hole. Photograph: David Goldman\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.54 EDT<\/p>\n Daniel Brown has struggled to build on his 66 yesterday. He\u2019s currently two over for his round coming up 17 \u2026 but from 227 yards, he creams a long iron straight at the flag, the ball landing on the front portion of the green and rolling up to eight feet. He\u2019ll have a huge chance for an eagle that would take him back to where he started the day at -4. Meanwhile Bryson DeChambeau goes for the green at the drivable par-four 9th, where Rory McIlroy got so close earlier \u2026 and sends one way out right that doesn\u2019t look like hooking back as per the plan. More when we have it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A careless three-putt bogey for Im Sung-jae on 16. Meanwhile bogey for Francesco Molinari on 13 \u2026 and an immediate bounce back with birdie at 14. And so here\u2019s the state of the new-look leaderboard \u2026<\/p>\n -8: Herbert (F) Share<\/a><\/p>\n A couple of outrageous shots on the par-five 17th. Bob MacIntyre, whose drive took a lucky kick off the bank to the left of the hole, sends his fairway wood away to the left, and surely into the big bunker. But it somehow skirts around it on the outside, the camber after the trap taking the ball back into the green. Then he rakes in the 40-footer that remains! Talk about taking advantage of your good fortune! That\u2019s exactly what you have to do if you\u2019re to win the Open. Meanwhile his playing partner Alex Fitzpatrick, up against the face of the bunker Bob Mac had somehow circumvented, opens the club and absolutely hammers his shot up and out; it lands a couple of feet from the hole, an amazing escape from a very unpromising lie, in a bunker 25 yards out. He taps in for birdie, and both players move to -5. What drama! The crowd give it plenty.<\/p>\n Alex Fitzpatrick hits a wonderful bunker shot to get out of trouble on the 17th. Photograph: Andrew Boyers\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.27 EDT<\/p>\n Jon Rahm tries he very best to salvage that par at 6. He powers out from the rough to the right of the fairway, from 70 yards to seven feet. But he doesn\u2019t commit to the putt, which dribbles by apologetically. His second bogey of the day, and he slips to -1, much closer to the projected cutline than the lead. (The cut looks likely to be level par, maybe +1.)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So who is this unexpected presence sitting in a share of second on the current leaderboard? Andy Bull has your back.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Trouble for Jon Rahm on 6. His drive ends up in thick rough down the left, and unlike most of the trouble around Birkdale this week, the patch he\u2019s found hasn\u2019t been frazzled by the sun. It\u2019s still lush and verdant. And so it grabs the hosel of his six iron, the ball squirting off to the right, across the fairway and into more rubbish. Serious work to be done if he\u2019s to escape with a par.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12 for Victor Perez, who inserts himself into the story at -4. The 33-year-old Frenchman, now a LIV golfer, is in good nick after the tie for ninth at the Scottish Open last week that got him into this championship. Meanwhile on 6, Bryson DeChambeau very nearly bounces back with birdie, but his 15-foot putt slips by on the low side. And Thomas Detry, after that 100mph birdie on 15, pars his way in for a 69 that sits very nicely alongside yesterday\u2019s 67.<\/p>\n -8: Herbert (F) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Im Sung-jae makes one of the pars of the week on the par-five 14. His drive stops just short of a fairway bunker on the left of the hole. He\u2019s got a downhill lie, but reckons he\u2019s got enough loft with his fairway wood to get over the tall face of the bunker and have a shy for the green. Reader, he does not have enough loft. His ball slaps into the face and plops back into the sand. Trouble now, because he\u2019s forced to take his medicine and splash out. He\u2019s left hitting four in from 210 yards \u2026 and knocks it to 20 feet before curling in his par putt. That is preposterous. Magnificent viewing, and Im remains at -4. If he wins this tournament, they\u2019ll roll the film back to that hole more than once.<\/p>\n Im Sung-jae deserves the Claret Jug for the sweater alone. Photograph: Greig Cowie\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.53 EDT<\/p>\n Bryson is wedging downhill, and downwind, from a tousled lie on the bank to the left of 5. He chops out as delicately as he can, and the ball doesn\u2019t release, leaving a tricky 12-footer for an unlikely par. He nearly makes it, but the ball trickles off to the right as his knees buckle in theatrical angst. That would have been an absurd par, really, given not only the initial drive, but the trouble he\u2019d found on the other side of the hole with his provisional, and the luck it took to find the first ball. Bogey is not a bad outcome. Meanwhile Scottie Scheffler screeches a chip from over a bunker on the left to a couple of feet, and that\u2019s a birdie. Both of the USA\u2019s stellar stars are now -3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Bryson\u2019s ball is under a mat of thickest rough. The average golfer would take one look and think NO WAY. The average professional golfer would think the same. But Bryson is a special one. He literally scythes through the reeds with his wedge, and powers his ball out, over rough, over water \u2026 and over the green, onto the grassy knoll on the other side. But that\u2019s not the worst result all considered. On that evidence, Bryson may even be able to make a score around this place \u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile back on 4, the gallery goes wild as Tommy Fleetwood makes it two birdies in three holes. A 25-foot left-to-right slider that never looks like missing. The fast start he was so desperate for. He\u2019s -3 now. His partner Jon Rahm can\u2019t get up and down from a greenside bunker and slips back to -1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Apologies to Bryson DeChambeau for the good notice of the previous entry. The golfing gods having been piqued, Bryson carves a wild drive miles right of the short par-four 5th. Over the water, and into the thick reeds. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t look for my kids in there,\u201d Sky commentator Rich Beem observed earlier, when Viktor Hovland sent his tee shot in there. But look for it the spotters do, and it appears they\u2019ve found it. That could be a huge break if so, because he\u2019d hooked his provisional a ways left. Maybe the golfing gods aren\u2019t quite so irritated after all.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Bryson DeChambeau sends a gentle draw into the heart of the par-three 4th and rolls in the 20-foot putt. He\u2019s missed the cut in all three previous majors this season, but looks right back on his game this week. He might take some stopping. A birdie for Ryan Gerard on 2. And Bob MacIntyre has been quiet after dropping an early stroke at 3, but he\u2019s just sent a 20-foot left-to-right slider into the cup at the par-five 14th, and he\u2019s finally back where he started the day at -3. Some scoring opportunities still to come, so the chance to turn a bang-average day into a positive one remains.<\/p>\n -8: Herbert (F) Share<\/a><\/p>\n The 2018 champion Francesco Molinari fell off the radar a bit after his near miss at the Masters the following year. A lot of missed cuts in the majors. This is the 43-year-old Italian\u2019s first appearance in any of them for a year, and he\u2019s making the most of it. A 67 yesterday, and birdie at 3 earlier this afternoon. He finds trouble at 10, though, taking an unplayable in thick rough to the left of the green. He\u2019s battling to limit the damage \u2026 but then chops out, his ball rolling 60 feet across the dancefloor and straight into the cup. A par that will feel like a birdie, perhaps even more. He remains at -4 overall and it\u2019s good to see that infectious smile again. Think how happy Tommy Fleetwood will be for him, too.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
-6: Suber (F), Young (F), Gerard (F)
-5: Burns (F), SW Kim (F), DeChambeau (F)<\/p>\n
-7: DeChambeau (F)
-6: Suber (F), Young (F), Gerard (F)
-5: Burns (F), SW Kim (F)<\/p>\n
+3: Clark, Rose
+4: M Fitzpatrick, Hovland
+10: Spieth<\/p>\n
-7: DeChambeau (F)
-6: Suber (F), Young (F), Gerard (17)
-5: Burns (F), SW Kim (F)<\/p>\n
-6: Suber (F), Young (F), DeChambeau (17)
-5: Burns (F), Gerard (15)<\/p>\n
Evs \u2013 7.9%
+1 – 92.1%
+2 – 0.0 %<\/p>\n
-6: Suber (F), Young (F)
-5: Burns (F), Molinari (17)
-4: Wallace (F), Cauley (F), Detry (F), MacIntyre (F), A Fitzpatrick (F), DeChambeau (10), Gerard (8)<\/p>\n
-6: Suber (F), Young (F)
-5: Burns (F), MacIntyre (17), A Fitzpatrick (17)
-4: Wallace (F), Cauley (F), Detry (F), Molinari (14), Perez (13), Smalley (11), Gerard (5)<\/p>\n
-6: Suber (F), Young (F)
-5: Burns (F)
-4: Wallace (F), Cauley (F), Detry (F), A Fitzpatrick (16), Im (14), Perez (12), Smalley (9), Gerard (4)<\/p>\n
-6: Suber (F), Young (F)
-5: Burns (F)
-4: Wallace (F), Cauley (F), Detry (16), A Fitzpatrick (13), Im (12), Molinari (10), Smalley (7), DeChambeau (4), Gerard (2)<\/p>\n