live |
Scroll down for our blog, where we’ll bring you updates across the week
Gareth Hanna and Adam McKendry
Today at 22:19
World number one Scottie Scheffler shot a seven under par 64 to lead The Open at the halfway stage on Friday, while a two-shot penalty for Shane Lowry became the evening’s talking point.
The American finished one shot clear of Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, and could have been further ahead had his putt to match Lowry’s course record 63 dropped over the edge at the last.
Shane Lowry finished the day at two under par but was given a two-shot penalty after a post-round discussion on a contentious practice swing issue on hole 12. His ball appeared to move when he prepared to play the shot, which he said he did not see. He was told three holes later that it was under review and there would be a discussion to decide the outcome.
Ultimately, that was a two-shot penalty, which the player called on himself.
He said: “I didn’t see it but I had to take a penalty because I can’t have my name talked about or tossed around like that. It’s obviously very disappointing. It’s hard to take but I have to dust myself off and get out there tomorrow. The last thing I want to do is sit there and argue and not take the penalty and then get slaughtered all over social media tonight for being a cheat.”
Playing partners Shane Lowry and Scottie Scheffler became the talking points of Friday evening at The Open.
Paul Kimmage at The Open
Scheffler’s score puts him firmly in the driving seat – with Brian Harman and Haotong Li a further shot back and no other player within five of the lead.
It also means Rory McIlroy goes into the weekend seven shots behind.
The local hope had kept his dream of a home Open Championship victory alive with a two-under par 69 to reach -3 this morning, before Scheffler put on his afternoon exhibition.
Reflecting on making the cut at Royal Portrush, unlike 2019, McIlroy said: “I didn’t have this opportunity six years ago, so to play an extra two days in this atmosphere in front of these crowds, I’m very excited for that. I feel like my game’s definitely good enough to make a run.”
With the cut mark sitting at +2, Tom McKibbin missed by a single shot at +3, while both Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington went beyond that number and signed off for the week.
Follow along with all the week’s action right here on our blog:
Key updates
Shane Lowry calls two shot penalty: ‘I won’t be called a cheat’
Rory says he can ‘go on a run’ to challenge this weekend
Bryson makes the weekend with stunning 65
Loyalist band parade bypasses the minds of most overseas visitors
Coming up: Round three tee times
Your guess is as good as ours at this moment. They should be out any minute as the last player on the course, Sadom Kaewkanjana has finished up to shoot an eight over par 79 and miss the cut. A far cry from sitting one off the lead this time last night.
The fan favourite who’s been enjoying Portrush on and off the course
Matt Fitzpatrick, fresh off shooting a 66 to trail by one going into the weekend
On his round: “Obviously disappointed on 17, but to roll one in on 18 there is obviously a huge bonus. I felt like every facet of my game was on today and I felt like I really played solid. To take advantage of the opportunities I had out there was obviously really positive.”
The excitement at being in contention: “I’ve given myself an opportunity to win the golf tournament, but there’s still a hell of a long way to go. Obviously the aim of the game is to stay in it for as long as possible and hopefully you can pull away right at the death. I’m obviously 50 per cent there. We’ll see what the weekend brings.”
Do you feel pressure alongside Scottie: “I wouldn’t say I necessarily feel as much pressure. The pressure, he’s going to have the expectation to go out and dominate. He’s an exceptional player. He’s World No.1, and we’re seeing Tiger-like stuff. I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament. For me, obviously I hope I’m going to have some more home support than him, but it’s an exciting position for me to be in given where I was earlier this year.”
Scottie Scheffler speaks on Shane’s penalty
“Ultimately in golf it’s up to the player and I felt Shane was put in a pretty tough situation there. From what I looked at on the video it was very hard to tell if the ball moved. The camera zoomed in as stuff was happening. One of the great things in golf is you call penalties on yourself. It was a tough situation for Shane to be put into. I’m not going to state a strong opinion on whether he deserves a penalty but it was a tough situation and he handled it well.”
Shane Lowry calls two shot penalty: ‘I won’t be called a cheat’Shane Lowry has been given a two shot penalty for the practice swing situation on 12.
He has said: “I didn’t know anything happened until the 15th when a rules official came over and told me. He told me it was a two shot penalty (if the ball did move) so I feel like I’m on the cut line then, which is not very nice. I’m disappointed they don’t have more camera angles on it. The one zoomed in slow motion, they’re trying to tell me if it doesn’t move from the naked eye, if you don’t see it moving, it didn’t move. I didn’t see it but I had to take a penalty because I can’t have my name talked about or tossed around like that. It’s obviously very disappointing. It’s hard to take but I have to dust myself off and get out there tomorrow. If the ball moved and I caused it to move and it moved, it’s a two-shot penalty. The last thing I want to do is sit there and argue and not take the penalty and then get slaughtered all over social media tonight for being a cheat. If the ball moved, I would have called it on myself. My head was definitely looking down at the ball and I didn’t see it moving, but I’ve signed for a 72 now. I’m going to have to think about this before I go to bed tonight.”
On being told on 15: “You want to know if you’re going to be on the cut-mark.”
It’s a Sad(om) day
What started as a very promising day for Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, where he began the round one shot off the lead and then birdied the par-three third to go to four-under-par, has turned into a nightmare for the ordained Buddhist monk.
Since then he has carded six bogeys and one double-bogey, on the par-four 11th, and is seven-over-par for the day and +4 for the tournament. He still has three holes to play which, if he plays them in three-under-par, would see him in for the weekend but he will more than likely miss the cut.
Second round leaderboard
-10: Scottie Scheffler
-9: Matt Fitzpatrick
-8: Brian Harman, Haotong Li
-5: Rasmus Højgaard, Tyrrell Hatton, Robert MacIntyre, Harris English, Chris Gotterup
-4: Tony Finau, Nicolai Højgaard
-3: Keegan Bradley, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Smith, Lee Westwood, Sam Burns
Scheffler shoots 64 to lead by oneThe putt stays up! It sits infuriatingly on the front edge. Another roll and he had it for 63.
Shane’s record stays intact but we have a new leader and a firm favourite to lift the Claret Jug come Sunday evening.
Shane almost swung it inThere was a huge right to left break on that putt but it just doesn’t swing enough and stays up on the high side.
The man who was seemingly caught on camera saying “f**k this place” earlier gets a hero’s applause. We know he didn’t mean it. If it’s good enough for Augusta…
The best there is for a reason
Scheffler’s approach is on the money. 15 feet to match the new course record 63 shot by his playing partner six years ago.
Shane Lowry finds the heart of the green but at over 50 feet, it’s only an outside birdie chance.
Scheff de partie
Scottie Scheffler leads the field in both strokes gained approach and strokes gained putting. That’ll help you lead a Major for sure.
Safe as houses
Scottie and Shane launch their final tee shot of the day down the fairway and into perfect position to set up birdie chances. In Scottie’s case, that could see him open up a two shot lead. It would also be an eight under par 63 to match Shane’s Saturday score from 2019.
‘I want to beat him’: Nicolai Højgaard (-4) is ready to challenge brother Rasmus (-5) at the weekend
“It’s cool to see Ras playing well this week. I saw him quite early on the leaderboard and I kind of wanted to follow it up. A little frustrated I didn’t manage to get to five(-under) where he is. I felt like the round had potential. But, yeah, happy for him. I cheer him on and happy to see him play well, but I also want to beat him. But it’s a good relationship, and hopefully we’ll have a good weekend and maybe battle it out on Sunday.”
Tidy back nine
Sam Burns has gone very under the radar today but he’s quietly put together a very impressive back nine that included birdies at 11, 12 and 13 before another at 17 for a two-under 69 that has him in the clubhouse at -3. It might not be enough to make a run at the weekend but he’s there if something happens at the top.
World number one. Is number one.Scottie Scheffler goes to ten under par. Portrush, we just got our first firm favourite to win this tournament.
Shane Lowry is still -2 as his putt slips past. “Keep it going Shane boy – you’re a hero,” shouts a lad in a Tyrone t-shirt.
Shane who?All the fans crowding Scottie Scheffler’s ball forget that it’s Lowry to play first and miss his pitch to around 10 feet. Birdie chance coming up to get to -3 (pending the obvious).
Scheffler lofts his pitch straight into the air and lands it soft to set up a birdie attempt of his own from a similar distance. That to go to 10 and put the world number one in the driving seat of The Open.
The fans go daft – several of whom are definitely Guinness-clutching locals shouting in mock American accents. The craic.
No Silver Medal
One thing that we do already know this week is that there will be no Silver Medal handed out for the lowest amateur at this year’s tournament. In order for someone to win the honour, they have to play all 72 holes and none of them will this year.
Amateur champion Ethan Fang and Scotland’s Cameron Adam came closest at three-over but that won’t be good enough unfortunately.
Scheffler’s right off 17The world number one’s ball careers over the ropes and into the clearing between the 17th and the 18th tee where the fans are. That means the ground is well tramped down and it a lying grand. The bigger problem for him is he’s coming in over the bunker. But the soft greens mean that’s not even too big a problem.
All in all, problem, what problem?
Shane also goes a little right but is out of the thick stuff and should be able to chase a pitch down the hill with little issue. He’ll just have to run it up rather than spinning it on the softened green.
A Rahm bomb on 17
It seems the majority of the fans left here are following the new leader and 2019 champion. They missed Jon Rahm’s smashed tee shot on 17. It was just off the front edge and he chips it in tight for a birdie that will send him back to -1.
Playing partners Shane Lowry and Scottie Scheffler became the talking points of Friday evening at The Open.
Who is Rory McIlroy?