Shane Lowry is 36 holes into the 2024 British Open and eyeing a second Claret Jug.
Lowry, despite a double bogey on his back nine, finished with two birdies in his final three holes to card a 69 on Friday and get to 7-under. That was good for a two-shot lead over the field heading into Moving Day.
Daniel Brown, who entered the day as the overnight leader after coming out of nowhere on Thursday, held strong at 5-under. Justin Rose fired a bogey-free 68 on Friday, too, and matched Brown at 5-under. Rose hasn’t won a major championship since his win at the U.S. Open in 2013. Lowry, Brown and Rose are all from Ireland or the United Kingdom, which is something that hasn’t been seen at the top of the leaderboard at the midway point since 1951.
Billy Horschel, Dean Burmester and top-ranked Scottie Scheffler will enter Saturday tied in fourth at 2-under.
After their wild battle in North Carolina, neither Bryson DeChambeau nor Rory McIlroy started their week in Scotland well. Friday wasn’t any better, either. McIlroy dropped to 11-over on the week, and DeChambeau finished at 9-over. They both missed the cut, too, which is something McIlroy hasn’t done at the British Open since 2019.
Tiger Woods, like he has so many times in recent years, struggled again too. Woods posted an 8-over 79 on Thursday, and then a 6-over 77 on Friday which led to a seventh missed cut or withdrawal in his last 10 starts.
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How to watch Round 2 of the 2024 British Open
The first two rounds of the British Open will be streamed on Peacock and broadcast on the USA Network.
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Cutline set at 6-over
Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau have all missed the cut at Royal Troon.
Click the photo to read about the biggest names who missed the cut at Royal Troon. (Andy Buchannan/AFP) -
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Wind batters afternoon wave on Friday
The wind in the afternoon wave at Royal Troon was awful.
“I need to lie down in a dark room. It’s brutal out there,” Matthew Southgate said. “That’s one of the toughest experiences I’ve had on a golf course.”
Click the photo to read more about the wind that battered the afternoon wave on Friday at Royal Troon. (AP/Jon Super) -
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Joaquin Niemann’s huge back nine
It can sometimes take just one wobble to cost you a shot at a major championship, but Joaquin Niemann is trying to shake one off to stay in contention. Thru 16, he’s got six birdies on the day, which would usually mean a blistering streak up the leaderboard, but an 8 on the par-3 8th hole has tempered his rise. He does have four birdies on the back nine to steady the ship after the quintuple bogey. He sits at even par with two holes left, and seven shots back of leader Shane Lowry.
Joaquin Niemann is slowly clawing back after posting an 8 on the par-3 8th earlier in the round. (Paul Ellis/AFP) -
Jon Rahm making his way up the yellow leaderboard
Rahm had the incredible chip in for birdie on No. 9, and he’s just picked up another shot with a birdie on 14. He’s 1-over for the week, 8 shots off the pace, and 1-under on the day. There are just 10 players under par for the championship and with rain in the forecast for tomorrow, conditions could make for some wild swings throughout the leaderboard, so as the wind starts to die down in the evening in Scotland, players like Rahm who still have a chance to make a dent in Shane Lowry’s lead will need to take advantage of the opportunities still on the course today.
Jon Rahm is hanging in there during a tough afternoon wave at Royal Troon. (Maja Smiejkowska/Reuters) -
DeChambeau in danger of missing the cut
At 8-over for the tournament thru 13, DeChambeau is still on the wrong side of the cutline, which is expected to be at +5 or +6. He won the U.S. Open last month and had top 10s at both the Masters and PGA Championship this year.
Bryson DeChambeau is at risk of missing the cut at the British Open. (Maja Smiejkowska/Reuters) -
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Rose finally makes a bogey but stays connected to leaders
Justin Rose was probably never going to make it to Sunday evening without making a bogey, but he certainly gave it his best shot. It took 30 holes for Rose to eventually take a bogey on a hole — bogeying the 12th — but he remains just one of 10 players under par for the championship and is at 1-under overall for the day through 13. He’s 4 shots back of the leader, Shane Lowry, who’s done with his first 36 holes at 7-under.
It took forever, but Justin Rose finally made a bogey. (AP/Peter Morrison) -
Rory’s rough Round 2 start
After playing himself out of contention on Thursday, Rory McIlroy likely needed to get under par for his second round to make the weekend, and through just four holes, it doesn’t look like he’ll be around for for rounds 3 and 4. After a couple of pars to start, McIlroy made bogey at No. 3 and triple bogey at No. 4 to sit at 11-over for the championship headed to the 5th tee. With the cutline projected to be at +6, it’ll be a struggle for Rory.
Rory McIlroy likely won’t make the cut at the British Open after another rough outing. (AP/Peter Morrison)