The 151st Open Championship showcases Brian Harman (US) leading the pack by five shots, followed closely by Tommy Fleetwood (Eng). The second-round leaderboard includes -10 B Harman; -5 T Fleetwood; -4 S Straka (Aut); -3 MW Lee (Aus), S Sharma (Ind), J Day (Aus). Among others, we see -2 J Spieth (US); -1 M Southgate (Eng), R McIlroy (NI), M Stewart (Sco), M Jordan (Eng); +2 J Rahm (Spa), C Smith (Aus), +3 S Scheffler (US).
Tommy Fleetwood of England trails Brian Harman as the American shoots a remarkable six-under-par 65, leading The Open by five strokes.
Harman’s impressive performance featured four consecutive birdies starting from the second hole and a 15-foot eagle putt on the 18th, bringing him to 10 under after two rounds at Royal Liverpool.
Co-leader Fleetwood concluded with a level-par 71, maintaining his position at five under.
Rory McIlroy’s round of 70 brought him to one under, while Tyrrell Hatton endured a dismal finish with a nine at the last, concluding at two over after a 73.
Hatton’s round concluded dramatically with two out-of-bounds tee shots on the par-five 18th. The resulting quadruple-bogey plunged him from two under to two over.
Highlighting the scoring range, Australia’s Travis Smyth recorded the Championship’s first hole-in-one on the par-three 17th.
The 17th hole was also the site of a short-lived protest by Just Stop Oil. Four arrests were made following a smoke flare release and orange powder dispersion near the green.
However, the day was primarily Harman’s. His round of 65 was three shots superior to the next best of the early starters, making him the sole player to finish both rounds under par.
His halfway stage total of 132 shots equaled that of Tiger Woods in 2006 and McIlroy in 2014, both of whom were victorious at Royal Liverpool.
Following his first-round 67, Harman continued to excel, sinking putts of 19, 25, and 17 feet on the second, third, and fourth holes, pushing him two ahead. He followed up with another birdie on the par-five fifth.
He commented on his putting prowess, saying, “I’ve had a hot putter the past couple of days so I’ll try to ride it through the weekend.”
Harman’s brilliant performance culminated in a 240-yard second shot on the 18th hole, which led to an eagle putt.
As Harman wrapped up his round, local favorite Fleetwood entered the course to enthusiastic applause.
Though Fleetwood struggled to make a dent in Harman’s lead, his fans remained supportive. Despite this, Fleetwood found the round challenging, “It turned into a grind in the end,” he said.
Sepp Straka of Austria finished a stroke behind Fleetwood, following five birdies in the last six holes to post a 67 and enter third place.
Rory McIlroy achieved a solid performance, reaching the Championship halfway point under par. Despite this, he expressed disappointment with missed opportunities on easier holes.
High-profile players who didn’t make the cut included Phil Mickelson, Justin Thomas, and Dustin Johnson from the US, and England’s Justin Rose.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about The Open Championship 2023
Who is leading the 151st Open Championship after the second round?
Brian Harman from the US is leading after the second round, with a five-shot lead over England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
How did Brian Harman perform in the second round?
Harman performed remarkably well in the second round, shooting a six-under-par 65. This included four consecutive birdies starting from the second hole and a 15-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole, putting him 10 under after two rounds at Royal Liverpool.
How did Tommy Fleetwood perform in the second round?
Tommy Fleetwood, who co-led overnight, had a level-par 71 to remain at five under.
Who hit the first hole-in-one of the Championship?
Travis Smyth of Australia hit the first hole-in-one of the Championship, on the par-three 17th hole.
Who are some notable players who didn’t make the cut?
Several high-profile players didn’t make the cut, including Phil Mickelson, Justin Thomas, and Dustin Johnson from the US, as well as England’s Justin Rose.
How did Rory McIlroy perform in the second round?
Rory McIlroy’s round of 70 brought him to one under for the Championship. Despite some missed opportunities on easier holes, he managed to finish under par.
What was the incident that occurred on the 17th hole?
The 17th hole was the site of a protest by the group called Just Stop Oil. Four arrests were made after a smoke flare was released and orange powder was scattered near the green.
More about The Open Championship 2023
- The Open Championship Official Site
- PGA Tour Player Profile: Brian Harman
- PGA Tour Player Profile: Tommy Fleetwood
- Rory McIlroy’s Official Site
- PGA Tour Player Profile: Travis Smyth
- Official Site of Royal Liverpool Golf Club
- Just Stop Oil Campaign Information
5 comments
Crazy round for Harman! that eagle on the 18th… pure magic, folks! and those 4 birdies in a row, insane!
can’t believe that protest in the middle of the championship… i mean seriously, there’s a time and place for everything right?
feelin’ bad for Mickelson, Thomas, and Johnson. Didn’t make the cut this time… but they’re champs, they’ll bounce back for sure.
I’m rooting for Fleetwood, he’s got the home advantage and he still has 2 rounds to make a comeback. Keep the faith, mate!
Rory’s not too far off, I believe he can turn it around over the weekend! Let’s go Rory!!