The joint lowest ever British Open score was shot twice in 23 minutes on day two of The Open Championship, while some of golf’s biggest names missed the weekend cut, writes Alfie Bugg from Royal Birkdale.
History was made not once but twice on the burnt yellow grass of Birkdale as Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns recorded rounds of 62 in their quest for The Open title.
Herbert, who missed a four-foot putt at 18 for a 61, tapped in for eight under par before Burns holed out from a bunker to match his score just minutes later.
Tough course settings dominated headlines coming into the week, but Friday proved that low scores were out there if the conditions were right.
But the course wasn’t playing easy for everyone.
Where some players thrived, others faltered, and the notorious Birkdale links played as unpredictable as ever.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy flirted with danger after another slow start to his round, but burst into life with back-to-back birdies at eight and nine. A final birdie on 14 took his score into the red as he looks to chase down the leading pack tomorrow.
Scot Bob MacIntyre was made to wait for his first birdie of the day, but followed it up with a superb eagle on 17 to leave him four back from leader Herbert.
Even American Bryson Dechambeau, who was criticised earlier this week by Sir Nick Faldo for having “zero clue of strategy”, put himself firmly in contention for the Claret Jug with a 66 to take him outright second at -7 under par.
There wasn’t such good fortune for some home favourites however, as some Englishmen failed to make the weekend cut.
Recent PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai narrowly missed out on weekend golf after a bogey on 18 took his score to two over for the week. A pre-tournament favourite in Matt Fitzpatrick also struggled to keep bogeys off the scorecard, and despite making four birdies finished four over par after 36 holes.
Not even the experienced Justin Rose could master the Southport links, and his two under par today wasn’t enough to undo the damage done by Thursday’s poor display.
Southport native Tommy Fleetwood made progress with a 67, which delighted the vocal Birkdale crowds, but Matthew Baldwin, the man who hit the opening shot of this Open Championship, couldn’t find the shots to make the weekend and finished seven over par.
