The Open: New leader hits birdie blitz as Rory McIlroy insists he 'can challenge' after keeping dream alive

Belfast Telegraph

18-07-2025

Key updates
'We love you Darren'
Getting the chop: Big names set to miss the cut
McKibbin faces nerves wait to learn cut fate
Rory says he can 'go on a run' to challenge this weekend
Bryson makes the weekend with stunning 65
Friday weather forecast
Round two tee times
4 minutes ago
An ark just floated past the media centre
That means the rain is back and it is hammering down in biblical proportions again. I really don't know how else to describe it, it is absolutely chucking it down and while it might be a short shower that last 10-15 minutes, it's really going to make things miserable out there for the players. Let's see how it affects them...
8 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
'I feel really comfortable here': Clubhouse leader Brian Harman, who is at -8 after a second round 65
On the similarities between Hoylake and Portrush:"I feel really comfortable over here. I'm comfortable driving it. They're very different golf courses but the golf is similar. You've got to be able to flight your golf ball, you've got to know how far everything's going, then you can't get frustrated. You're going to get bad breaks, you're going to end up in funny spots where it doesn't seem fair and you just have to kind of outlast that stuff. Although the golf courses are different, the style of golf is very similar."
His approach for Saturday:"I'll approach the weekend the same way (as 2023). The only thing I'm really worried about is the first tee ball tomorrow and then I'll try to hit the next one up there close to the flag. If not, go to the second hole. It's a very boring approach that I take. I'm not trying to be heroic or do anything crazy. I know that I've got the game to do it, and it's just a matter of executing and staying in my own head. I would love to have a similar weekend (to 2023) and just play great the whole way through. There's going to be challenges. This is a hard golf course. The pins have been in really, really tough spots, and you've really got to think your way around it. Inevitably you're going to mis-hit some shots and end up in spots you don't want to be in, and the way you handle that will determine the outcome of the tournament for sure."
10 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Fitzpatrick doing a Lowry?
It's now FOUR consecutive birdies to start to the back nine for the Englishman who has opened up a two-shot lead at the top. He's now six under par for the day. A couple more birdies in his final five holes and he could yet match Shane's Saturday 63 from 2019.
18 minutes ago
'We love you Darren'
A single fan's voice can be heard after a loud and lengthy round of applause, whoops and whistles subsides when Clarke reaches the green for what will be the final time this week.
The 2011 champion is very well-liked by Northern Ireland's golfing public, and they're making sure he knows it.
The man who now gives his name to the 9th hole on the Dunluce Links, is also remembered for beating Tiger Woods in the final of the 2000 WGC World Matchplay.
He closes out his week with a bogey to finish +6, but these fans have enjoyed watching him play one more time.
NEW SOLO LEADER
Matt Fitzpatrick is your new leader as he takes advantage of the short par-five 12th by hitting it in two and safely two-putting for the birdie that takes him to -9 and one clear of Brian Harman and Haotong Li!
Over on the 18th green, as a half full stand awaits Darren Clarke, there was a gasp and a round of applause as the leaderboard was updated to send Fitzpatrick top.
28 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Haotong joins clubhouse Li'd
Haotong Li matches yesterday's 67 to tie Brian Harman 's clubhouse lead of eight under par.
Unfortunately for them, it looks like Matt Fitzpatrick is about to go one shot clear as he's on the par five 12th in two.
30 minutes ago
Flag hunting
Almost literally for Dustin Johnson as he takes aim with his second shot on the par-four 18th, it hits the green hard and bounces up... and hits the flag, dropping down a foot from the hole! Sometimes you get the breaks and that was certainly one of them - that will be a tap-in birdie for the two-time Major winner and he'll be in for the weekend at level-par!
34 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Tommy loves Portrush
And Portrush loves Tommy Fleetwood (-1)
Tommy Fleetwood on Twitter / X
Privilege to play in front of the home crowds the last two days with their hero. Better day today for me and looking forward to a big push this weekend! @TheOpen pic.twitter.com/ktsbPprhV2— Tommy Fleetwood (@TommyFleetwood1) July 18, 2025
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35 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Not to be for Darren Clarke
He gave it a good rattle at the 17th to be fair to him. From 'other', he managed to get his approach shot just off the back edge, and his chip was close put came up a couple of feet short.
At +5 with one to play, it's looking like there's just one final reception at 18 left to close out his tournament.
35 minutes ago
Doing things Reit
Welcome to the front page of the leaderboard, Kristoffer Reitan. The Norwegian has just birdied the par-five 12th, as most are to be fair, to get to -4 and knock Rory McIlroy off the big scoreboard in front of us in the media centre.
It's been a fine round for the 27-year-old, who is the reigning Challenge Tour champion and won the Belgian Open earlier this year, as he's currently on track for a bogey-free six-under round having carded an eagle and four birdies.
39 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Revelation of the week: There's a players' barber in the locker room
After shooting a three-under 68 on Friday to get to five-under-par for the tournament, Denmark's Rasmus Højgaard was asked (among other things, of course) whether he'd had a midweek haircut.
"I did actually. I took the flow away. It got a bit too long, and I sort of thought, no, this is the time. So I managed to get a haircut on Wednesday. So far it's actually worked out," he said.
Did he go into town to get it done?
"There's a barber in the locker room. I put my name down on Monday and had to postpone it for Tuesday, and then I couldn't find Tuesday. Then I had to do it Wednesday, and I finally did it. It's been working out."
Life of luxury, isn't it.
43 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Clarke's birdie battle
Two holes to play and two birdies needed for Darren to get to the +3 'maybe, but unlikely' pile.
Considering his tee-shot at 17 has gone right and been classed as landing in the 'other' section of the course - as opposed to normal headings like 'fairway' or 'bunker' - we can assume it's not in great shape.
45 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Three-way tie at the top
And it's a European who makes his way to the -8 alongside Harman and Li, as Matt Fitzpatrick continues the perfect start to his back nine, adding birdie at 11. With the par five 12th to come, we could soon see a new outright leader.
46 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
'I'm proud of my Irish heritage': Keegan Bradley thrilled to play well on 'home soil'
On shooting a four-under 67: "That was fun. Played really, really well. I've been playing so poorly here over the last couple years. It feels nice to put a nice round together, nice two days together. I played nice yesterday as well. But what a fun day."
On going bogey-free:"I really am proud of that. Like I said, I've struggled here, so to be in contention, to have played the way I did today means a lot. I never know what I'm going to get when I come over here, so this is a nice bonus."
On his Irish heritage:"(My family is from) Cork. I'm really proud of my heritage to be from here. I played the Irish Open here. I always dreamt of playing in the Irish Open; I played it at this course (in 2012) when I made the Tour. It's exciting to be back."
49 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Getting the chop: Big names set to miss the cut
Padraig Harrington finished up nine over par for the tournament after a 76 today and bows out for the week. He's not the only big name that fans will miss out on seeing over the weekend.
Adam Scott 's eight over par round left him tying Harrington's overall score, with US Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed just one shot better off at +8.
Needing a miracle back nine to get through, sitting at +6 at the turn, the same score at which Louis Oosthuizen bows out. Stewart Cink finished at +4, which is sufficient to secure the weekend off.
The fighters
Our own Darren Clarke is at +5 with two holes to play. Two birdies required to give himself any chance and get in alongside McKibbin at +3 - which has now drifted to a tie for 80th, by the way. Patrick Cantlay is at +3 but he has five holes to go to creep up another one. Ryan Fox (thru 10) and Collin Morikawa (thru 7) are at +4 and need to improve.
50 minutes ago
Commentator's curse
Immediately after bigging up Chris Gotterup, he goes and bogeys the par-four 14th after what appears to be a sculled chip through the green and drops a shot to fall back to -4. Still, if he can rally and finish strongly then he still has a chance of tying the low round of the day.
Today 04:24 PM
'My mind went numb': Shaun Norris on making a TEN on the par-four fourth on his way to missing the cut at +5
What happened:"I hit a very poor tee shot, the first one. Then proceeded to hit the next one straight in the bunker. Now I'm trying to chase something, trying to make the best score out of it. Unfortunately the fourth shot caught the lip, then I stuck with the same club and tried to do the same. After that, the mind sort of went a little bit numb. But it happens. Golf is golf, there's nothing you can do about it. Made a number, and I had to accept it and carry on."
On bouncing back with birdie at the fifth:"You've just got to accept it. Plain and simple, you've got to accept it. There's nothing you can do about it, the past is the past. I knew that it happened, I made the number, I made the 10 on the hole. I just said, okay, now instead of making two or three or four birdies coming back, I've now got to make five or six. I was happy with the way I fought back after that. Unfortunately I didn't make as many putts as I would have liked to, but that's how it goes."
Today 04:23 PM
Gareth Hanna
Mickelson cruising through to weekend
Barring disaster, Phil should be here for the weekend after this. He drives it just off the front edge of the 17th and sets up a birdie putt inside five feet. That would get him back to level par for the tournament and resting easy.
Edit: Knocked that in for birdie, parred the last to get in at E. See you tomorrow, Phil!
Today 04:18 PM
Gareth Hanna
Another birdie coming up for Shane?
Lowry's 50-yard pitch at the par five seventh is good - and sets up a 'should-make' that could take him up alongside Rory at -3.
Playing partner Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, has a similar length putt to go within one. Ominous from the world number one.
Edit: Scheffler's in! Never in doubt. Slight right to left break and it's right in the middle. Four under through seven and one behind the leaders. But Shane's putt is always left and that's a big miss. Stays at -2.
Today 04:17 PM
'I'm enjoying the course a lot more than six years ago': Francesco Molinari, who has made the cut at +1
"I'm enjoying the week here more than 2019 just because it's a lot, I think, to come back as a defending champion. I'm enjoying definitely the course a lot more this time than six years ago. Apart from that, I'm probably playing better than I did that week, I just need to make a few more putts."
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