Previously at Portrush

With The 153rd Open approaching, we have been taking a round-by-round look at what happened the last time the Championship was staged at Royal Portrush, in 2019 …

First Round - The Open's glorious return to Antrim coast

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Day two of The 148th Open saw a host of big names pull massive crowds as they battled to make the cut and ensure they’d be returning for the weekend.

Among them was Rory McIlroy who, after an opening 78, faced a monumental task to plot his way back into contention. And he would have huge backing as he went about attempting to do so, with early roars reverberating around all corners of Royal Portrush.

Towards the top of the leaderboard some players felt now was the time to make their move, and some excellent golf followed throughout Friday.

While JB Holmes retained his place at the summit, he would be tied at the close of Friday by a player preparing to make an almighty charge during the weekend – and a host of top contenders well within striking distance.

Champion Golfers bid to avoid early exit

After his struggles on day one, McIlroy was always going to be one of the biggest stories of day two. The Champion Golfer of 2014 was attempting to reverse the damage done on Thursday and breathe life back into his Championship.

He said afterwards his target for the day was to shoot six-under – taking him back to one-over for the week – and he made solid progress with two birdies on the opening nine holes.

A string of birdies followed on the back nine and, despite his surge up the leaderboard being interrupted by a bogey at 13, he was left knowing he needed a three on the par-4 18th to make the cut.

The atmosphere on the final hole was akin to a late Sunday afternoon at The Open, and despite being willed on by the packed grandstands around 18, it wasn’t to be. McIlroy would make par to sign for a 65 – leaving him at two-over and missing the cut by one stroke.

He was one of 14 major winners to miss the cut, with fellow Champion Golfers Tiger Woods, Darren Clarke, and Phil Mickelson also departing ahead of the weekend.

This was the first time both Woods and Mickelson had missed the cut at a major in more than 20 years. Royal Portrush was proving an outstanding test of golf.

Things take shape towards the top

While much of the drama was around the cut line, there were some moves being made towards the top of the leaderboard throughout Friday.

Holmes enjoyed another excellent day, posting a 68 to reach eight-under at the midway point in the Championship – and he would be met at the top by Shane Lowry at the close of play.

Lowry started his second round in formidable form. A flurry of early birdies saw him reach 10-under and go two shots clear of the field, however two bogies on the back nine dented his momentum and pulled him back towards Holmes and the rest of the field.

Both players were well poised to make a charge for the Claret Jug over the weekend – with the passionate home crowd firmly in Lowry’s camp.

Could chasing pack produce first English winner since Faldo?

Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Lee Westwood all found themselves within striking distance of the top two, and contending to become the first English winner of The Open since Nick Faldo at Muirfield in 1992.

Despite a bogey on the opening hole Fleetwood took advantage of some fair morning weather to put together a strong round. He shot 67 and held the clubhouse lead at seven-under-par before Holmes and Lowry completed their rounds later in the day.

Westwood also carded an excellent 67 in his 25th Open, helped by an outstanding back nine which included a run of four birdies in six holes. Rose would also be entering the weekend in contention – one behind Fleetwood and Westwood on six-under.

Joining Rose two back of the leaders were Justin Harding, who shot a 65 – the joint best round of the day, and Cameron Smith who showed some early flashes of his brilliance in a links setting.

With the midway point reached, The 148th Open was finely poised ahead of a weekend that would go down in history at Royal Portrush.