​Rory McIlroy arrived at Royal Birkdale for the second round of The Open with the aim of capitalising on kinder morning conditions and reigniting his title challenge. The Masters champion entered the day after signing for a round of two over par, leaving him seven shots behind surprise leader Jackson Suber, who had surged into the lead on Thursday. McIlroy found the afternoon’s play particularly difficult, contending with a stronger wind and greens that had grown crustier as the day wore on. Reflecting on his 72, during which he found the putting surfaces uncooperative, he remained upbeat about the opportunities ahead. “I’m not too far away. If you look at the discrepancy between the scoring this morning and the scoring this afternoon, it looks like that’s going to be flipped with the conditions again,” he said. “Hopefully I can take advantage of the more benign conditions in the morning and shoot one under par and get back in it.”
The day’s forecast appeared to be aligning with McIlroy’s thinking, as the cloud cover persisted but the early weather offered a window of relief. The skies were less oppressive than on day one, and the plan for those off early was to make the most of a negligible easterly wind and the dew that would greet the course in the morning, a combination that promised a more forgiving surface for scoring. McIlroy was joined in the early group by fellow Ryder Cup teammate Matt Fitzpatrick, who was also two over par, and Xander Schauffele, the 2024 champion, who stood one over. Aaron Rai, the US PGA champion, sat at one over, while Wyndham Clark, the reigning US Open champion, was three over as they prepared to tackle the course in the morning session.
As the action got underway, there were early signs of improved scoring potential. Tiger Christensen made a rapid start, birdieing his first two holes after a 6.35am tee time, moving him to three over par and suggesting that an under-par round could be within reach for those who navigated the conditions cleanly. At the front of the field, Suber, who is world number 115, looked to back up his impressive opening 65 with another strong performance, having begun at 7.30am. Suber’s career-best finish to date had been a tie for fourth at the Canadian Open the previous month, and the early signs indicated there was no reason why his momentum could not continue on the Open’s challenging layout.
A cluster of players would also be aiming to push into contention for the Claret Jug after their solid starts. Bryson DeChambeau, who had climbed to three under par overnight, sat prominently in a tie for fourth place as he looked to press his case on a course that has historically tested even the best. In pursuit of the championship, home favorites Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton were just two strokes further back on one under par, a respectable position given the event’s demanding setup. They found company in Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner who has yet to lift the Open trophy; the Spaniard’s best Open finish remains a tie for second in 2023, highlighting the allure of the Claret Jug and the ongoing opportunity to capture a maiden Open title.
With morning wave starts delivering opportunities to move closer to the leaderboard, the narrative throughout the field was of potential shifts as players looked to translate early momentum into meaningful scoring. The combination of a lighter morning breeze and dewy greens offered a pathway to lower scores, and the players who could navigate the conditions with precision were in a strong position to climb the standings as the round progressed. Fans watching at Royal Birkdale and following along online could expect another day of compelling golf, with multiple contenders hoping to seize the moment and push their way into serious championship contention as the second round continued.