​Open Championship leaders did not waver on day two at Royal Birkdale as Jackson Suber extended his early advantage. The 26-year-old American, ranked world number 115, emerged as a surprise name on Thursday with a steady start that included a birdie at the second hole, helping him become the first player to reach six under par. An early birdie set the tone for Suber, who continued to lead the field before the afternoon wave began to close in.
Suber’s two-shot cushion remained under pressure from England’s Matt Wallace, who raced to the turn with four birdies and just one bogey on his front nine, delivering a 31 that put him two strokes behind the leader. Wallace’s bold start signaled a close contest as players chased Suber’s at-least-two-under advantage as the day progressed.
Meanwhile, a familiar face in pursuit of a resurgence, Rory McIlroy, hoped the weather and course conditions would tilt in his favor on the second day. The Masters champion entered the round at two over par and seven behind the leader, and he found the afternoon conditions more demanding. Stronger winds and firmer greens tested the field, particularly McIlroy, who struggled with his putting throughout the round and signed for a 72 that left him still in contention but needing to turn around his form.
“I’m not too far away,” McIlroy said after his round. “If you look at the discrepancy between the scoring this morning and the scoring this afternoon, it seems like that’s going to be flipped with the conditions again.” He added that his aim was to take advantage of the milder conditions on the morning wave and post a score around one under par to get back in the mix.
The day’s weather offered a somewhat cloudier sky than opening day, yet the wind remained light from the east, allowing early arrivals to swing at their best. The course, softened by the morning dew, offered opportunities for the early starters to capitalize before the conditions stiffened later in the day.
Among the players hoping to gain ground early were McIlroy’s partners in the morning draw, Matt Fitzpatrick—and who was also at two over—along with Xander Schauffele, the 2024 champion, who stood one over. US PGA champion Aaron Rai sat one over as well, while US Open champion Wyndham Clark was hovering at three over. Each of these players eyed the favorable early conditions to set a solid platform before the afternoon winds could complicate scoring.
As Suber pressed his lead, the tournament’s narrative continued to focus on the evolving conditions and the ability of players to adapt. Suber’s ability to maintain his edge under pressure would be a focal point as the field pursued him across the rolling greens of Royal Birkdale, with the rest of the contenders aiming to close the gap before the weekend rounds.
This second day of the Open Championship highlighted the delicate balance between course conditions, weather, and strategic execution. Suber’s early momentum, Wallace’s strong front nine, and McIlroy’s hopes for a more forgiving morning set the tone for an intriguing storyline heading into the weekend, where the leaderboard would likely shift as the wind and greens tested each rung of the field. Suber’s position, two strokes clear at the outset of the day, underscored the surprising depth of talent contending for the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale.