Brian Harman Joins the Chase as McIlroy Battles at Royal Portrush

July 18, 2025: Rory McIlroy delivered another unpredictable performance at Royal Portrush as day two of his home Open saw moments of brilliance and flashes of trouble. Starting just three shots off the lead, McIlroy kickstarted his round with a birdie at the first hole, despite struggling again with driving accuracy — hitting just two fairways on Thursday and continuing to stray off the tee Friday. Meanwhile, Brian Harman, last year’s Open champion, made a strong early push up the leaderboard with back-to-back birdies, adding pressure to the chasing pack.

At the par-five second, McIlroy unleashed a wild drive that nearly landed out of bounds. Buried in heavy rough, he was forced to take a penalty drop but managed an impressive recovery to save par with a seven-foot putt.

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Meanwhile, McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammates made strides up the leaderboard. Tyrrell Hatton joined a crowded top spot at four under with a birdie at the third. Justin Rose sat just one stroke back after making a two at the same hole. Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Åberg both birdied their opening holes to climb back into contention, while Viktor Hovland impressed with three straight birdies to reach one under.

Brian Harman, the 2023 Open champion, also made his move with back-to-back birdies early in his round, adding to a growing cluster of names at the top.

With the leaderboard tightening and the wind picking up, Royal Portrush is shaping up for a dramatic weekend.