Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Lucas Herbert holds a two-shot lead after a remarkable second round at The Open, which saw two players equal major history and Bryson DeChambeau involved in a controversial decision.
DeChambeau questioned his strategy pre-tournament And missing every major cut came as he avoided the ‘Bryson Slam’, where the two-time major champion responded with a birdie-birdie finish in a four-under 66 following an opening-round 67.
It lifts him seven down and within a shot Lucas Herbert, who bogeyed the final hole of eight-under 62 to equal the lowest round in men’s major history.Only for a lengthy rule review handed DeChambeau a two-shot penalty for his false improvement on the fifth turn.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Bryson DeChambeau was given a two-shot penalty after inadvertently improving his lie in the rough on the fifth hole of The Open.
Herbert Jackson led Suber, Cameron Young and Sam Barnes, who matched the Australian’s 62, while a visibly frustrated DeChambeau dropped to five under and three from the halfway lead.
A star-studded leaderboard sees world number one Scotty Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Bob McIntyre, Matt Wallace and Alex Fitzpatrick within four at the half, as McIlroy is seven back after a three-under 67.
DeChampeau dominated the play after the historic day
Two-time major champion DeChambeau returned to the par-four fifth with post-round officials protesting the decision, which was officially confirmed 70 minutes after he walked the 18th hole.
DeChambeau’s initial bogey on the hole turned into a triple-bogey seven and dropped him to a 2-under 68, tying him for a fifth title of the weekend. He has not yet decided whether to continue in the tournament, Golf Channel reported.
In a statement, R&A referee Grant Moir said: “Bryson was penalized two strokes for inadvertently improving his intended backswing on the fifth hole while playing his second shot.
“Rule 8.1 limits what a player can do to improve any protected condition that affects the stroke, and that includes the area of the player’s intended swing.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Grant Moir, R&A referee, explains why Bryson DeChambeau was given a two-shot penalty
“So an improvement means changing one or more conditions affecting the stroke so that the player gains a potential advantage for the stroke. I would emphasize that this applies when the action is accidental, as it was in Bryson’s case.”
Herbert and Burns matched major history in record rounds
Six birdies in the first nine holes saw Herbert reach the turn in 28 and equal the lowest front-nine in major history, with back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 16th taking him to nine under and further threatening the record.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Lucas Herbert shot a record-equalling 62 at The Open, the joint-lowest score in men’s major history.
Herbert failed to take advantage of the par-five 17th despite finding the fairway off the tee, went left with his approach and missed a 10-foot birdie putt, then failed to convert a five-foot par putt at the end to become the first man on the ’61 round’ card.
“It was very cool to feel it, and the nerves were getting stretched,” Herbert told Sky Sports. “I felt the energy, everyone wanted it to happen and I felt like I let everyone down, because everyone wanted to be a part of watching it happen.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Lucas Herbert misses a short putt on the 18th green and misses out on a chance to set a new The Open scoring record
The Australian’s round was just the sixth 62 in men’s major history but was equaled less than 30 minutes later by Barnes, who produced a 3-birdie finish – including a 20-footer on the par-five 17th and a bunker hole-out on the par-four last – to also move up to under.
“I thought the day I could get the red number for a golf tournament, it would be a nice place,” Barnes said. “I think the last three holes there were just a bonus.”
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sam Barnes held out for a closing birdie from the bunker on 18 to match Herbert’s eight-under 62 and equal the men’s major record.
Overnight leader Suber added a one-under 69 to secure Saturday’s pairing with Herbert, while Young and Gerard combined for six-under 67s ahead of Burns and DeChambeau.
McIlroy mixed four birdies with a solitary bogey in an improved second-round 67, including driving the par-four ninth green for the second day in a row with home favorite Fleetwood on the same score after birdying three of his last five holes.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Rory McIlroy shoots a three-under (67) during the second round of The Open at Royal Birkdale
Just nine strokes separated the 78 players who made the early exit, including PGA Champion Aaron Rye (+2), US Open winner Wyndham Clarke (+3), Justin Rose (+3), Matt Fitzpatrick (+4) and 2017 champion Jordan Spieth (+10).
When is the Open live on Sky Sports?
Sky Sports is once again the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, with wall-to-wall action from the final major of the year over the weekend on Sky Sports Golf.
‘Saturday at the Open’ will start coverage of the third round from 9am on Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports+ and The Sky Sports app Ahead of full coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 11am.
Featured groups will also be available on Sky Sports+ The Sky Sports appThen on Sky Sports Golf from 8am on Sunday with coverage for Sunday’s final round.
Get the best price and book a round on one of 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland
