“Ten-under par is unbelievably impressive out there. “It played tough - it played really, really tough,” McIlroy said. Such situations led to big numbers in the opening round. The course remained tough, even though the R&A chose to rake sand in the bunkers toward the edges to keep golf balls from rolling next to the edges of the steep, revetted sides. … You just have to keep playing until it’s over and see where you finish.” But still, for myself and everybody else playing, it’s just do your thing, play one shot at a time. “Brian had two amazing days,” Fleetwood said.

He knows about big deficits in the Open, having started four shots behind Shane Lowry at Royal Portrush in the final round in 2019.Īt least this time he still has 36 holes. He scrambled for par on the final two holes for his 71.įleetwood, who grew up about 45 minutes away in Southport, had massive support from the gallery in the northwest of England. He could only splash out and had to hit a superb pitch to save bogey. He was alone in third place, six shots behind Harman.įleetwood made back-to-back birdies on the back nine to get within four shots of Harman, only to find a bunker to the left of the 16th fairway. Sepp Straka had six birdies over his last seven holes - the other was a bogey - for a 31 on the back nine that gave him a 67. The key to Saturday might be to stay dry with rain in the forecast. “I’ve had a hot putter the last couple days, so try to ride it through the weekend - 36 holes to go, so try to rest up and get ready,” Harman said.

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