3 minute read
Snapshot from day two of The British Open at Royal Portrush
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Rory McIlroy - the home favourite gave Northern Irish fans the ride of their life with a birdie-filled round of 65 only to fall one shot short in his gallant quest to make the halfway cut following his horror first-round 78.
STAT OF THE DAY: Cameron Smith is the lone Australian to make the cut since five-times champion Peter Thomson was the only Aussie to tee up at Muirfield 60 years ago.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "It's always nice when I'm under the radar a little bit, not (attracting) so much attention." - Smith happy to head into the weekend without any fanfare while quietly sitting in equal fifth spot after his sizzling 66.
TOURNAMENT SUMMARY: At eight under, Irishman Shane Lowry and American JB Holmes share a one-stroke lead over English pair Lee Westwood and Tommy Fleetwood, with another home hope in Justin Rose, plus Smith and South African Justin Harding two back. World No.1 Brooks Koepka and former champion and fellow American Jordan Spieth lurk just three shots off the pace. But superstars McIlroy, Tiger Woods, US Open champion Gary Woodland as well as Australian heavyweights Adam Scott, Jason Day and Marc Leishman all missed the cut.
