Brian Harman, the 2023 Open Champion, heads into the weekend of the 2025 Open Championship with a narrow one-shot lead at 7-under par after Round 2 at Royal Portrush.

Harman’s consistent play has kept him ahead of a tightly packed leaderboard, as top contenders including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and local hero Rory McIlroy trail behind. Scheffler sits four shots back at 3-under, while McIlroy, still searching for momentum, is at 2-under, showing flashes of brilliance but yet to make a strong push.

China’s Haotong Li climbed to 6-under par, just one stroke off the lead, maintaining his form from a solid opening round. England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard remain well within striking distance, with Hatton at 5-under and Højgaard closing his round with a stunning 33-foot birdie on the 18th green.

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Chris Gotterup made headlines early in the round with an eagle on the par-five second hole, while Keegan Bradley posted the best score of the day—a 4-under 67—vaulting himself into contention.

McIlroy’s birdie on the 12th hinted at a possible weekend charge in front of his home fans, though he’ll need to find another gear to close the gap. Meanwhile, players like Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood experienced mixed rounds, with steady stretches offset by untimely errors.

The projected cut line hovers around +2, with several big names still battling to secure their spots for the weekend as conditions at Royal Portrush continue to challenge the field.

Stay with News Access NG for continued coverage of The Open Championship.