How the Brits fared on Day 2 at The Open

The 152nd Open is no longer being led by a British golfer.

Instead, Ireland’s Shane Lowry heads into the weekend as the front-runner at Royal Troon.

It’s far from over, though. Lowry has two Englishman – Justin Rose and Daniel Brown – breathing down his neck just two shots adrift.

On a treacherous day in south Ayrshire, they were the only men to survive in the red figures.

Plenty survived the cut line, however, so here’s a rundown of how the British hopes fared on day two.

• Lowry and Rose weather the storm at The Open

• The curious case of Phil Mickelson at The Open

The Open: How the Brits fared on Day 2

Justin Rose -3, total: -5

Like a fine wine. Rose said on Thursday that the “clock is ticking” on his Open dream and he backed up his desire to get his hands on the Claret Jug on day two. A fist-pump to celebrate his birdie on 18 was thoroughly deserved.

Daniel Brown +1, total: -5

Matthew Jordan E, total: E

A model of consistency, Jordan bagged a second consecutive even-par round on the Troon links. The 28-year-old finished T10 at his home Open last year and looks set to play a part in the closing stages again.

Laurie Canter +3, total: +3

Calum Scott (a) +4, total: +4

An Open debut to forget for the Texas Tech star. It’s Scott’s first start in a major, let alone golf’s oldest, but the Nairn amateur will return to Royal Troon for the weekend. Play well beyond the 20-year-old’s year across two testing days.

Richard Mansell E, total: +4

Ewen Ferguson +2, total: +5

“Hopefully it starts p*****g with rain” were Ferguson’s words after a gruelling battle on the course. He had nothing to worry about, though, making the cut comfortably.

🎥 Ewen Ferguson feels a busy schedule’s taking its toll on him.

🏌️‍♂️He’s 5-over-par after 2 rounds of The Open at Royal Troon – but hopes a change in the weather could see him still make the cut ☔️ pic.twitter.com/nUb1XR5qVW

— WestFMNews (@WestFMNews) July 19, 2024

Joe Dean +6, total: +4

Matt Wallace +6, total: +5

Robert MacIntyre +4, total: +5

The newly crowned Genesis Scottish Open winner looked destined for a journey home after a calamitous opening four holes. MacIntyre played them in eight-over but bounce back he did. He came in in 32 to book another two rounds.

Aaron Rai +3, total: +5

Matt Fitzpatrick +7, total: +6

Fitzpatrick can count himself lucky that conditions pushed the cut line far enough back. He was in contention after the opening round but carded two bogeys, a double and a triple without reply.

Jack McDonald +2, total: +7

How cruel could that closing bogey on 18 be? Well, it denied Kilmarnock’s McDonald a weekend tee time in his native Ayrshire. A valiant effort, however.

Sam Horsfield +4, total: +8

Tyrrell Hatton +6, total: +8

Not the second round the LIV Golf man was after. More precisely, not the back nine he was looking for. A six-over bogey-strewn stretch means Hatton won’t feature over the weekend, despite some steady stuff on day one.

• Rory McIlroy’s ‘messy lifestyle’ to blame for major drought

• Tiger Woods confirms next start after Open missed cut

Jordan Smith +4, total: +9

Matthew Southgate +7, total: +9

Tommy Fleetwood +4, total: +9

If anyone is going to end the British drought, it won’t be Fleetwood. A birdie on four got him off to the start he needed, but it was all downhill from there.

Sam Hutsby +9, total: +12

Matthew Dodd-Berry (a) +9, total: +10

Dominic Clemons (a) +7, total: +13

Dan Bradbury +6, total: +18

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.