After 18 holes of the final major championship of the year, there was a surprise player at the top of the Scottish leaderboard.
Daniel Brown, who started the week ranked 273rd in the Official World Golf Ranking, shot a bogey-free 65 on Thursday at Royal Troon to take the overnight lead. Brown will play in his first major championship this week after a late birdie put him one stroke ahead of Shane Lowry. Brown is also the highest-ranked golfer to lead the opening round of a major tournament since 2016.
Lawrie, who shot a bogey-free 66, is in good position to make a comeback by the midway point of the tournament. He won his first major championship at Royal Portrush in 2019. Justin Thomas started Friday in sole third place at three under par, with seven golfers tied at two under par.
After tough battles in North Carolina, neither Bryson DeChambeau nor Rory McIlroy started the week well in Scotland, with DeChambeau opening with a 5-over 76 and McIlroy finishing with a 7-over 78. Both will have to fight on Friday to make the cut, but McIlroy hasn’t missed the cut at The Open since 2019.
Tiger Woods struggled, as he has so many times in recent years. He shot an 8-over 79 on Thursday and is likely to miss the cut or withdraw for the seventh time in his last 10 major starts.
For complete tee times for the first two rounds of the tournament, click here.
For the complete leaderboard, click here.
How to watch the second round of the 2024 British Open
The first two rounds of the British Open will be streamed on Peacock and broadcast on USA Network.
Watch complete live coverage of the British Open on Yahoo Sports below.
live22 Updates
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Yahoo Sports’ Jay Busby talks about Tiger’s 2024 British Open
With Tiger Woods’ 2024 major championship season behind him, what does the future hold for one of the most beloved golfers of the past three decades? The 15-time major winner’s controversial retirement is the subject of debate, but after another disappointing showing at the game’s biggest event, Jay Busby discusses the future of the Big Cat and what lies ahead for the golfing icon.
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 19: Tiger Woods of the United States hits his second shot on the fourth hole during day two of the 152nd British Open at Troon, Scotland on July 19, 2024. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images) -
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Shane Lowry returns to the field
Shane Lowry’s magic vanished on the 11th hole at Royal Troon on Friday. Leading by two strokes, Lawry tee’d the 11th hole but hit deep into the thick Scottish rough. He ended up taking an unplayable lie and hitting it short of the green. One putt for double bogey dropped Lawry to -5, tied with Daniel Brown. He’s still tied for the lead in The Open Championship, but with the wind picking up and the toughest section of the course looming, Lawry will have to work to win.
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What is the British Open cut?
The cut for the British Open is currently +3 but will likely go up, and probably a lot more. Here’s how the cut for the British Open works:
Bryson DeChambeau will be battling to qualify. (AP Photo/John Super) -
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John Daly withdraws from British Open
Another former British Open champion also announced his early retirement: 1995 British Open champion John Daly withdrew from this year’s tournament after the first round, citing a knee injury. Daly and Ernie Els both finished +11 in the opening round of the tournament.
At least the Daily photos will last forever.
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Leaderboard Update: Lawrie Back on Top
With a birdie on the eighth hole, Shane Lowry is once again in the lead at The Open Championship. With everything going well for Lowry at the moment, and with the unpredictable weather it could be a very relaxing Friday afternoon for him to sit back on the couch.
1. Shane Lowry, -7 (top 8)
2. Daniel Brown, -6 (3)
3. Justin Thomas, -3 (7:53 a.m. ET)
T4. Xander Schauffele + 7 others, -2(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) -
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Ernie Els withdraws from Open due to injury
Royal Troon is eliminating players from the 152nd British Open one by one, with the latest to withdraw being Ernie Els, British Open champion in 2002 and 2012. Els withdrew before the second round, citing a back injury.
On Thursday, the Big Easy was second-to-last on the day at +11. Els has three wins this season as a member of the PGA Tour Champions and is currently still on the roster for next week’s Senior British Open.
Els joined Romain Langasque, who withdrew on Thursday after hitting an awkward 84-yard tee shot at the famed Postage Stamp.
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Tiger Woods tees off in second round
Tiger Woods and his group have teed off in the second round at Royal Troon. Woods shot an eight-over 79 on Thursday and will need to put in a big effort today to make the cut.
It’s a familiar trend for the golf legend, and Woods pushed back against growing calls for him to retire earlier this week. Jay Busby of Yahoo Sports wrote that Woods “probably won’t win on the PGA Tour again” but that he should keep playing “for as long as he wants.”
Click on the photo to read more about Tiger Woods’ tough first round at the British Open and why he’s happy to keep playing “as long as he wants.” (Pedro Salado/Getty Images) -
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