After 18 holes of the final major championship of the year, we’ve got a surprise at the top of the leaderboard in Scotland.
Daniel Brown, who entered the week ranked No. 273 in the Official World Golf Rankings, took the overnight lead after his bogey-free 65 on Thursday at Royal Troon. Brown, who overtook Shane Lowry with a late birdie to grab a one-shot lead, is playing in his first ever major championship this week. He’s the highest-ranked golfer to lead a major after the opening round since 2016, too.
Lowry, who also carded a bogey-free 66, is in a great position to make a run by the midway point of the tournament. He picked up his first major championship win at Royal Portrush in 2019. Justin Thomas will start Friday alone in third at 3-under, and a group of seven golfers are tied at 2-under.
After their wild battle in North Carolina, neither Bryson DeChambeau nor Rory McIlroy started their week in Scotland well. DeChambeau opened with a 5-over 76, and McIlroy finished with a 7-over 78. They’re both going to have to make a run on Friday in order to make the cut, something McIlroy hasn’t missed at the British Open since 2019.
Tiger Woods, like he has so many times in recent years, struggled again too. Woods posted an 8-over 79 on Thursday, which is likely to lead to his seventh missed cut or withdrawal in his last 10 major championship starts.
For full tee times for the first two rounds of the tournament, click here.
For the full leaderboard, click here.
How to watch Round 2 of the 2024 British Open
The first two rounds of the British Open will be streamed on Peacock and broadcast on the USA Network.
Keep up with Yahoo Sports for full live coverage of the British Open below:
Live24 updates
-
-
-
-
Yahoo Sports’ Jay Busbee with his take on Tiger’s 2024 British Open
With Tiger Woods’ 2024 major championship season over, whats next for the most beloved golfer of the past three decades? Retirement has been a subject of discussion surrounding the 15-time major champion, and with another disappointing performance at one of the sport’s premier events, Jay Busbee weighs in on the Big Cat’s future, and what could be next for the golf icon.
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 19: Tiger Woods of United States plays his second shot on the 4th hole on day two of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 19, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images) -
-
-
-
-
Shane Lowry falls back to the field
The magic ran out for Shane Lowry at Royal Troon’s 11th on Friday. Holding a two-stroke lead, Lowry stepped up to the tee at the 11th … and put his shot deep into the thick Scottish rough. He ended up having to take an unplayable lie, and then pitched up short of the green. One double-bogey putt later, and Lowry had fallen back into a tie with Daniel Brown at -5. He’s still a co-leader at the Open, but with winds picking up and the toughest stretch of the course ahead, Lowry has work to do to bring it home.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) -
What is the cut at the British Open?
The cut at the British Open currently sits at +3, but it’s likely to go higher, perhaps much higher. Here’s how the cut works at the Open.
Bryson DeChambeau will be fighting to make the cut. (AP Photo/Jon Super) -
-
John Daly withdraws from the Open Championship
And another past Open Champion calls it a week, early — John Daly, the 1995 Open Champion, has withdrawn from this year’s tournament after one round, citing a knee injury. Daly and Ernie Els both shot +11 in the tournament’s opening round.
At least we’ll always have the Daly photos.
(Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) -
Leaderboard update: Lowry leads again
A birdie on the 8th has given Shane Lowry the lead once again at the Open Championship. Everything is rolling Lowry’s way right now, and with tricky weather on the way, this could be a highly relaxing Friday afternoon on the couch for Lowry.
1. Shane Lowry, -7 (through 8)
2. Daniel Brown, -6 (3)
3. Justin Thomas, -3 (7:53 a.m. ET tee time)
T4. Xander Schauffele + seven others, -2(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) -
-
-
Ernie Els withdraws from Open with injury
Royal Troon is taking out the competitors at the 152nd Open, one at a time. Latest to withdraw: Ernie Els, the 2002 and 2012 Open champion. Els withdrew prior to the second round, citing a back injury.
On Thursday, the Big Easy shot +11, finishing second-to-last on the day. Els has three wins on the season as a member of the PGA Tour Champions, and at the moment is still listed in the field for next week’s Senior British Open.
Els joins Romain Langasque, who withdrew Thursday after an awkward, 84-yard tee shot at the famed Postage Stamp.
(Warren Little/Getty Images) -
-
-
-
Tiger Woods tees off in second round
Tiger Woods and his group have now teed off in the second round at Royal Troon. Woods posted an 8-over 79 on Thursday, and will need a huge round today in order to make the cut.
While this is a familiar trend for the golf legend, and there have been growing calls for him to hang it up, Woods pushed back on those earlier this week. Yahoo Sports’ Jay Busbee wrote that, while Woods “in all likelihood will never win another tournament on the PGA Tour,” he should still play “as long as he dam well pleases.”
Click the photo to read more about Tiger Woods’ rough first round at the British Open, and why he should be able to keep playing “as long as he damn well pleases.” (Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
