PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) - A brief look at the second round Friday of the British Open at Royal Portrush (all times EDT):
LEADING: J.B. Holmes (68) and Shane Lowry (67) at 8-under 134.
TRAILING: Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood each had a 67 and were one shot behind.
SO CLOSE: Rory McIlroy shot 65 and missed the cut by one shot after opening with a 79.
MISSING THE ACTION: Tiger Woods (70) missed the cut in a major for the second time after his Masters victory. Also missing the cut were former Open champions Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke, who lives in Portrush.
SAYING GOODBYE: Tom Lehman missed the cut and is no longer eligible as a past Open champion because he is 60. He can return if he wins the Senior British Open.
ROUND OF THE DAY: McIlroy and Xander Schauffele each shot 65.
RORY BOOKEND: Rory McIlroy began the decade at the British Open with rounds of 63-80 at St. Andrews. He ends it with a 79-65 at Royal Portrush.
KEY STATISTIC: Brooks Koepka had a 69, his 14th sub-70 score in his last 18 rounds at the majors.
NOTEABLE: It was the first time in 77 major championships that Mickelson and Woods have played together as professionals that both missed the cut.
QUOTABLE: “Anytime you’re trying to make a cut on a Friday afternoon, especially at a major championship, you’re always a little tight, a little nervous. But this one obviously means a lot, to play the weekend here.” - Graeme McDowell, who grew up playing Royal Portrush and made the cut on the number at 1 over.
KEY PAIRINGS: 10:20 a.m., Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka, 10:50 a.m. Shane Lowry and J.B. Holmes.
TELEVISION: Saturday, 5-7 a.m. (Golf Channel), 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (NBC).
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