American major champions Phil Mickelson (+1 after 16) and Dustin Johnson (+2 after 15) are both hovering around that cut line - currently two over par will be good enough to make the weekend.

Former US Open winner Wyndham Clark is two under for the day through six holes, and three over par overall.

One man unlikely to make it though, barring an incredible back nine, is Brooks Koepka. The five-time major winner is five over for the tournament after eight holes of his second round.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at Royal Portrush

Image source, Getty Images

There was really warm applause for Padraig Harrington and Tom McKibbin as they walked into the 18th colleseum, and again as they sank their par putts.

Harrington, the two-time champion and ice cream lover, had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot yesterday but his Open has come to a close.

In a classy gesture as he exited, he gave his ball to the young man who had been carrying the scorecard for the second round, and he looked surprised and grateful in equal measure.

At the other end of his career, Northern Ireland's McKibbin is also set for an early exit. With the cut line fluctuating between one and two over, it looks like he will fall just short of making the weekend.

Not sure they're all wearing sensible shoes.

I can see a few pearly white trainers in that queue.

Not much to report from Matt Fitzpatrick on the ninth - a routine par.

He's gone out in 34, with four birdies and two bogeys on the card.

The former US Open champion is two shots off the lead.

Fine response from Haotong Li at the 15th as he finds the green in two and then goes close from 17 feet to a bounceback birdie.

It keeps him tied at the top though.

Three holes to play.

Ooof, almost an eagle for Xander Schauffele on the seventh!

His chip from the front of the green rattles into the cup and somehow stays up.

And then Jon Rahm goes close with a long putt for a three! It's all happening.

Birdies for those two, as well as JJ Spaun, who is back to level par for the tournament.

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With six holes to go in his round Lee Westwood is still ticking along with pars to ensure he makes the cut.

The big mover in his group is Chris Gotterup.

The American's approach shot on the 12th left him with an eight-foot putt to move himself to six under, and he duly obliged.

More trouble off the 11th tee for Matthew Jordan but he salvages it well, chipping onto the green and leaving three feet for par.

He has absolutely no trouble at all in draining that.

A much-needed par to stop the rot.

It's the second day of a major so here's your first update on the cut line.

The top 70 and ties make the weekend and currently the line is hovering at +2.

American's Dustin Johnson and Wyndham Clark are still on the course at +3 while Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin needs a birdie at the last to keep the home fans happy.

Image source, PA Media

Scottie Scheffler is on the march now as he notches up back-to-back birdies - and in some style.

The world number one's tee shot at the par-three sixth lands 34 feet wide of the pin but Scheffler's putter is red hot at the moment and he sinks it prompting loud cheers from the crowd.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Clubhouse leader Brian Harman spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live after his six-under 65 in round two:

On whether he feels the same as he did on the Friday in 2023 when he won The Open: "I can't get too far ahead of myself. It's important not to get ahead of yourself, I'm playing great which I'm pleased about.

"It's been an odd year, I got a win then another really close to a win - other than that I've been struggling, I've not been playing good golf, so it's been really nice to get off to a good start in such a big tournament."

On the elements of his game he's been most pleased with: "I drove it great, when I got chances with the iron I got them in close, I holed a couple of decent par putts - nothing too long but when I had to get it up and down I did. I just played smart and made my putts."

On his plans for tonight: "Probably lay around the hotel room, maybe a light workout but nothing crazy."

OK then, Haotong Li has made his first mistake of The Open and finally the only bogey-free player left in the field drops a shot.

A sloppy chip left him short of the green and then his putt was never on line.

He drops back into a share of the lead.

Matt Fitzpatrick goes left with his approach to the eighth and has eight feet left for par.

No, sir. A bogey halts the positive momentum of back-to-back birdies.

A bit of a heavy-handed drive at the 10th from Matthew Jordan enters the rough left of the fairway.

He digs it out and finds the green with his third shot, leaving 11 feet to save par.

Oh! His ball slides alongside the cup and he's home in five. That's back-to-back bogeys for the Englishman.

JJ Spaun drops a shot on the par-three sixth.

His tee shot came up short of the green and his second flew 30-odd feet past the flag.

Pars for Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm.

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Scottie Scheffler's tee shot at the fifth leaves him within 60 yards from the pin and he backs it up with a solid approach shot to create a birdie chance.

The American's putting game looks a bit more on song today and he drops one in from seven feet to move in a tie for fourth at five under.

Shane Lowry, meanwhile, shakes his putter in anger, after missing a birdie opportunity of his own.

You'd be forgiven for not knowing a huge amount about our current leader Haotong Li.

The 29-year-old has four victories on the DP World Tour, including earlier this year in Qatar.

He actually finished third on his Open debut at Royal Birkdale in 2017 but has only made the cut once in four appearances since.

The world number 111 has never really been in this territory before.

Chance for Haotong Li to really press home his advantage over at the 13 as he sizes up a 17-footer for birdie.

It's never on line and he'll take the par.

Five holes to go.

Lee Westwood is chugging along. He's one over for the round during a fairly consistent day.

The experienced Englishman starts his back nine with par at the 10th. American Chris Gotterup rolls in his second birdie of the day to move to three under.

Image source, PA Media

Matt Fitzpatrick found himself left of the seventh green but gets down in two for a birdie four and he's now two off the lead.

Four birdies in his first seven holes today, alongside a bogey on the fifth.