Ryan Gerard is making his major debut this weekend, and he is striding up the 18th fairway with his ball just finding the left rough - 269 yards to the pin.

He will not be getting excited, as the 18th has been played as the hardest hole on the course today.

But, he's in a pretty good position. Can he tie his fellow American Bryson DeChambeau's seven under par score?

As the final few groups make their way down the back nine to complete their second rounds, here are the headlines from Friday's action at the Open:

• Lucas Herbert leads the way on eight under par, thanks to a round of 62 earlier today. Australian Herbert had a short par putt at the last for a 61, which would have been a record low score for a men's major, but he had to settle for a 62.
• Within the hour, Sam Burns also finished with a round of 62 - which he ended by holing his bunker shot for a birdie on the 18th. He's at five under par.
• Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is second on seven under after an accomplished round of 66 today.
• British quartet Robert MacIntyre, Alex Fitzpatrick, Matt Wallace and Tommy Fleetwood are all on four under, as is defending champion Scottie Scheffler.
• Rory McIlroy is one under for the tournament after a 67 today, but Aaron Rai, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, 2017 Open winner Jordan Spieth and US Open champion Wyndham Clark are among the big names that are set to miss the cut.

It's almost certain now that the cut line will be at one over par - if you're on that score or better, you'll be playing the final few rounds at the weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

Ryan Gerard birdies the 17th!

His second shot fell just short of the green, but a delightful chip left him within three feet, which he simply tapped in.

The young American is picking up the pace, and he is two shots off Lucas Herbert's eight under par lead.

Gerard heads onto the 18th tee box.

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live at Royal Birkdale

Jon Rahm has missed it. I cannot believe that. He is furious, and he has been bamboozled the same way Tommy Fleetwood was.

Jordan Spieth wants to get finished up and out of the way. It's another bogey for Birkdale's 2017 Open champion who exits stage left to polite applause as the fans recognise a former winner.

Here's Tommy for the birdie. He's leaning left, trying to coax his ball into the hole. It won't drop. A par to finish.

What will Jon Rahm learn? Nothing. Fleetwood's ball went right. Rahm's went left. Poor miss by the Spaniard really. Pars to finish it is then.

Fleetwood leaves to more chants. But that's not the finish he wanted.

Image source, Getty Images

A fantastic reception for Tommy Fleetwood as he strides up to the 18th green. He removes his cap for the customary wave of acknowledgement. Some scenes on a Friday evening. Imagine what it will be like if he's in contention in just under 48 hours.

Is that a smile that hangs beneath your nose Tommy? Fleetwood lasers his second straight at the 18th flag. The ball almost clips the pin as it bounces about eight feet beyond the hole.

And Jon Rahm goes even better. He zips his ball into less than half that distance. Will they get to five under?

Scottie Scheffler's bunker shot is OK but not the best. Still work to do to save his par from about five feet. And he does - just. A bogey-free round of 68 for the world number one and defending champion.

Tyrrell Hatton makes his par, also for a round of 68. Excellent stuff from the Englishman late on - he played the final five holes in three under par.

This has been a fun group to follow today.

Image source, Getty Images

Bryson DeChambeau is bang in the mix for the Claret Jug this year.

A perfectly played 18th hole earns him a closing birdie for a round of 66, which leaves him one shot off the lead. It's very likely he'll be in the final group alongside leader Lucas Herbert tomorrow.

It's been his superb touch around the greens that has been most impressive today.

Ryan Gerard, in his debut Open, has cruised through the first two rounds.

The American will be staying on the north-west coast for another two days if he avoids any catastrophic on the final two holes.

He is currently walking up the par five 17th. His tee shot is in the middle of the fairway and the 26-year-old has 253 yards to the pin.

One more drive to fire away for Tommy Fleetwood. He flirts with a bunker down the left but he misses that and ends up on the fairway.

Jon Rahm is also down the left side of the 18th fairway.

Jordan Spieth's troubles continue as he finds a fairway bunker down the right.

Image source, PA Media

Tommy Fleetwood is up first on the 17th green and he gives his putt for eagle a rattle up the green. The ball sidles two feet past. That should be a birdie. It is.

Jon Rahm across the green. Criminal by the Spaniard. Leaves an eagle putt 12 inches short. Kick-in birdie though.

What has happened to Jordan Spieth though? No TV pictures but the scorecard suggesting an absolute disaster of a hole. He drove into rough, hit at least one out of bounds, scrabbled round in more rough... and that added up to a quadruple-bogey 9!

Tyrrell Hatton and Scottie Scheffler will both try to get to the 18th green from the left rough.

Hatton's effort is short and left of the green but on the fairway, while Scheffler goes into the bunker - the same bunker that Sam Burns holed from earlier today.

Will Bryson DeChambeau finish with a flourish and close his gap to leader Lucas Herbert? He's got a chance! Probably 15 feet to go for birdie.

Image source, Reuters

While waiting for the 17th green to clear, Tommy Fleetwood is rehearsing the four-iron shot he's about to hit from 260 yards. It's another belter, finding the heart of the green. Not quite enough juice to get to the top level, where the hole is, but he's got two putts from maybe 35 feet for birdie.

Jon Rahm has 225 yards to go. Five-iron in hand. I know. Excellent shot from the Spaniard. His ball gets up to the right level. Pin high, 25 feet left. Big eagle look coming up.

Word reaching us that Rahm got an official warning for throwing a club on 15. Not a two-shot penalty offence but the next one might be.

James Gregg
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator at Royal Birkdale

It is a lot quieter where I am. Ryan Gerard is up there, and he is at five under alongside Bryson DeChambeau. There is nobody watching him!

Scottie Scheffler not only has an awkward stance and a difficult lie - he also has a bunker blocking his path to the hole.

Leaving himself 15 feet for birdie is about as well as he could do from there. But no can do. He's still bogey free for the day.

Bryson DeChambeau bumps and runs from the back of the green and he'll have a tap in for a birdie to get to six under.

And then massive cheers for Tyrrell Hatton, who gets the putter out from off the green and finds the hole for a birdie! Suddenly he's three under and looking up the leaderboard rather than nervously over his shoulder.

Image source, Getty Images

Well, Justin Rose is unable to channel his inner Sam Burns, who holed out from the same greenside bunker to score 62 for his second round.

Rose got a fantastic applause as he walked up the 18th. The 2026 Open Championship wasn't meant to be for Rose, but he'll take the positives out of his second round.

It's not all doom and gloom for Rose as he was made an honorary member at Royal Birkdale earlier this week.

Jon Rahm is first to fire down the par-five 575-yard 17th. The driver in hand, he finds the middle of the fairway.

Tommy Fleetwood looks to have his baby driver out and he whips his ball down the centre too.

There is suddenly a bit of a flatter feeling around Royal Birkdale. Two big holes coming up for Tommy Fleetwood, who will get a hero's reception on the 18th green whatever happens in the next 30 minutes or so.

Everyone at Birkdale seems to be heading towards the Art Deco clubhouse to follow their man home.