Tommy Fleetwood drags his tee shot short and wide of the green at the 11th hole and he pays the price.

He chips to within five feet of the pin, but with shadows lengthening at Royal Birkdale his putt just kisses the lip of the hole. He taps in for a bogey.

Jon Rahm goes close with a birdie chance up the hill from the edge of the green but comes up a fraction short. Par for the Spaniard.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Dan Brown, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It kind of felt like a pretty average day all round really.

"Didn't do anything too poorly, didn't do anything too well either. The score reflected how I played.

"A couple of nice shots I hit, but misjudged the wind on one and got an unlucky break on the other.

"Unfortunately, I didn't feel like I hit that many quality golf shots. A links golf course, a bit of wind and two that I thought I hit well. I got a bit unfortunate."

On Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both having a second round of 62: "Two? That wasn't out there this afternoon. I certainly didn't see a 62.

"I think another day like Thursday [when he shot 66] and you're right back in the mix."

Sarah Mulkerrins
BBC reporter at Royal Birkdale

Image source, BBC Sport

Golden hour around Birkdale. No sign of home for the sun baked fans. Tommy’s on the course and they’re following him like he's the pied piper. The cheers for him are rolling around the hillocks and dunes.

Sarah and the TV team will be presenting highlights from 21:00BST that you can watch on BBC2, BBC iPlayer, or on the BBC Sport website and app (UK only).

Tom Grundy
BBC Sport senior journalist at Royal Birkdale

One of the biggest cheers of the day on 18 was reserved for Francesco Molinari.

He famously formed an iconic duo with local favourite Tommy Fleetwood at the Ryder Cup.

The Italian has struggled for form in recent years and dropped out of the world's top 200.

Two rounds under par have him well placed here going into the weekend.

Graeme Storm
Two-time European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

Francesco Molinari played some sparkling golf from tee to green.

Molinari and Raul Quiros [caddie] are new together. They got together for the first time last week.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist at Royal Birkdale

Image source, Getty Images

Francesco Molinari won this tournament at Carnoustie in 2018 but in recent times golf's oldest major hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds.

Molinari had failed to shoot a single round under par in his previous three appearances, missing the cut in 2023 and 2024 and finishing tied for 63rd in 2025.

Enter this week and a return to his best after rounds of 67 and 69.

A dropped shot at the last will sting but the 43-year-old ends his second round currently in a tie for seventh, four shots off the lead.

There's a remote chance that those on two over par might sneak into the weekend here.

The top 70 players and ties will feature in the final two rounds at Royal Birkdale.

There are currently 78 players at one over or better.

Will Tommy Fleetwood come to rue missed chances like these?

The 35-year-old glances to the sky in frustration after his putt from 14 feet comes up an inch short.

Like Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm, the Englishman taps in for par.

Andrew Murray
Former European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

That was typical of what has been happening. Scottie Scheffler focused too much on the line and he didn't get the pace.

Tyrrell Hatton's long-range birdie putt sails by the hole and the par putt coming back is missed.

He just needs to be careful here - the cut mark is +1 and there are dangers lurking ahead on the back nine.

Bryson DeChambeau judges his long birdie putt much better to secure his par.

Scottie Scheffler is last to go for a three. Oh, hit it Scottie! Right on line but a few inches short.

On another day, with a hot putter, he'd have been challenging the leading score of eight under.

Tommy Fleetwood has the shortest of the three tee shots in his trio at the 11th.

After a brief chat with his caddie Ian Finnis, his approach shot is the closest to the pin.

A birdie chance for the local lad who strolls up the fairway with his putter already under his arm and a spring in his step.

Scottie Scheffler and Tyrrell Hatton have found the 12th green while Bryson DeChambeau will surely look to putt from just off the short grass.

Here's Ken Brown to explain the challenge of Royal Birkdale's greens...

A cracking par save by Tyrrell Hatton, considering where his tee shot ended up. He's still level par for the day.

Now, can Scottie Scheffler find his putting boots? About 10 feet to go... and again it drifts left of the cup at the final moment.

But Bryson DeChambeau makes no mistake from four feet and the American is now five under par, three off the lead held by Lucas Herbert.

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

Image source, Getty Images

Jon Rahm was rewarded for a bold strategy at the dogleg 10th. A second birdie for Rahm in three holes. Fortune favoured the brave there.

Jon Rahm raises his ball to acknowledge the crowd at the 10th hole at Royal Birkdale.

The Spaniard sinks a birdie from 11 feet having benefited from a monster 298-yard drive from the tee.

Tommy Fleetwood content to two putt and snaffle par.

• Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both shot rounds of 62 - equalling the lowest rounds ever at a men's major. Herbert leads on -8, with Burns three shots back.
• Overnight leader Jackson Suber improved to -6 with a round of 69, while fellow American Cameron Young is also on -6 following a 67 today.
• English duo Matt Wallace and Alex Fitzpatrick are on four under par, four shots off the lead.
• Rory McIlroy shot a three-under 67 to end one under for the tournament, meaning he'll be around for the weekend, but Matt Fitzpatrick and US Open champion Wyndham Clark are among the big names likely to miss the cut.
• Among those on the course right now: Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Tommy Fleetwood.

What a shot from Tyrrell Hatton, who is in all sorts of bother on 11.

Somehow he gets it to the green from an awful position in the left rough.

Meanwhile, it's target practice for Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau, who have makeable birdie opportunities.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Fitzpatrick, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after finishing the second round four under par for the tournament:

"It is funny - 17 holes of good golf, and you finish with a bogey, and you're a little disappointed.

"Overall, I am happy with how today went. I felt I played some good golf out there. Hopefully, that will last another two days.

"I saw two eight under [par scores] out there and questioned if they had played the same course as us.

"Hitting a lot of greens was super helpful and that is what you have got to do when it is so windy out here. The thing with the finishing stretch, there is some shorter holes and two par fives because it is windy it can provide a tough challenge out there.

"Happy to get through it. We will see how tomorrow goes."

Matt Wallace and Alex Fitzpatrick are currently the highest-placed Englishmen on the leaderboard at four under par, which puts them in a tie for sixth place, while Dan Brown (-3) and Matt Southgate (-2) are among those certain to be around for the weekend.

Tidy finishes by Jordan Smith (-2) and Andy Sullivan (-1) have secured their respective places in the final two rounds.

US PGA champion Aaron Rai is nervously waiting on two over par, a score which is unlikely to be enough, while a bogey at the 12th for Justin Rose (+4) has dented his hopes.

Matt Fitzpatrick, Harry Hall and Joe Dean are among those who already know their Open campaigns are over.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport golf reporter at Royal Birkdale

Image source, Getty Images

The fans who have stumped up hard-earned cash understandably cast a wary eye at those who walk inside the ropes.

And they aren’t afraid to tell the inconsiderate of us (not me, your honour) to get out of the way of the view which they’ve meticulously and patiently planned for is being blocked.

When one of those donning an access-all-areas armband stumbles and falls down a rocky slope in the 11th rough, it brings great delight.

Those following behind tread carefully - as the fans give it a terrace-style style ‘ooooohhhh’ in anticipation - in order not to suffer the same embarrassment.