“Brian Harman Surges Ahead at the Open, while Rory McIlroy and Max Homa Begin Their Quest”

Brian Harman Sets Open Pace as Rory McIlroy and Max Homa Start Well

Tournament Officials Make Unorthodox Bunker Adjustments

American golfer Brian Harman took the lead in the second round of the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool. However, his success was not the only news of the day. Tournament officials made an unorthodox decision to change the way the bunkers were raked between rounds after several players struggled in the sand traps.

Masters champion Jon Rahm described the 82 bunkers at Royal Liverpool as “proper penalty structures” after having to play backwards out of one during his opening round. Even Rory McIlroy, a former Open champion, needed two attempts to escape a bunker on the 18th hole.

In response to the players’ difficulties, the R&A instructed greenkeeping staff to build up the edges of the bunkers to allow more balls to roll back into the center. The decision was made after the bunkers dried out more than expected, causing more balls to run up against the face of the bunkers instead of rolling back.

The R&A explained in a statement, “Yesterday afternoon the bunkers dried out more than we have seen in recent weeks and that led to more balls running straight up against the face than we would normally expect. We have therefore raked all of the bunkers slightly differently to take the sand up one revet on the face of the bunkers.”

Typically, bunkers are raked flat at most Open venues, but the adjustment was thought to be appropriate given the drier conditions. The R&A stated that they would closely monitor the situation for the remaining rounds of the Championship.

Players’ Concerns and Commentary

Even those players who managed to successfully escape from the bunkers on the first day expressed their concerns. Former champion Stewart Cink voiced his opinion following his bogey-free 68, saying, “Eventually it’ll catch up with you. The bottoms of them are so flat that if a ball comes in with any momentum, it’s just going right up to the lip and stop. There’s not a little upslope that helps you at all. They are very penal.”

Brian Harman’s Strong Performance

Despite the bunker challenges, Brian Harman had an excellent round, making four consecutive birdies to take the lead. He confidently holed a 20-foot putt on the second hole and followed it up with similar distances on the third and fourth holes. He then hit the pin with his chip shot on the par-five fifth, setting up an easy tap-in for another birdie.

Even when Harman had to play backwards out of a bunker on the 12th hole, he managed to chip in for par, maintaining his lead at eight under par. He finished the day four strokes ahead of his nearest competitors, Max Homa and Michael Stewart.

Rory McIlroy and Max Homa’s Solid Start

Rory McIlroy, a fan favorite and former Open champion, began his second round in ideal fashion with a birdie on the first hole. Despite missing a short putt on the third hole, he quickly recovered and got up and down from a bunker on the par-five fifth to improve to two under par.

American Max Homa also had a strong start to his second round, keeping pace with McIlroy. Both players will be looking to gain momentum and challenge Harman for the lead in the coming rounds.

Conclusion

The second round of the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool was marked by the unorthodox decision to adjust the bunkers after several players struggled. While some players voiced their concerns about the severity of the bunkers, Brian Harman excelled and took the lead with an impressive round. As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see if the bunker adjustments continue to impact the players and if Harman can maintain his lead.

Overall, the Open continues to deliver gripping moments and challenges for the players vying for the prestigious title. The next rounds promise more excitement and intense competition as the world’s best golfers battle it out on the links of Royal Liverpool.