Rory McIlroy’s savvy play kept him in the hunt while you were sleeping

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — It is a give and take kind of Open. Much different than 2022, at St. Andrews, which was all gas and no brakes, trying to shoot 66 each day. This Open has plenty of trouble mixed in around plenty of fun. As evidenced by some things you missed while you were sleeping, which we’ve detailed below.

1. Hole 1 continues throwing punches

In the first 10 groups to play Friday morning, only one birdie was recorded at the 1st hole. We saw Bud Cauley make a triple-bogey 7 after playing out of bounds to the left. We saw Sergio Garcia make double without going O.B. We saw 13 of those first 30 players make bogey or worse, all because that hole is just a torture chamber. 

Out of bounds left, out of bounds right. Wind in the face and off the right. Players have been talking about it all week, as we broke down below. 

2. Rory’s savvy decision pays dividend 

No. 1 isn’t the only hole early on with a nasty boundary. The 2nd also has players on edge, and Rory McIlroy got about as close to it as you possibly could. When he found his ball in a horrific fescue lie, he did something you only really see at tournaments in this part of the world. He took unplayable relief in an already horrible — but still better than his original lie — area. 

To have to take “Drop 2, hit 3” in shin-high fescue is equally as smart as it is humbling. But you avoid absolutely taking yourself out of the championship with a triple bogey, or even a quad. McIlroy knows what that’s like. He played up, pitched on and made the putt for par. 

3. Northern Ireland’s villain has returned 

Locals will know better than most that it wasn’t long ago the golf world descended upon Northern Ireland for a big event. Last September’s Irish Open was hosted at Royal County Down, just a few hours south of Portrush, where Rory McIlroy was similarly in the hunt. So much that he held the solo lead late on the back nine Sunday. 

But that’s when Rasmus Hojgaard entered the conversation, making four birdies in his last five holes to pip the Ulsterman. Ten months later, Hojgaard has returned as a golfing villain to the Northern Irish folk, making the turn Friday morning tied for the lead at four under. On Thursday night I asked him if his Irish Open victory felt any different than his other wins, dethroning the local favorite in his homeland. He quickly grinned.

“For sure,” he said. “Yeah, there’s no doubt who the crowds were cheering for that day. Yeah, it was cool to play the last few holes knowing what was at stake, and then to do it, yeah, that was definitely different from the others.

4. Shaun Norris is in pain 

The 43-year-old South African played a solid round of 72 on Thursday but gave it all back and then some Friday morning on the 4th hole. After pumping his first tee ball out of bounds right, he then found a brutish fairway bunker. From there, he took four shots just to get out of the trap and in the fairway. Up onto a dune he played, then onto the green where made a 7-footer for a 10. 

Luckily, he’s still got a puncher’s chance. He made three birdies and no other bogeys on his first 13 holes of the day, keeping him in the hunt to make the cut. He’ll need a couple more circles on the scorecard to get it done. 

5. ‘The Butcher’ is back 

Two summers ago, Brian Harman played the best golf of his life, knocking shots down, punching through the wind and rain at Royal Liverpool, ultimately winning The Open by six. It stunned everyone, particularly the British press, who seized upon Harman’s love of hunting. He was playfully nicknamed Brian the Butcher that week, adding to a bit of British Open lore. 

This week, he’s back again, playing a very similar game, not needing to bomb driver everywhere, tactically working his way through the dunes, shooting 69 on Thursday and making the turn in 33 Friday. Will it be good enough to hold the lead after 36 holes? We’ll see. But it will absolutely be good enough for a late Saturday tee time. That’s what everyone is after.