BROOKS KOEPKA KEPT himself in the red with a second round 69 at Portrush today, but at five under par the four-time major winner is not in control of the Claret Jug’s destiny.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry currently tops the scoreboard on eight under par (through six) alongside American JB Holmes, who has just completed a round of 68.

JB Holmes takes in the north coast. Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

The Offaly man enjoyed an utterly brilliant start, hitting the ball sweetly tee to green to follow up yesterday’s excellent 67 with a remarkable four birdies in his opening five holes.

With marvellous approach shots and his putter dialled in, Lowry was inches away from a fifth birdie on hole number four, but the 25-foot effort drifted left and he had to be content with a par for that hole.

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A visit to the rough at the fourth during an otherwise excellent opening for Lowry. David Davies David Davies

Tommy Fleetwood leads the chasing pack after he recovered from a first-hole bogey to card a 67 that leaves him on -7 going into the weekend.

One shot back is Justin Rose, thanks in no small part to a 12th-hole eagle to to add to his three birdies on the front nine.

Watch that @JustinRose99 Eagle here. #TheOpen

Live scoring 👉 https://t.co/eQjasgPOwf pic.twitter.com/zDOaGSwwUZ

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2019

Tiger Woods is enjoying a much more stable round today, with four birdies to his name through 15 holes. However, the most successful player in the field has work to do if he is to make the projected cut at +1. He sits four over par due to yesterday’s disastrous 78.

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