Harman Leads British Open At Royal Portrush, McIlroy Five Back

At the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush, American Brian Harman, the 2023 Open champion, surged to the top of the leaderboard with a bogey-free six-under 65, reaching eight under par and establishing a clear lead. Harman's precise play and hot putting mirrored his dominant performance two years prior, as he capitalized on key birdies early and late in his round. England's Tyrrell Hatton and Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard, along with Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, remained close contenders at five under, while world number two Rory McIlroy struggled with driving accuracy, managing to stay in contention at three under despite a mixed round. McIlroy's Ryder Cup teammates, including Justin Rose and Viktor Hovland, also made progress on the leaderboard, adding to the competitive tension. The conditions at Royal Portrush shifted from rain to brighter weather, setting the stage for an intense weekend as the leaderboard tightened.