Rory McIlroy Safely Through Cut at British Open 2026

Rory McIlroy has secured his spot for the weekend at the 154th Open Championship after shooting a 3-under 67 in the second round at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.

What Happened?

McIlroy bounced back from a challenging first round with a solid performance in the second round, moving to under par on the tournament. As of 11:20 a.m. ET, the projected cut was at 1-over par, with a dozen players sitting T-68 set to make the weekend.

Why It Matters for Rory McIlroy

McIlroy's performance in the second round has given him a comfortable cushion to make the cut, but he still has a long way to go to lift the claret jug. The world No. 2 will have to do much more to contend for the title, especially with the likes of Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns leading the charge.

What Comes Next?

McIlroy will look to build on his momentum in the third round, and he's confident that he can do so. "I think I've driven the ball so well the last two days," he said. "I think anytime I can get a driver in my hand, I'm going to try to." McIlroy will continue to focus on his driving and try to take out some of the fairway bunkers to gain an advantage.

McIlroy, who won the Open just down the road in Hoylake in 2014, struggled on the greens in shooting 72 on Thursday. "I'm still trying to figure out these greens a little bit," he told reporters Friday. "I've struggled the last couple of days. It was a little better today, but still didn't feel 100 percent comfortable."

The second round of The 154th Open is underway at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.

The Leaderboard

Lucas Herbert holds the clubhouse lead on 8-under par, with Sam Burns and Cameron Young sitting T-2 and T-3 respectively. McIlroy will have to do much more to catch up with the leaders, but he's confident that he can do so.

McIlroy will tee off on Saturday morning, looking to build on his momentum and make a push for the title. With his driving and putting improving, he's in a good position to make a run at the leaders.

The 154th Open Championship continues on Saturday, with McIlroy and the other players vying for the title. Will McIlroy be able to make a push for the top spot, or will he fall short? Only time will tell.

Category: match_report