The Open: Live Blog from Royal Birkdale Golf Club

It is the second day of the Open Championship. Wind continues to dictate terms here at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

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Claret Jug - The Open

Southport, July 21, 2017: The conditions are very blustery here at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club. With the wind blowing vigorously, the golfers are taking some stick. Welcome back to the Live Blog from the Open Championship.

0013: Both our warriors have lost their battle against the brutal conditions at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club. But take heart from the fact that they were great ambassadors for India and played their hearts out through gruelling conditions. Missing out by a stroke here is deeply painful for them both. They could use some cheer and support from all of us.

2320: Thanks people for being with us. I have to head out to the scorer’s hut to catch up with the players as they return drenched from the exertions of the round. See you soon.

2317: Shiv Kapur is in desperate need for a birdie and the par-5 17 might yet be his best friend today and for the weekend.

2315: Play has resumed at #TheOpen

2235: TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF PLAY FOR HEAVY RAIN

2232: Shiv is fighting for survival even as an amber warning is issued by The Open for rain and wind.

2231: Shout out to Hideki Matsuyama. He copped a bogey at five, only to respond with back to back birdies at the next two holes. He is in T5 with Poulter, who dropped a shot at the 16th hole.

2230: Rory McIlroy is now inside the top ten at -1 with Austin Connelly. Incredible given how he began yesterday.

2215: Five way tie at the top of the 146th Open Championship. Jordan Spieth gives up a shot on the ninth hole. Poulter, Kuchar (Clubhouse), Koepka and Bland – all at four under now.

2208: The weather has cleared in Southport. But the gloom remains for Indian fans. Anirban and Shiv battling the odds here to survive the cut. Shiv has hurt his chances very badly with a hat-trick of bogeys just around the bend.

2128: Muggy weather does not do no harm to Richard Bland. He has made three birdies in four holes to climb into the lead with Spieth and Koepka

2122: Disastrous bogey-bogey for Shiv at 11 & 12. He has six holes left to try and undo the damage. He is at +6 now with two par-5 holes ahead. Can he work some magic?

2106: It is Jordan and Koepka at the top, with Kuchar and Poulter on their heels. Kuchar must be a very happy camper right now, not having to deal with wet clothes and umbrellas.

2104: Anirban has steadied the boat, but it is raining a bucketful here. He has made four straight pars after the two bogeys, remains at five over in the danger zone. Shiv is at four over, just enough to keep head above water.

2010: So he is human after all. Jordan Spieth sank a bogey at the third hole to get back into a tie with Koepka.

2000: Anirban and Shiv are in a spot of bother. Shiv made bogey at the sixth hole to drop to +4 and Anirban conceded another at the fourth to slip to +5.

2000: Nice bit of trivia for you. Lee Trevino was the last US Open champion to have lead or shared the lead in the first round of the Open. Brooks Koepka emulated him this year, but can he go on to win as Trevino did in 1971?

1958: The winds continue to exert influence here at Royal Birkdale. They are blowing at about 35 kilometers per hour, about the same speed at which Jordan is trying to draw away from the field.

1958: Jordan is playing another course, or so it seems. He is the only man without a bogey now as he stays at six under through the second hole.

1957: Bubba Watson nearly sank a birdie from the bunker on the 18th, but will settle for a par and even 140 through 36 holes.

1954: Hideki Matsuyama, in his fifth Open appearance, has gone off the first tee just a moment ago.

1941: Jordan needs a rescue act from a fairway bunker on the second and he settles for a no frills wedge shot back to the fairway. He needs to go up and down now to avoid a bogey.

1937: The temperature is reported to be 19 degrees. But if you ask me, it feels like we are in the middle of a freezing island with no place to hide. It is really cold despite three garments on my back.

1935: Shiv Kapur is keeping it real steady. Five out of five so far and he is even on the day, +3 with thirteen to play. Anirban though has just taken a dent on his card with a bogey at the third hole. At +4 he is living on the projected cut line.

1931: The birdie goes in, smooth as silk for Jordan and he is in the outright lead now at -6.

1928: Jordan Spieth is in unstoppable form. He has hit the ground running, producing a stunner from an unsighted position to the right of the fairway on the first hole. He is sitting pretty just a few feet from the flag.

1927: Boss has pulled all stops to dress its man, Henrik Stenson. It was Blue yesterday, today he is sparkling in a bright maroon tee. He is at one under and trying to work his way up the order.

1925: Zach Johnson has climbed an impressive 91 spots to T30 on the back of his 66 in the second round. He shot 75 on Thursday, which means he is still in over par territory.

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - JULY 21: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts to a chip onto the 13th green during the second round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 21, 2017 in Southport, England. (Photo by Warren Little/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – JULY 21: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts to a chip onto the 13th green during the second round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 21, 2017 in Southport, England. (Photo by Warren Little/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

1922: The knife falls today and is projected to slice the field at four over. Both Indians are safe at this hour, as they are lying three over, but this is going to be a long day.

1920: Tip your hat to 2015 Open Champion, Zach Johnson. He produced a brilliant 66 in the morning. Under these conditions that is pure gold, perhaps likely to be the low round today.

1917: Our Indian heroes are on the ground now and playing their second round. Shiv Kapur has made a great start, making even par on the first four holes. Anirban Lahiri is two groups behind, having made par on the first hole.

1915: Rory McIlroy has bounced back from a disastrous start yesterday. He is looking good for a run this weekend if he can keep up his determination. He has posted scores of 71 and 68 to get within four strokes from Jordan Spieth.

1830: Matt Kuchar was in the lead briefly before slipping back into a tie for third with a bogey at the final hole. He has 65-71 and in the clubhouse at 4-under 136.

1830: Richie Ramsay played out a steady even par 70 to remain 2-under through 36 holes. He is in T7. Austin Connelly of Canada has been spoken of highly and a 67 yesterday underlined his promise. He settled for a 72 today to go inside at one under.

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