HOYLAKE, England — A British tabloid dubbed Brian Harman «Brian the Butcher» because of his fondness for hunting and eating wild game.
But it was the American golfer's deft short game and putting prowess that helped him match his best round in a major Friday and take a 5-stroke lead into the final 36 holes of the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
Harman, the 26th-ranked player in the world, carded birdies on four straight holes on the front nine and closed with an eagle on the par-5 18th to post a 6-under 65 in the second round.
His 36-hole total of 10-under 132 matches those of the previous two Open winners at Royal Liverpool, Tiger Woods in 2006 and Rory McIlroy in 2014. «I've had a hot putter the last couple days, so try to ride it through the weekend,» Harman said. «Thirty-six holes to go, so try to rest up and get ready.