No stress, no fuss, Harman's boring approach works Open wonders again

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland :American Brian Harman did what Brian Harman does best to take the clubhouse lead at the British Open on Friday - hit fairways, sink putts and leave the stressing to others.

Two years after seizing the halfway lead at Royal Liverpool and going on to lift the Claret Jug by a whopping six strokes, the 38-year-old from Savannah, Georgia is at it again, this timer across the Irish Sea at Royal Portrush.

He carded the lowest round of the tournament, a bogey-free six-under-par 65 to move to eight under and throw down the gauntlet to the chasing pack.

If Harman is interested in omens, he also fired a bogey-free 65 at Hoylake two years ago and was never threatened as he went on to claim his sole major, sapping the spirit of the chasers on a rain-soaked final day with a nerveless display.

There is nothing flashy about the left-handed world number 26 who goes about his business with little fanfare.

Indeed, as he played the 17th hole on Friday, many of the fans perched alongside the fairway seemed oblivious to the fact the Open leader was in their vicinity, instead gazing into the distance for a bird's eye view of home favourite Rory McIlroy.

RELENTLESS ACCURACY

But his unflappable nature and relentless accuracy means that while British links courses mess with the minds of some of his compatriots, Harman feels completely in his element.

"I'll approach the weekend the same way. The only thing I'm really worried about is the first tee ball tomorrow, and then I'll try to hit the next one up there close to the flag," Harman, who lives on a 60-acre ranch, hunts for his own food and drives a tractor, told reporters.

"If not, go to the second hole. It's a very boring approach that I take. I'm not trying to be heroic or