PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – For years, Rory McIlroy has dreamt of walking down Royal Portrush’s 18th hole to a standing ovation. He received one, but two days earlier than he hoped. The fans cheered McIlroy for fighting to make the cut at a tournament that he won five years earlier. McIlroy’s Open Championship dreams were dashed from the start after his first tee shot went out-of-bounds. The fans still showed up Friday to support the local boy, even after his 79. “I didn’t know how people were going to react yesterday, how many people were going to be on the first tee,â€� McIlroy said. “To have that many people out there following me, supporting me, cheering my name, it meant the world to me. I’m glad, to some degree, I gave them something to cheer about today.â€� It looked like McIlroy would need another course record Friday just to make the cut. He shot 61 at Royal Portrush when he was 16, but the track has been toughened since then. Related: Leaderboard | Englishmen in contention | Spieth, Koepka bringing their best to another major | Tiger cards 1-under 70 His second-round 65 at The Open tied the low score of the tournament and riveted the fans at Royal Portrush who stuck around on a cold and cloudy afternoon. It was around 8 p.m. when McIlroy signed his scorecard. The support from his countrymen clearly had an impact on McIlroy, who struggled for words during his post-round interviews. “As much as I came here at the start of the week saying I wanted to do it for me, you know, by the end of the round there today I was doing it just as much for them as I was for me,â€� McIlroy said. “I wanted to be here for the weekend. Selfishly I wanted to feel that support for two more days. “To play in front of those crowds today and to feel that momentum and really dig in, it’s going to be a tough one to get over.â€� The weekend still seemed far away after McIlroy made two birdies on Friday’s front nine. He produced a riveting display on the back nine, though. He birdied Nos. 10-12 before making bogey on the par-3 13th after hitting into a bunker. He bounced back with another birdie on the 14th hole before saving par from another bunker on the 15th. Royal Portrush’s 16th hole is named Calamity Corner for good reason. The 230-yard hole has a steep drop-off right of the green. McIlroy lasered a long-iron to 10 feet and made the putt on the course’s third-hardest hole. He needed one more birdie on the last two holes to keep his hopes alive. He drove into the rough on 17, but played a deft wedge shot that landed just over a bunker and rolled to 12 feet. He just missed the birdie putt. On the last hole, his aggressive approach was a hair too far to the left, rolling down a hill. His fate was sealed when his chip failed to fall. “The last week has been a real eye-opener for me,â€� McIlroy said. “Sometimes you’re so far away and you forget about all the people that are cheering you on back home. And then you come and play in front of them. It definitely hit me like a ton of bricks today.â€� He wasn’t the only big name to miss the cut by a shot. Brandt Snedeker, Jason Day, Keegan Bradley, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston and Brian Harman, who got in the field as an alternate, all finished at 2 over. Day bogeyed five of his last six holes to shoot 74 and miss the cut by a stroke. It was his first missed cut in nine starts in this championship. This Open was always going to be historic. It was the tournament’s first visit to Royal Portrush in nearly 70 years. But a more ignominious piece of history was made Friday: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the same major for the first time. Woods shot 78-70, the second-highest 36-hole score of his career in this event. After winning the Masters, he played the final three majors of the year in 9 over par. It was the first time since 2015 that he missed multiple cuts in majors. “You can’t compare the two,â€� Woods said. “Those were some of the lowest times of my life. This is not. This is just me not playing well and not scoring well, and adds up to high scores.â€� Woods and Mickelson have both missed the cut in just three other PGA TOUR events: the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open, 2012 A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier and 1993 AT&T Byron Nelson. Mickelson played alongside 36-hole co-leader Shane Lowry. Lowry beat him by 16 shots over 36 holes. Mickelson’s last top-10 in a major came in his famous duel with Henrik Stenson in the 2016 Open at Royal Troon. Mickelson’s best finish in a major since then is T18. U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, who played alongside McIlroy, also missed the cut after shooting 74-71. This was Woodland’s first missed cut in eight Open starts. Zach Johnson, the 2015 Open champion, missed the cut for the first time since 2006, ending a streak of 12 consecutive cuts made in this event. He’d finished in the top 25 in seven of the past eight Opens. McIlroy wasn’t the only player from Northern Ireland with a heartbreaking finish. Darren Clarke, the 2011 Open champion, triple-bogeyed the last hole to finish at 3 over par, missing the cut by two shots. Clarke is a member at Royal Portrush and hit the first tee shot of the tournament. He quickly rushed off the green after his difficult finish. Bryson DeChambeau finished at 5-over 147. Since the start of 2017, his best finish in a major is T25. Marc Leishman shot 8-over 150. He’d made five consecutive cuts in The Open, including three top-6 finishes. McIlroy wasn’t the only former Open champion with an impressive finish. David Duval never threatened to make the cut, but his determination to play to the end was admirable. He shot 20-over 91 in the first round, including a 14 on the par-5 seventh hole. He was 8 over par on his first nine holes Friday, as well. He still played hard, shooting 1 under on his back nine.

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PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – As the story goes, Shane Lowry and his close friend Padraig Harrington were sitting together on the same flight to California a couple of years ago when the plane encountered turbulence. After a nearby passenger started to become nervous, Harrington tried to calm her down. “Turbulence has never ever taken a plane down,â€� Harrington reassured her. To which Lowry quipped: “There’s a first time for everything.â€� Related: Leaderboard | Englishmen in contention at Royal Portrush | Spieth, Koepka bringing their best to another major The Irishmen shared a laugh as they told the story during a joint interview with the Independent newspaper a day later. It was good they could smile – especially for Lowry, given that the previous summer he had frittered away a chance to win his first major by shooting a final-round 76 at the U.S. Open in Oakmont. Lowry had entered the final round with a four-shot lead but bogeyed four of his first 10 holes, eventually giving way to Dustin Johnson. It was a harsh lesson – but perhaps a necessary one that will pay dividends this week at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Lowry will enter Saturday’s third round in the final twosome with American J.B. Holmes, the two sharing the 36-hole lead at 8 under. It’s Irish Whiskey vs. Kentucky Bourbon, although a large pack of contenders – including, of course, Brooks Koepka – are eager to chase. Every golfer at this level has varying amounts of scar tissue, tournaments that once seemed in their grasp only to slip away. Holmes once led the 2008 PGA Championship after 36 holes but ended up shooting a final-round 81 in a tournament won, coincidentally, by Harrington. But Lowry has the fresher scar tissue, and perhaps the most pressure, given that he’s an Irishman leading the first Open to be played in Northern Ireland in 68 years. If he can pull this off … well, no Irish writer – and there have been plenty of great ones – could produce this kind of story. “Look, I’m obviously going to be thinking about it tonight,â€� Lowry said. “There’s no point in shying away from it.â€� Yes, but will he be thinking about Oakmont? Harrington thinks it could help. Very few players win these things without going through that a couple of times,â€� said the three-time major winner, who definitely has suffered his share of near-misses. “I would definitely think he’s a better player because of Oakmont rather than scarred. “He’s won big tournaments. It’s not all gone one way or the other. He’s had some tough ones on the golf course and he’s had some good ones. That’s the most important thing. … Oakmont has definitely got to be a help to him, not a hindrance.â€� Holmes hasn’t really felt the weekend pressure at a major in the last decade. His two top-10 finishes came in the same 2016 season, and they were both of the backdoor variety – a tie for fourth at the Masters when he started the final round tied for 13th, and a third at the Open Championship when he entered Sunday eight shots off Henrik Stenson’s lead. But he has suffered through a poor stretch since winning the Genesis Open in February. After his second-round 68 on Friday, he acknowledged it was more than just a slump. “Four weeks ago, I thought my career was over. Or felt like it,â€� Holmes said. He’s obviously pulled himself together at Portrush. No one on the first page of the leaderboard has more career scar tissue than 46-year-old Englishman Lee Westwood, still seeking his first victory in his 82nd career major start. He has three seconds among his 18 top-10s; if he wins on Sunday, he’d be the oldest major winner since Julius Boros won the 1968 PGA at age 48. Westwood’s not thinking about that right now. “There’s too much ground to cover before Sunday night,â€� he said. “… If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. And if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Just go home and have dinner, go on holiday the next week. Do the same things. Life won’t change.â€� Lowry said life won’t change for him, either, if he wins. He just wants to go out and do his best. A year ago, he was in bad spot. He missed the Open cut for the fourth straight year. He split with his long-time caddie. He was depressed about his game. “I wasn’t in a great place mentally,â€� he said. Now, he’s 36 holes away from being a national hero. An entire island will be rooting for him this weekend. Maybe he turns that near-miss at Oakmont into a positive. Portrush native Graeme McDowell, making the cut on the number, will try to chase down Lowry. He expects it to be difficult. “Shane Lowry is probably one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met in the life,â€� McDowell said. Added Harrington: “He’s got a great attitude and a winning mentality … I think Shane does believe he can do it.â€� Sure, Lowry’s never won a major. But there’s a first time for everything.

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Figuring him out isn’t easy, and always leads to questions. Was the wincing at The Open more than everyday aches and pains? Was it a bad week in the cold? It’s how things work these days with Tiger.

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PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Tiger Woods’ major campaign this season began with an incredible high, one of the biggest moments in his legendary career. But since then, it’s been mostly frustration and free weekends, with Woods facing the cruel realities of an older golfer struggling for consistency. Woods shot a 1-under 70 in Friday’s second round of The Open Championship, but his 6-over total for the first two days at Royal Portrush left him well outside the cutline. It’s his second missed cut in the three majors since winning the Masters in April, and the seventh missed cut in his last 13 major starts dating back to the 2014 PGA Championship. Prior to that, he had missed the cut just three times in his first 61 major starts as a pro. That was then. This is now. The new normal for Woods? He still has the game to compete; after all, he’s won twice in the last 12 months, including the 2018 TOUR Championship. But at age 43 and after four back surgeries, he no longer can contend on a weekly basis. “One of the hardest things to accept as an older athlete is that you’re not going to be as consistent as you were at 23,â€� Woods said. “Things are different. “I’m going to have my hot weeks. I’m going to be there in contention with a chance to win, and I will win tournaments. But there are times when I’m just not going to be there. And that wasn’t the case 20-some-old years ago. I had a different body and I was able to be a little bit more consistent.â€� Woods had warned prior to the start of his play that his game wasn’t where it needed to be, and his opening 78 was the proof. He played better Friday, but just like the day before, he failed to take advantage of Portrush’s three par 5s. Through the two rounds, he was 2 over on those holes. “If I handled those par 5s well, I would be right there,â€� Woods said. But he’s not, and as a result, he’ll go home for more rest. He had a month off coming into The Open, having taken a two-week vacation to Thailand, and now he’ll take the final two weeks off in the PGA TOUR’s Regular season in order to concentrate on next month’s FedExCup Playoffs. The two-time FedExCup champ entered this week ranked 23rd in points. “Last year I almost stole the whole FedExCup at the very end,â€� said Woods, whose TOUR Championship win moved him to second behind eventual FedExCup champ Justin Rose. “If it wasn’t for Rosie’s little break there at the bunker, it could have been interesting.â€� Woods said his current situation shouldn’t be compared to earlier this decade when his playing schedule consisted of multiple starts and stops as he dealt with the physical problems that threatened to end his career. “Those were some of the lowest times of my life,â€� Woods said. “This is not. This is just me not playing well and not scoring well. “It’s more frustrating than anything else because this is a major championship and I love playing in these events. I love the atmosphere. I love just the stress of playing in a major. And unfortunately, I’ve only had a chance to win one of them – and was able to do it. But the other three, I didn’t do very well.â€� RELATED: Leaderboard | Tee times | Tough day for Tiger in Round 1 ROUND 2: TIGER HOLE-BY-HOLE No. 18, par 4 (474 yards): On his final tee shot of the day, Tiger isn’t particularly happy as he watches his ball head toward the thick rough. But he manages to avoid the heavy stuff, giving himself a shot at the green. With 196 yards to the pin, his approach comes up 20 feet short of the green. He decides to use putter and his ball comes up well short of the pin. His lengthy par attempt is nicely measured but finishes just right of the pin, and he taps in for bogey before doffing his cap to the appreciative crowd. Score: Bogey (hole); -1 (round); +6 (overall). No. 17, par 4 (408 yards): The rain is coming in harder now as Tiger tees off with driver at 17. He misses the fairway left, his ball in some of the thick grass above his feet. Tiger’s approach flies into the thick greenside fescue near the grandstands, and a frustrated Tiger – knowing his Open Championship will soon end – lashes out with an angry swipe of his club and a few choice words. He does well to chip out onto the green, giving himself a reasonable chance to save par. But his attempt from 15 feet fades at the end, and he taps in for his second bogey of the day. Score: Bogey (hole); -2 (round); +5 (overall). No. 16, par 3 (236 yards): Using 4-iron off the tee, Tiger successfully stays away from serious trouble at Calamity Corner, as his shot ends up pin-high left, about 30 feet away. But he can’t convert the birdie chance. Unless the cut line moves – or unless he produces something special in the last two holes – Tiger won’t make the weekend.  Score: Par (hole); -3 (round); +4 (overall). No. 15, par 4 (426 yards): A big drive with his 3-wood puts him in the fairway, just 125 yards to the pin. But with his 56-degree wedge downwind, he appears to mis-hit it, the ball coming up short of the green. He opts for putter, and rolls it nicely toward the pin, leaving him 4 feet for his par. Score: Par (hole); -3 (round); +4 (overall). No. 14, par 4 (473 yards): Excellent drive off the tee, smack in the middle of the fairway. His approach from 187 yards ends up pin-high, 25 feet right of the pin. His birdie putt has a right-to-left break, but the ball stays right. His third straight par. Score: Par (hole); -3 (round); +4 (overall). No. 13, par 3 (194 yards): A solid iron off the tee leaves him 25 feet from the pin. But his birdie attempt stays right of the hole, and he taps in for par. With a projected cut at 1 over, he’s starting to run out of holes. Score: Par (hole); -3 (round); +4 (overall). No. 12, par 5 (532 yards): With the par 5, Tiger has a great chance to keep the momentum going. Unfortunately, his tee shot finds the long grass – he mutters “no, no, no, no, no, no, noâ€� as he watches it drift into trouble — and he stays in the rough on his next shot. On his third, he chips out on the green, leaving himself 20 feet for a birdie. But he can’t hole the putt, as it never threatened the hole. Through two rounds, he’s played the three par 5s at Royal Portrush in 2 over. Score: Par (hole); -3 (round); +4 (overall). No. 11, par 4 (474 yards): His driver doesn’t quite find the fairway, as it misses left. But it’s in the short rough with a good lie – and Tiger follows with a nice approach shot that gives him another great birdie opportunity, inside 10 feet above the hole. He converts the putt. Looks like he’s making his move to reach the weekend. Score: Birdie (hole); -3 (round); +4 (overall) No. 10, par 4 (447 yards): His driver splits the fairway, leaving him 164 yards to the pin. It’s another nice approach shot, leaving him inside 15 feet, but with a big left-to-right break. Unlike the previous birdie attempt, this one is read perfectly. It’s a great way to start the back nine. Score: Birdie (hole); -2 (round); +5 (overall) No. 9, par 4 (432 yards): With iron off the tee, he finds the fairway, then follows with a terrific 8-iron from 170 yards that finishes 8 feet from the pin. But he fails to convert the opportunity and settles for par. He might’ve misread the putt. Score: Par (hole); -1 (round); +6 (overall)  No. 8, par 4 (434 yards): Driver off the tee, as Tiger’s ball lands just left of the bunker and feeds back into the fairway. But his 7-iron is off, and Tiger looks away with the ball still in the air. It hits the far left edge of the fringe and dribbles down into the fescue. He follows with a nicely executed chip that gives him a short par putt that he converts. Score: Par (hole); -1 (round); +6 (overall)  No. 7, par 5 (592 yards): Tiger follows that long birdie putt with his best swing off the tee thus far, a tee shot that travels 335 yards as he outdrives both of his playing partners. But in perfect position in the middle of the fairway, 260 yards from the pin, Tiger’s 5-wood is poorly struck, as he pulls it into the gallery left of the hole. He has a decent lie, just in front of some tall fescue, but can’t produce solid contact and the ball travels just a few yards away, failing to reach the green and finishing at the bottom of a slope. He uses putter for his fourth shot but his ball comes up well short of the pin. His 10-foot par putt skips the left edge. It’s a bogey on the hole playing as the easiest in the second round. Score: Bogey (hole); -1 (round); +6 (overall)  No. 6, par 3 (194 yards): Tiger’s tee shot finds the green, but he’s not nearly as close as his playing partners Patrick Reed and Matthew Wallace, as they each have birdie attempts inside 15 feet. No worries – Tiger rolls in the 30-footer for his second long birdie make of the round. Score: Birdie (hole); -2 (round); +5 (overall) No. 5, par 4 (374 yards): Tiger goes with driver on this drivable par 4. It’s a solid drive, but drifts a little right and finishes just short and right of the hole. It’s a tricky tee shot to the pin on the back half of the green, the Portrush beach just behind it. His wedge didn’t sound right, and the ball drifts left of the pin about 18 feet away. His line on the birdie putt is correct, but the speed is not, needing a couple of additional rotations. He taps in for par. Score: Par (hole); -1 (round); +6 (overall) No. 4, par 4 (482 yards): With a helping wind off the tee, Tiger again opts for 3-wood … and hits another 298-yard drive perfectly placed in the fairway. His approach from 176 yards is well-played, bouncing pin-high and finishing above the hole. His 18-foot birdie attempt has plenty of speed as it runs by the left side of the pin. An aggressive putt. He makes the 3-foot comebacker for par. Score: Par (hole); -1 (round); +6 (overall) No. 3, par 3 (175 yards): A nice tee shot from Tiger, as he finds the green short and left of the pin. From outside 35 feet, he two-putts for par. Score: Par (hole); -1 (round); +6 (overall) No. 2, par 5 (574 yards): Good opportunity to start with back-to-back birdies, as this hole was the easiest in the opening round. Tiger again keeps driver in his bag, going with a 3-wood that stays in the fairway down the left side, a 298-yard drive. With 250 yards to the pin, he goes with a fairway wood, his ball finishing left of the green, settling below a ridge. He opts for putter, but it’s a poor shot, as his ball barely creeps up the slope and is fortunate not roll back. That leaves him with a 15-foot birdie putt that he runs 5 feet past the hole. He rolls in the par save but it was an opportunity lost after the nice drive. Score: Par (hole); -1 (round); +6 (overall) No. 1, par 4 (421 yards): Unlike the first round when he used iron off the first tee, Tiger goes with 3-wood this time to start his round. But the result is the same – missing the fairway left, his ball ending up in the rough after a 260-yard drive. He’s only a few steps from the out-of-bounds stakes. Fortunately, his lie is a decent one. From 159 yards to the pin, Tiger’s approach is nicely struck, and his ball hits right of the pin and finishes above the hole. From about 30 feet, he reads the break perfectly, and rolls in the birdie putt, getting a big cheer from the gallery. Score: Birdie (hole); -1 (round); +6 (overall)

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