PORTRUSH, Northern Eire — Brian Harman doesn’t care when you don’t assume he’s a high participant on this planet.
He doesn’t care whether or not you contemplate him a worthy British Open champion, which he was two years in the past at Royal Liverpool.
Harman needs extra and, although 36 holes of the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, he’s put himself in place to hoist the Claret Jug for a second time due to a second-round 65 on Thursday.
That put him within the lead at 8-under par as a few of the gamers with later tee occasions, corresponding to Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm, had been teeing off.
When Harman completed, he was main Haotong Li by one shot with Li nonetheless on his entrance 9, Rasmus Hojgaard, Robert McIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton (al completed at 5-under) by three and Tony Finau (4-under) by 4.
Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley are 5 again at 3-under par having completed their second rounds.
“I really feel actually comfy over right here,’’ Harman stated. “I’m comfy driving it. They’re very totally different golf programs (Hoylake and Portrush), however the golf is comparable. You’ve received to have the ability to flight your golf ball. You’ve received to understand how far every part’s going. Then you possibly can’t get annoyed. You’re going to get unhealthy breaks, you’re going to finish up in humorous spots the place it doesn’t appear honest, and also you simply should type of outlast that stuff.
“Though the golf programs are totally different, the fashion of golf may be very related.’’
Satirically, Harman didn’t instantly fall in love with hyperlinks at first.
“I gained the (John) Deere in ’14 and was the final man within the subject at Liverpool that yr,’’ he recalled. “I wasn’t tremendous enthusiastic about coming over. I simply didn’t actually fancy my probabilities. After I performed that week, I used to be like, ‘Wow, I can’t imagine how a lot I loved that.’ I like having the ability to hit these stingers off of the tee that go one million yards. I don’t know, I simply actually type of took to it.
“Then I performed horrible the following six Opens after which began enjoying higher over right here.’’
Harman posted a clear card, with out a single bogey, whereas making six birdies, together with one on the 18th.
He stated he’ll “method the weekend the identical approach’’ as he did two years in the past, when he was within the high 10 coming into the third spherical.
“I’m not making an attempt to be heroic or do something loopy,’’ he stated. “I do know that I’ve received the sport to do it, and it’s only a matter of executing and staying in my very own head. I’d like to have the same weekend (to 2023) and simply play nice the entire approach via.
“There’s going to be challenges. This can be a laborious golf course. The pins have been in actually, actually robust spots, and also you’ve actually received to assume your approach round it. Inevitably you’re going to mis-hit some pictures and find yourself in spots you don’t wish to be in, and the way in which you deal with that may decide the result of the event for certain.
