The 2023 Open Championship: Harman Leads, Fleetwood Chases, Rahm Surges

Hello, bogey bears! Welcome to another exciting blog post from your favorite golf club. Today, we’re going to talk about the 2023 Open Championship, which is currently taking place at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. This is the 13th time that The Open has been played at this historic venue, and it’s shaping up to be a thrilling tournament with some of the best golfers in the world competing for the coveted Claret Jug.

Harman in Command

The leader after two rounds is none other than Brian Harman, who shot a stunning 67-65 to reach 10-under par and open up a five-shot lead over the field. The American lefty has been flawless so far, making 12 birdies and only two bogeys in 36 holes. He capped off his second round with an eagle on the par-5 18th, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Harman is looking for his first major title and his third PGA Tour win. He has been playing solid golf all season, with six top-10 finishes and a runner-up at The Players Championship. He is also no stranger to The Open, having finished tied for 26th in 2017 and tied for 19th in 2019.

Harman will face some tough competition over the weekend, as some of the biggest names in golf are lurking behind him on the leaderboard. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Fleetwood Flies High

One of the local favorites at Hoylake is Tommy Fleetwood, who grew up just down the road in Southport. Fleetwood has been dazzling the fans with his superb ball-striking and putting, shooting a pair of 66-71 to reach 5-under par and tie for second place.

Fleetwood is one of the most popular players on the European Tour, having won five times and finished second in the Race to Dubai twice. He is also a Ryder Cup hero, forming a formidable partnership with Francesco Molinari in 2018. However, he is still chasing his first major title, having come close several times before. He finished second at the 2018 U.S. Open and fourth at the 2019 Open Championship.

Fleetwood will have plenty of support from the home crowd as he tries to become the first Englishman to win The Open since Nick Faldo in 1992.

Rahm Rallies

Another player who made a big move on Friday was Jon Rahm, who fired an impressive 8-under par 64 to climb from 2-over par to 6-under par and tie for third place. The Spaniard was unstoppable on the back nine, making six birdies and an eagle to equal the course record.

Rahm is arguably the hottest player in golf right now, having won his first major title at the U.S. Open last month and reclaiming the world number one ranking. He is also a proven performer at The Open, having finished tied for 11th in 2019 and tied for fourth in 2020.

Rahm will be aiming to become the second Spanish player to win The Open after Seve Ballesteros, who won it three times in 1979, 1984 and 1988.

Other Contenders

There are plenty of other players who are still in contention for The Open title, including:

• Cameron Young, who shot a brilliant 5-under par 67 on Friday to join Fleetwood and Rahm at 6-under par. Young is a rookie on the PGA Tour who earned his card through the Korn Ferry Tour last year. He has two wins on that tour and one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour this season.
• Sepp Straka, who shot a solid 3-under par 69 on Friday to stay at 4-under par and solo fifth place. Straka is another PGA Tour rookie who earned his card through the Korn Ferry Tour last year. He has two top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season.
• Min Woo Lee, who shot a steady 2-under par 70 on Friday to join Straka at 4-under par and tied for sixth place. Lee is a rising star on the European Tour who won his second title at the Scottish Open last week. He is also the brother of LPGA star Minjee Lee.
• Shubhankar Sharma, who shot an even-par 72 on Friday to stay at 3-under par and tied for eighth place. Sharma is a talented young player from India who has two wins on the European Tour and one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour. He is also the youngest player in the field at 26 years old.
• Jason Day, who shot a 5-under par 67 on Friday to join Sharma at 3-under par and tied for eighth place. Day is a former world number one and major champion who has 12 PGA Tour wins, including the 2015 PGA Championship. He is looking to end a four-year winless drought and regain his form.

What to Expect

The weekend at The Open promises to be exciting and unpredictable, as the weather conditions can change quickly and dramatically at Hoylake. The forecast for Saturday is mostly sunny with a moderate breeze, while Sunday is expected to be cloudy with a strong wind and a chance of rain.

The players will have to adjust their strategies and shots accordingly, as the course can play very differently depending on the wind direction and speed. The greens are also very fast and undulating, requiring precise putting and good lag control.

The fans will also play a big role in creating a festive and electric atmosphere at The Open, as they cheer on their favorite players and witness some amazing golf. The Open is known for its passionate and knowledgeable crowds, who appreciate good shots and respect the traditions of the game.

Stay tuned for more updates and insights from bogeybearclub.com, your ultimate golf club. And remember, keep calm and bogey on!