Summary

  • Leader: -8 Herbert

  • Herbert bogeys 18th to miss out on record-breaking 61 at men's major

  • Burns holes out from bunker at last to also hit 62 and improve to -5

  • DeChambeau shoots 66 to move one off lead at -7

  • Fleetwood and Rahm's late surge lifts them to -4

  • England's Alex Fitzpatrick moves to -4, brother Matt misses cut on +4

  • Wallace and MacIntyre also at -4

  • Scheffler finishes on -3, McIlroy on -1

  • Get involved: best rounds of golf ever

  • What is the cut line?

Send us your views

Live Reporting

Tim Abraham, Matt Gault, Phil Cartwright and George Booth

  1. Thanks and goodnight

    And that is where we really are going to end this live text today.

    Please join us on Saturday afternoon for round three of the 154th Open Championship. You wouldn't want to miss it would you?

    Thanks for your company today.

  2. Rules infraction explained

    DeChambeau -5 (68)

    R&A rules official Grant Moir said: "Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of intended backswing on fifth hole."

    Moir said it broke rule 8.1 - and is basically what Graeme Storm told us a little earlier. Bryson did not intend to improve the line of his backswing, but he did and that is breaking the rules.

  3. DeChambeau -5 (68)

    There is a rules official chatting to the gathered media. We'll bring you his thoughts as soon as we can.

  4. Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport golf reporter at Royal Birkdale

    Bryson

    Bryson DeChambeau emerges from the cabin and strides towards the assembled media.

    “Are you guys having a great night?" he asks.

    "I’m having a great night."

    He refuses to answer if he’s playing tomorrow.

    "I’m off to hit some balls," he says and heads off to the range.

  5. We are still waiting to hear from Bryson DeChambeau. He has left the recorders hut and was calmly tossing a ball as he walked past dozens of reporters.

    He appeared to say something briefly. He's headed straight to the driving range. I wouldn't want to be a range ball tonight.

  6. Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport golf reporter at Royal Birkdale

    The leaderboard has been changed. Bryson DeChambeau is now five under and slides down…

    Leaderboard

  7. DeChambeau penalised two shots

    DeChambeau -5 (68)

    Bryson DeChambeau has been penalised two shots for the rules infringement.

  8. 'He improved the line of play'

    Here's what DP World Tour rules referee Graeme Storm has to say on the matter:

    "He's improved the line of play for his club to be able to hit the golf ball. That's what they're investigating.

    "Whether that's intentional doesn't really matter. If you improve your line of play you're improving your lie so basically you get the general penalty of two shots.

    "From what video evidence I've seen it looked like he's improved his line of play by stepping back on the long grass behind his line of play because he's looked down at it. He should get the general penalty which is two shots."

  9. Still discussing the outcome

    DeChambeau -7 (66)

    Bryson DeChambeau is in the recorders area, where the scores are updated, and R&A chief executive Mark Darbon in there. They have been in there for around 15 mins.

  10. Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport golf reporter at Royal Birkdale

    This is pure drama. Tens of journalists are waiting for DeChambeau to emerge from the recorders’ office where he is talking to officials.

    Here’s what we know so far:

    • DeChambeau was driven off to the fifth by rules officials to discuss a whether he trampled down grass near his ball.
    • He had an animated discussion with the officials and looked extremely frustrated
    • If he has been deemed to have improved his lie he will receive a two-shot penalty
    • If he doesn’t accept accept the penalty he will not be able to compete tomorrow
    • When he arrived back on the buggy near the media centre, DeChambeau was asked if he was playing tomorrow. He did not answer and simply smiled.

  11. DeChambeau -7 (66)

    Laura Davies
    English professional golfer on Sky Sports

    I don't think there's enough evidence to penalise the guy.

  12. DeChambeau -7 (66)

    Wayne Riley
    Australian professional golfer on Sky Sports

    The thing for me and I am not going to defend anyone here. I can't see how Bryson is going to get penalised without a camera directly behind him. There's his defence.

  13. DeChambeau fighting penalty

    We're going to fire this live text up again...

    There is a report that Bryson DeChambeau has said he won't play the rest of the Championship if he gets given a two-shot penalty.

  14. Watch highlights

    BBC Two

    Bryson DeChambeau of the United States acknowledges the crowdGetty Images

    Highlights of the second round of the Open are under way on BBC Two and the BBC iPlayer, as well as at the top of this page.

    We'll be back with live text and BBC Radio 5 Live coverage of round three on Saturday, and keep an eye out for the third-round tee times - plus any news on Bryson DeChambeau - on the BBC's golf page.

    See you on Saturday!

  15. DeChambeau -7 (66)

    Bryson DeChambeau is being driven away from the fifth hole on a buggy after a lengthy discussion with the rules officials.

    We're not sure how long it will take for a decision to come through and we'll be closing this live page soon, but we'll bring the details to you on the BBC's golf page when anything is confirmed.

  16. DeChambeau -7 (66)

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport golf reporter at Royal Birkdale

    Reporters are stood up in the media centre with their eyes fixed on the big screen.

    That's showing Bryson DeChambeau having an animated discussion with the rules officials. They have taken him back out to the scene of the incident down the side of the fifth hole. He hit a wayward drive into deep rough.

    The discussion seems to be centring around whether he trampled down some knee-high rough behind his ball.

    He is not happy. A lot of gesticulating, arm-folding and head-shaking going on.

    This feels huge.

  17. Gerard finishes with a par

    Gerard -6 (17)

    Ryan Gerard played the safe route out of the rough on the 18th, finding the fairway just before the green.

    Gerard left himself with a three-foot par putt to finish his second round and that sees the American score 67 at Royal Birkdale today.

    Gerard is in a tie for third alongside Jackson Suber and Cameron Young.

    A big day ahead tomorrow for Gerrard and his fellow Americans.

  18. DeChambeau -7 (66)

    Andy Stevenson
    BBC Radio 5 Live reporter at Royal Birkdale

    Bryson DeChambeau of the United States acknowledges the crowdGetty Images

    There was a lot of hubbub in the mixed zone when Bryson came through.

    He didn’t stop for any media (as expected) but was then met by some officials who walked with him towards the championship office.

  19. Rules committee investigating DeChambeau

    DeChambeau -7 (66)

    Well, some remarkable news coming from Royal Birkdale.

    Bryson DeChambeau is being investigated by the rules committee after he reportedly improved his lie on the fifth hole.

    If DeChambeau did in fact improve his lie, that would lead to a two-shot penalty, which would see his current seven under par score drop to five under par.

  20. Leader Herbert so close to history

    Herbert -8 (62)

    Australia's Lucas Herbert was the story of the morning at Royal Birkdale.

    He was eight under after 12 holes and suddenly everyone thought a new record low score at a men's major was brewing.

    When he got to the last, he knew a par would set a new record of 61 - but his effort slipped narrowly wide of the cup.

    Still, a 62 was enough to put him into the lead of the Open at the halfway mark.