How Birkdale crowd helped carry Fleetwood into contention

England's Tommy Fleetwood says the support provided by a home Birkdale crowd has "100%" helped push him into Open contention - but he is not the only British player on the leaderboard ready to strike.

Fleetwood, who grew up just up the road in Southport, shot a three-under 67 on Friday to move to joint eighth on four under.

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre is alongside Fleetwood in a stellar pack which also includes English pair Matt Wallace and Alex Fitzpatrick, as well as Spanish superstar Jon Rahm and defending champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler.

The group is four shots behind Australian leader Lucas Herbert - who carded a record-equalling 62 in Friday's second round - with Bryson DeChambeau also well in the mix, despite receiving a controversial two-shot penalty for "inadvertently improving his lie".

Despite all the drama, it is Fleetwood who will remain the centre of attention for the fans on Saturday.

The local favourite has received rapturous receptions across the course over the opening two days as he looks to finally win a major trophy.

After scrambling to an opening-day 69, Fleetwood had to work hard again on Friday before a flurry of three birdies in the final five holes left the home fans celebrating.

"They've been an absolute pleasure to play in front of for these two days. I love that I played some good golf there and something to cheer about," said the European Ryder Cup star.

"They make a big difference to me. They helped me so much [on Thursday] when I was struggling. You can't ask for any more than what they're giving me."

There would not be a more popular winner at Birkdale this week.

Fleetwood grew up playing at nearby Formby Hall and occasionally scampered over the Royal Birkdale fence to get on to the course which he dreamed of playing. He still talks with the same accent as the thousands cheering him around the Merseyside links.

Fleetwood remains relatable to the locals despite being a PGA Tour winner, a European Ryder Cup talisman and one of the best current players never to have won a major.

If that changes on Sunday, there will be a party like Birkdale and the surrounding areas have never seen before.

"Of course there's pressure," Fleetwood added.

"My own expectations are huge, and my own dreams started here. All that stuff's massive, but it's only good stuff."

MacIntyre 'in a great spot'

With three top-10 finishes in six Open Championship starts, alongside his Scottish Open win in 2024, Robert MacIntyre certainly has the game for links golf.

And the 29-year-old from Oban is proving that again this week.

An opening round of 67 was followed by a second-round 69 on Friday to lift him right into the thick of the contenders.

"It was a great round of golf," said MacIntyre who added that he had to give himself a reminder to "switch on" after scrambling a par on the sixth hole after playing two shots out of the rough.

"I'll be honest, I'm not nice to myself," he said.

"That's just the standard I set. I made a mistake. I felt like for a couple of holes we switched off.

"That was when I really had to reset what I was doing. We really had to switch on because it was getting out of hand."

The reset worked as he rattled off 12 pars and a bogey in his opening 13 holes before taking advantage of the two par-five holes on the back nine with a birdie on 14 and an eagle on 17 and not even a bogey on the last could darken his mood.

"It's where I want to be," he said.

"I feel like the game's in a good spot. I'm missing it in the right spots, the short game is sharp, putting is decent.

"I just maybe need to hit a few more greens and make life a little bit easier."

• DeChambeau receives two-shot penalty in dramatic Open scenes
• Two record-equalling 62s at The Open - and two different reactions

Contrasting fortunes for Fitzpatricks

Coming into The Open, there were plenty of people picking Fitzpatrick as one of the favourites to win - but Matt not Alex.

The Sheffield brothers have had contrasting fortunes at Birkdale, with younger brother Alex carrying the family's hopes into the weekend after world number three Matt missed the cut.

Alex, 27, has seen his professional career flourish recently and, after claiming his first DP World Tour title in March and partnering Matt to the Zurich Classic title on the PGA Tour in April, is playing in only his second Open.

He backed up his opening-round 69 with a three-under 67 on Friday, but came off the course to find out his sibling - who he is staying in accommodation with during the championship - had not fared as well.

Matt, 31, has won three times on the PGA Tour this year and shared third place on the links turf of the Renaissance Club at last week's Scottish Open.

But he shot a two-over 72 on Friday, to add to his 72 on Thursday, which left him three shots the wrong side of the cut mark, which came at one over par.

"I don't think he'll be particularly happy, but he's had such an amazing year," said Alex.

"His wife is close to giving birth, so there's more important things than golf right now for him."

Also heading home early is their fellow Englishman Justin Rose who followed an opening 75 with a two-under 68 but missed the cut on three over.

The 2013 US Open champion said his "overriding emotion was disappointment at not being able to enjoy two more rounds".

The 45-year-old who shot to fame as a 17-year-old amateur by finishing fourth in the 1998 Open at Birkdale said it was an "arm-tingling" experience being cheered on to the 18th green by the fans.

"People often remember yesteryear but I think it's a lot of appreciation for the career I've had since then, and I just really wanted to enjoy it with them.

"So I thank them for that. It was a good day but an amazing week."

The US charge

Many may have expected round one leader Jackson Suber to have had his day in the sun and fall away in round two. But the unheralded American kept his nerve to post a 69 for a six under par total.

He was joined on that number by another unfancied American in Ryan Gerard, while Cameron Young also shot a second successive 67 to move to six under.

Young has form at The Open, having finished runner-up in the 150th Open at St Andrews in 2022 and joint eighth the following year.

A shot further back is their compatriot Sam Burns, who equalled the low score in a major when he posted an eight-under par 62 to get to five under, minutes after leader Herbert's.

He is alongside DeChambeau, while world number one and defending champion Scottie Scheffler is satisfied after his opening two rounds left him in the pack at four under.

"If I continue to strike it like I did [on Thursday and Friday] over the next couple days, I'll be in a good spot," Scheffler said.