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American Collin Morikawa threatened to set a new record for the lowest round in men’s Major history on day two at the 149th Open Championship but ultimately had to settle just for the clubhouse lead.
The 2020 US PGA champion, making his debut in the event and playing only his second tournament on European soil after last week’s Scottish Open, briefly got to seven under after 14 holes on the par-70 Sandwich links.
It left the 24-year-old needing to cover the last four holes in two under to post a new mark of 61 and surpass the previous best set by South Africa’s Branden Grace at Royal Birkdale in 2017.
But a bogey at the 15th made his task significantly harder and, when a birdie chance lipped out at the last, he also missed out on equalling the course record.
However, he signed for a 64, which was still good enough for a nine-under total and a three-shot lead over South African duo Daniel Van Tonder, who went round in 66, and first-round leader and 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen, who was still to tee off.
Morikawa made light of his Open inexperience to storm up the leaderboard at Royal St George’s – at 7,075 yards playing 114 yards short of its maximum distance – and thrust himself into contention for the Claret Jug.
He covered the front nine in 31, the highlight being a brilliant approach to 18 inches at the par-four ninth, to take him to seven under and ahead of Oosthuizen.
Three more birdies in four holes from the 11th, having avoided major damage after driving into the rough to still make birdie at the par-five 14th, moved him into double figures, but a bogey at the next killed the momentum and his charge towards history was over.
The last debutant to win on his Open debut was Ben Curtis in 2003, coincidentally also at Royal St George’s.
He did that from 396th in the world. Morikawa, who also won the 2020 US PGA on his debut in that event, was ranked fourth coming into this week.
However, his form in Scotland, where he finished joint 71st with just one sub-70 round, gave no hint of what was to play out on Friday.
“Last week I wanted to win but I came out of it learning a lot more,” Morikawa said.
“The style of golf is different and last week helped tremendously.”
There were other players who needed to make significant moves just to ensure they made the cut for the weekend.

Pádraig Harrington lines up a putt on the sixth green during the second round. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images


Ryder Cup captain Pádraig Harrington will be in action over the weekend after carding a two-under 68 to make it back to level par.
Harrington enjoyed a purple patch after turning in one-over 36, making four birdies in six holes to go under par before a bogey on the 18th brought him back to level par for the tournament.
Meanwhile, Masters runner-up Will Zalatoris said he was “completely gutted” after being forced to withdraw from his Open Championship debut through injury.
Zalatoris, who was second to Hideki Matsuyama at Augusta National in April, injured his back in hacking out of the heavy rough on the 15th hole on Thursday.
The 24-year-old American, who had earlier holed his second shot to the 12th for an eagle, managed to complete an opening 69 but was advised not to continue in the year’s final major.
“I am beyond disappointed to pull out of The Open Championship this week,” Zalatoris wrote on Instagram.
“The second shot out of the heavy rough on #15 yesterday sent a tingling down my left leg and I have been advised not to risk any further damage to my back.
“I contemplated not finishing the round yesterday, but considering this is my first Open, I felt like I needed to finish the round (even if it meant embarrassing myself a little at the end ha!)
“I tried to hit some balls this morning and did some extra work in the gym with no improvement. I am completely gutted to not be moving forward in the championship.
“I look forward to coming back as soon as I can . . . thank you everyone for the support.”