It's messy at Royal Birkdale — just how The Open should beplaySpieth opens up two shot lead at Birkdale (1:09)America's Jordan Spieth shot a second round 69 to take a two shot lead at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (1:09)
FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment5:37 PM ETJason SobelESPN Senior Writer Close Covered golf since 2004
Former writer at Golf Channel
Winner of four Emmys while at ESPNFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — Last month's U.S. Open wasn't too easy. It wasn't played on a terrible course. It wasn't devoid of drama. No, none of those issues were at the root of what was wrong with the year's second major championship. The problem is that the identity of the event, one which annually ensures that competitors never feel comfortable, was needlessly compromised. By eschewing that tendency, it felt like so many other events. It never felt like a true U.S. Open.
This notion is rel..

British contingent left to celebrate minor triumphs in round two of The OpenIan Poulter of England celebrates on the 9th green during the second round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment5:04 PM ETMatt CooperSpecial to ESPN.com CloseMatt Cooper is a golf writer from the United Kingdom who has worked for SkySports.com and SportingLife.com. He is a writer for Golf365.com and a number of print magazines.FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — Conventional wisdom insists that when the wind blows, the locals have an advantage. Conventional wisdom could be tainted, however, because, with three notable exceptions, the home contingent was left celebrating minor triumphs in round two of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
No doubt, the standouts were strong: Ian Poulter maintaining his audacious title bid, Richie Ramsay's reminding us that he boasts U…

Jordan Spieth wipes away the doubts in Birkdale rainstormplayWhat are Spieth's chances of winning The Open? (1:35)Tony Kornheiser and Pablo Torre dissect Jordan Spieth's Open chances after he ends the second round with a two-stroke lead. (1:35)
FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment4:40 PM ETBob HarigESPN Senior Writer Close Senior golf writer for ESPN.com
Covered golf for more than 20 years
Earned Evans Scholarship to attend Indiana UniversityFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — The shocking way he lost the 2016 Masters and the psychoanalysis of how Jordan Spieth might overcome such a devastating defeat was drowned out like the British rainstorm he experienced Friday.
Spieth never could quite wash away the questions, but he's done his best to put the worst day of his career behind him. He added two worldwide victories last year and has posted two more in 2017.
And now he is contending in a major championship again.
Sp..

Rory McIlroy finds his rhythm at The Open, and it's electricplayMcllroy fancies chances of Open victory (0:25)Rory McIlroy said his second round at The Open Championship has got him back into contention. (0:25)
FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment4:10 PM ETKevin Van ValkenburgESPN Senior Writer CloseSenior Writer for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine
Born and raised in Western Montana
Spent 11 years as a feature writer for The Baltimore SunFollow on TwitterFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — A Rory McIlroy head bob doesn't make a sound, but something feels different about the air on a golf course when he begins to strut toward his ball, his whole body seemingly in rhythm with a cadence only he can hear.
You can feel a buzz in the gallery when it begins. There's a current that runs through the grandstands, an invisible electric hum of jittery anticipation that's unlike anything else in the current world of golf. McIl..

Jordan Spieth grabs Open lead; Matt Kuchar two shots backFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment5:40 PM ETAssociated Press FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — The flight of Jordan Spieth's 3-wood from the light rough looked about as ugly as the weather at The Open. The outcome was about as bright as his chances of getting his name on another major championship trophy.
Spieth seized control Friday at Royal Birkdale with a shot that he hit a little off the neck of his 3-wood. It was low and hot, and ran fast along the rain-soaked turf until it skirted by a pot bunker and rambled onto the green to set up an 18-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th.
Editor's PicksSpieth wipes away the doubts in rainstormPlagued by criticism since melting at the Masters last year, Jordan Spieth's game has never been all that far away or all that accurately understood. In an English storm Friday afternoon at The Open, he let his brilliant resolve ..