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 ..