Golf majors

Shane Lowry leads The Open by two at the halfway stage after a blustery second round at Royal Troon. Lowry, the 2019 champion, rolled in a 20-footer for birdie on the last as he followed his opening 66 with a two-under 69 to improve to seven under. Former US Open and Olympic champion Justin Rose holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th to join Dan Brown, the world number 272 who was the surprise round one leader on six under and backed that up with a 72.

Unheralded Englishman Dan Brown holed a birdie putt in fading light at the last to sensationally take the lead after round one of The Open at Royal Troon. The world number 272, playing in his first Open after only qualifying two weeks ago, nonchalantly knocked in an eight-footer to complete a stunning bogey-free six-under 65. The 29-year-old is one ahead of 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry, who also posted a bogey-free round.