Portrush (United Kingdom) (AFP)

The first edition of the British Open in Northern Ireland since 1951 has become a nightmare for its former winners, especially for the local "hero" Rory McIlroy and the American Tiger Woods, Thursday during the first day of the latter Grand Slam of the year.

Before starting the second round on Friday, it was JB Holmes who best avoided the traps of the course of the Royal Portrush by making a card of 66, or 5 under par. The American, 3rd in the British in 2016, is one step ahead of the Irishman Shane Lowry. A group of 13 players, including Sergio Garcia (winner of the Masters 2017), Webb Simpson (US Open 2012) and Brooks Koepka (2 US Open, 2 PGA Championship), follows three strokes.

After a nightmarish first day, McIlroy, who was crowned in 2014, has been self-excluded from the list of contenders for the victory, for now: "When we play his first and last holes with seven shots over the par I get nervous at the start not because I move at home, but because I play the Open Championship ", tried to explain the N.3 world.

In addition to a double bogey at 16 and a bogey at the 3rd hole, McIlroy scored two birdies that let him hope to pass the cut Friday: "I'm obviously convinced that if someone starts with a 79 in this golf tournament, he can not think of victory at this point in time, but I think I will be able to bring back a good enough card tomorrow to stay in contention during the weekend. "

- Molinari not at best -

For his part, Tiger Woods, triple winner of the Open in 2000, 2005 and 2006, did slightly better with a birdie, a double bogey and six bogeys. With a total of 78, 7 shots over par, the American was 12 shots from the leader.

"I was not able to move as well as I would have liked, unfortunately we have to do it under these conditions in order to work the ball well, I did not manage to do it at all. from left to right and I also failed to hit the ball with consistency, "said the" Tiger ", author of a resounding comeback, in April, seizing his 5th Masters, the 15th major of his career, after eleven years of waiting.

Among the other former crowned heads hurt by the north-Irish course on Friday include Americans Tom Lehman (1966) with a 78, Phil Mickelson (2013) to +5, and especially David Duval. Victorious British in 2001, the 47-year-old had received an invitation. With a total of 91, or 20 over par, he acknowledged that he could "only be last".

And even the Italian title holder, Francesco Molinari, was able to return only 74 (+3), that is to say already eight shots of JB Holmes.

As a result, the many local audiences were excited about another Northern Irishman, Darren Clarke. The 50-year-old, who won the British tournament in 2011, finished in 42nd place (71) after having long been one of the leading men.

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