While You Were Sleeping: Friday Morning Notes from The Open

It's Friday at The Open, and if you are just waking up, there's something special happening at Royal Birkdale.

LIV Golf's Lucas Herbert fired a front-nine 28 and has added two more birdies on the back. He was 8 under through 12 holes and held a two shot lead over 18-hole leader Jackson Suber.

But Herbert isn't the only one going low.

Here are some notes from the early morning at The Open (I will continue to add more as the round unfolds).

THE OPEN: Friday Tee Times, How to Watch

Friday Morning Notes from The Open 2026

Going Deep: Lucas Herbert, having a freakin' morning, kid. The LIV Golf Virginia winner from earlier this season didn't play in either the Masters or PGA Championship, and missed the cut last month at the U.S. Open. But at Royal Birkdale, Herbert posted a 6-under 28 on the front nine Friday to take the solo lead at 6 under.

Here Comes P: After tying for 12th at the Masters and for 10th at the PGA Championship, Reed missed the cut at the U.S. Open. But after an opening 72 on Thursday, Reed made five birdies on the front nine

Friday to make the turn with a 4-under 30. His lone top 10 in The Open came in 2019 at Royal Portrush.

Cut Watch: Data Golf predicts the cut will come in at 1 over, and a few big names from the morning wave are battling to make it to the weekend. Rory Mcllroy was 2 over for the tournament through six holes Friday, as was Brooks Koepka, who was also 2 over on the day. Matt Fitzpatrick (2 over) needs to hang in there, and it looks like Wyndham Clark (6 over) will need something special on the back to make it through. The cut at The Open is top 70 and ties.

Stress-Free Golf: Collin Morikawa's game has been trending over his last three starts: T-29 (RBC Canadian Open), T-19 (U.S. Open), and 3rd (Travelers Championship). Now, the 2021 Champion Golfer of the Year is making another run at the Claret Jug. He made the turn with a bogey-free 3-under 31 on Friday and was 5 under for the tournament.

That'll Do: Coming off a birdie at No. 8 that moved him to 1 under on the day and 1 over for the tournament, Mcllroy, for the second day in a row, drove the green at the 400-yard ninth. But this time, he hit it to

11 feet. That, folks, is what we call a golf shot.