(Photo credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images)

In 2019, the last time The Open Championship was played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, native son Rory McIlroy missed the cut.

There is no danger of that happening at the 2025 edition of The Open.

McIlroy shot a 2-under round of 69 on Friday, leaving him at 3-under 139 for the tournament after 36 holes. Brian Harman, with his second-round 65, was in the lead at 8-under among players in the early wave of play.

'Another solid day,' said McIlroy, owner of a career grand slam, after his round. 'A couple under, improved a little bit on yesterday, hit it in play a little bit more off the tee, which was nice to have some looks out of the fairway and into some of these greens.'

'I feel like I maybe could be a couple closer to the lead, but overall in a decent position heading into the weekend,' he said.

McIlroy, 36, played the front nine at even par -- two birdies, two bogeys -- but made up some ground with birdies at holes 12 and 14.

He stood tied for 10th among the early golfers and sees the opening to climb up the leaderboard.

'I didn't have this opportunity six years ago, so to play an extra two days in this atmosphere in front of these crowds, I'm very excited for that,' he said. 'I feel like my game's definitely good enough to make a run.'

McIlroy said he's excited by the second chance to try to win The Open in front of home fans after the disappointment of 2019.

'I've been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there. I'm going to need to have it all under control and have it sort of all firing over the weekend to make a run,' he said.

'Yeah, it's incredible to play in front of these fans. ... It was 20 years ago that I played the North of Ireland here, and never in my wildest dreams did I think that I'd be coming back as a grand slam champion with the support of a nation behind me trying to win an Open Championship.

'I count myself very grateful and very lucky that I'm in this position.'

--Field Level Media