Rory McIlroy not giving up but it will take a monumental effort to catch Brian Harmon

Shane Lowry, Seamus Power, Darren Clarke and amateur Alex Maguire all missed the halfway cut but Pádraig Harrington just made it to the weekend.

NINE ADRIFT: Rory McIlroy after finishing his second round during day two of The Open at Royal Liverpool.  Photo credit: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Rory McIlroy has not given up hope of ending his major championship title drought but it will take a monumental effort from him and the entire field to chase down runaway leader Brian Harmon at the 151st Open Championship this weekend.

Harman, the world number 26 from Georgia in the United States, eagled the last early yesterday to post a second-round 65 at Royal Liverpool and move to 10 under par after 36 holes, five strokes ahead of nearest rival Tommy Fleetwood.