British Open; J.B. Holmes, Shane Lowry share 36-hole lead

July 19 (UPI) -- J.B. Holmes and Shane Lowry ended the second day of the British Open tied atop the leaderboard at 8-under through 36 holes in Ireland.

Holmes shot three-under-68 and Lowry shot four-under-67 in Friday's second round at Royal Portrush.

"I'm in a great position, but my God, have we got a long way to go," Lowry said. "There's two rounds of golf on this golf course against the best field in the world."

Neither has ever won a major championship. Lowry finished second at the 2016 U.S. Open. Holmes' highest finish in a major was third place at the 2016 British Open.

Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood are tied for third place at seven-under. Justin Rose is among the golfers tied for fifth at six-under.

"There's a long way to go in this tournament," Westwood said. "If it's going to happen, it's going to happen, and if it doesn't, it doesn't."

Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth lead a group at five-under. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy each missed the cut.

The British Open began Thursday and concludes Sunday.

Moments from golf's British Open

Shane Lowry of Ireland holds the Claret jug after he won the 148th British Open on Sunday at Royal Portrush. Lowry won with a score of 15-under par. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Shane Lowry of Ireland holds the Claret jug after he won the 148th British Open on Sunday at Royal Portrush. Lowry won with a score of 15-under par. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Shane Lowry of Ireland wins the 148th British Open with a scores of 15-under par at Royal Portrush on Sunday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Shane Lowry of Ireland walks up the 18th green before winning the 148th British Open Championship at Royal Portrush on Sunday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Shane Lowry of Ireland shelters from the rain on the 13th green on the final day of the 148th British Open at Royal Portrush on Sunday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Shane Lowry of Ireland putts on the 13th green on the final day of the 148th British Open at Royal Portrush on Sunday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Shane Lowry of Ireland lines up a putt on the 12th green on the final day of the 148th British Open at Royal Portrush on Sunday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Rickie Fowler of the United States drives on the first hole on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tommy Fleetwood of Britain drives on the 12th tee on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Lee Westwood of Britain drives on the 13th tee on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

JB Holmes of the United States hits a fairway iron on the 11th hole on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Shane Lowry of Ireland drives on the 15th tee on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Jordan Spieth of the United States drives on the third tee on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

John Rahm of Spain drives on the first tee on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Patrick Reed of the United States drives on the second tee on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tony Finau of the United States putts on the third green on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Dylan Frittelli of South Africa drives on the fourth tee on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Brooks Koepka of the United States lines up a putt on the fifth green on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Justin Rose of Britain drives on the sixth tee on Saturday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Gary Woodland of the United States hits out of the rough on the 17th hole on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

American golf fans pose for a picture. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Phil Mickelson of the United States drives on the 17th tee on the second day of the Open Championship on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Bubba Watson of the United States drives on the 17th tee on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Sergio Garcia of Spain lines up a putt on the 16th green on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Jordan Spieth of the United States putts on the 11th green on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Dustin Johnson of the United States lines up a putt on the 18th green on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tony Finau of the United States drives on the 13th tee on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

J. B. Holmes of the United States drives on the sixth green on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Matt Kuchar of the United States laughs on the sixth green. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

J.B. Holmes of the United States drives on the fifth tee on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Jordan Spieth of the United States putts on the sixth green on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Reed lines up a putt on the 15th green on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tiger Woods chips onto the sixth green on Friday. Woods finished five shots over par and missed the cut. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tiger Woods drives on the 16th fairway on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tiger Woods hits out of the rough on the 17th green on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Patrick Reed of the United States hits out of the rough on the 18th fairway on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tiger Woods of the United States drives on the fifth tee on the second day of the Open Championship on Friday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Jon Rahm of Spain drives on the 12th tee on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tiger Woods of the United States drives on the sixth tee on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Woods walks in the rain on the first fairway on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the third green on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Patrick Reed of the United States drives the ball on the sixth tee on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Brooks Kopek of the United States lines up a putt on the 17th green on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Jimmy Walker on the 1st day of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush

American Jimmy Walker competes on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

American Zach Johnson competes on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Russell Knox of Scotland competes on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Corey Conners of Canada competes on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Francesco Molinari of Italy competes on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

American Gary Woodland competes on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland competes on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

American Luke List lines up a putt on the sixth green on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Rickie Fowler of the United States competes on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Siwoo Kim of South Korea competes on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Jim Furyk of the United States drives on the sixth tee. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan competes on Thursday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Shane Lowry of Ireland drives on the 16th tee on the final day of the148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush on Sunday, July 21, 2019. Lowry won with a score of fifteen under par. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Shane Lowry of Ireland drives on the 16th tee on the final day of the148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush on Sunday, July 21, 2019. Lowry won with a score of fifteen under par. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tommy Fleetwood of England drives on the 15th hole on the final day of the148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush on Sunday, July 21, 2019. Shane Lowry won in a score of fifteen under par. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Tommy Fleetwood of England hits out of the rough on the 13th hole on the final day of the148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush on Sunday, July 21, 2019. Shane Lowry won with a score of fifteen under par. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Shane Lowry of Ireland grimaces on the final day of the148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush on Sunday, July 21, 2019. Lowry won with a score of fifteen under par. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo