By Paolo Uggetti
In Portrush, Northern Ireland, Scottie Scheffler paused on the 18th fairway, gazing towards the green. As he awaited the group ahead, a formidable grey cloud loomed behind the grandstands. Just a hole prior, Scheffler had been bathed in sunlight, a rainbow framing his view. Now, the sun had vanished, hinting at more impending rain.
Such was the fluctuating nature of the day at The Open Championship in Northern Ireland.
Scheffler remarked on the day`s meteorological uncertainty: “When we teed off, depending on the weather forecast you checked, it would tell you something different. It was incredibly sunny on the driving range; I was out there in short sleeves, it felt warm. Then we reached the first hole, still sunny. Suddenly, you look around, and it`s extremely dark, and it starts pouring rain. You think, `Boy, I wonder how long this is going to last.`”
Regardless of the downpour, wind, or sunshine, Scheffler remained composed. He birdied the first hole despite the challenging conditions – a clear indication of what was to follow.
Throughout the afternoon, the world`s top-ranked player showcased his now-familiar inevitability. On his second round at Portrush, Scheffler continued to excel in approach shots and sank over 132 feet of putts, recording eight birdies for a seemingly effortless 64. This performance secured him the 36-hole lead at 10-under.
“I felt like I hit a few more fairways than yesterday,” Scheffler understatedly noted. “Hit some really nice iron shots, and was able to hole some putts.”
This modest, matter-of-fact approach has become characteristic of Scheffler. Consequently, the most insightful and honest appraisals of his exceptional talent often come not from him, but from those striving to surpass him.
On Friday, when a reporter suggested to Shane Lowry, who played alongside Scheffler, that he was on the “fringes of contention,” Lowry chuckled. “Eight shots behind Scottie Scheffler isn`t on the fringes of contention given how he`s playing,” he retorted. Earlier, Rory McIlroy, finishing his second round at 3-under, emphasized he was only five shots behind the then-leaders, Brian Harman and Haotong Li, both at 8-under.
Whether it`s a single shot like Matt Fitzpatrick`s or seven shots like McIlroy`s, any deficit against Scheffler feels different, especially as he not only excels in his usual strength (strokes gained: approach, where he`s No. 1) but also appears to have unlocked a new ability with his putter (strokes gained: putting, where he`s No. 2).
“He`s an exceptional player. He`s World No. 1,” stated Fitzpatrick, who will be Scheffler`s playing partner in Saturday`s final group. “We`re witnessing Tiger-like consistency.”
When asked about the sensation of being in contention, Fitzpatrick initially praised the feeling before realizing that Scheffler likely experiences it routinely. He laughed, “It must be fantastic for Scottie.”
Despite Scheffler`s seemingly unstoppable momentum, this is still The Open, a tournament distinct for its demands beyond mere precision. Here, professional golf embraces inclusivity. The ball rolls unpredictably, bunkers ensnare, crosswinds disorient, and treacherous lies instill fear. The path to success, simple in theory, proves endlessly complex in practice. Driving distance is no longer the sole determinant; strategy reigns supreme. How far a player hits the ball merely serves as a means to the ultimate goal: getting the ball into the hole.
Consider Brian Harman. While players like Fitzpatrick have gained distance through speed training despite their slight build, the 5-foot-7 Georgia native, who typically drives around 275 yards, won the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool simply by keeping his shots in play. Harman returns, aiming for another Open title with the same approach.
“I feel very comfortable here,” Harman stated. “I believe places like this compel you to be more creative. It`s less about an aerial attack. There are probably ten different club choices – irons, drivers, woods – you can use off the tee. There are various ways to approach the green, and almost always a hill will slow a shot coming in. I simply enjoy the creativity and the challenge of strategizing your way around. You`re not necessarily forced to hit specific shots. You can do it your own way.”
Indeed. Apart from Scheffler, who is increasingly a consistent force regardless of the course type, there appears to be no singular winning formula for this tournament. Just observe the leaderboard: Rory McIlroy and 52-year-old Lee Westwood are just outside the top 10, seven shots adrift of Scheffler. McIlroy has struggled with accuracy off the tee, while Westwood has hit the most fairways in the field despite his shorter drives compared to competitors. The field also includes a DP World Tour veteran in Li (8-under) and two promising DP World Tour graduates, brothers Nicolai (4-under) and Rasmus Hojgaard (5-under), both within the top 10. Tyrrell Hatton, fresh from contending at the U.S. Open, and Tony Finau, who hasn`t won a PGA Tour event in two years and missed the cut at the last two Open Championships, are also present. And then there`s Fitzpatrick, who, on paper, might be the most significant threat to Scheffler`s pursuit of the Claret Jug.
“I felt like every aspect of my game was strong today,” said Fitzpatrick, who won the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline.
Certainly, elite ball-striking forms the foundation for any winning bid at Portrush – as evidenced by Robert MacIntyre and Harris English also being in the top 10. However, the reason Scheffler isn`t a guaranteed winner after 36 holes isn`t solely about his competitors, but more about the unique demands this tournament places on a player. Hazards lurk everywhere: a hidden pot bunker, an out-of-bounds area, or the deceptive “gores” that often appear closer to fairways and greens than they truly are. As Scheffler discovered Friday, the weather forecast is an unpredictable gamble, and stepping onto any tee offers no certainty of the wind or rain you`ll encounter. Furthermore, you never truly know what kind of champion the links course will crown; no one anticipated Harman`s victory in 2023.
“The pressure is on him to win the golf tournament,” Fitzpatrick asserted. “I wouldn`t say I necessarily feel as much pressure. He`s going to have the expectation to go out and dominate.”
Fitzpatrick is correct. While Scheffler will be pursued by many starting Saturday, his most formidable adversary might be the tournament itself. Historically, it`s the major where he has performed relatively weakest, and given its unique style, it`s also likely the most challenging to maintain a lead in. All eyes will be on Scheffler, who will further draw comparisons to Tiger Woods if he secures the win. The last player to win The Open after holding a 36-hole lead was Woods in 2006. At that time, Woods, like Scheffler now, was the world`s No. 1 player; then, too, Woods seemed unstoppable.
“We`ll see what the weekend brings,” Fitzpatrick concluded. “There`s still a very long way to go.”
