In Portrush, Northern Ireland, Scottie Scheffler surveyed the 18th fairway. While awaiting the group ahead, a menacing grey cloud gathered behind the grandstands, contrasting sharply with the earlier sunlit, rainbow-framed scene. The shift in weather, from bright sunshine to impending rain, encapsulated the day`s unpredictable conditions at The Open Championship.
“When we were teeing off, depending on what weather forecast you looked at, it was going to tell you something different,” Scheffler remarked. “It was super sunny when we were on the driving range, I`m out there in short sleeves, it`s warm out. Then we get to the first hole, it`s still sunny. Then all of a sudden, you look around and it`s super dark and it starts pouring rain. You`re like, boy, I wonder how long this is going to last?”
Undeterred by the fluctuating weather, Scheffler began with a birdie on the first hole, setting the tone for his round. Throughout the afternoon, the world`s top-ranked player showcased his accustomed dominance, making victory seem almost a certainty. His second round at Portrush saw him excel in approach shots, sink over 132 feet of putts, record eight birdies, and card a seemingly effortless 64, establishing a 36-hole lead at 10-under.
“I felt like I hit a few more fairways than I did yesterday,” Scheffler said, stating the obvious. “Hit some really nice iron shots, and was able to hole some putts.”
Scheffler`s calm, understated approach is now well-known. His true impact, however, is best gauged by his competitors. When asked about being “on the fringes of contention,” Shane Lowry, who played alongside Scheffler, humorously retorted that being eight shots behind Scheffler, given his current form, was far from the fringes. Earlier, Rory McIlroy, finishing at 3-under, emphasized he was only five shots behind the then-leaders, Brian Harman and Haotong Li, who were at 8-under.
Whether it`s a one-shot gap like Matt Fitzpatrick or a seven-shot deficit like McIlroy, any lead Scheffler holds feels distinct. This is particularly true now that he`s not only mastering his usual strength (leading in strokes gained: approach) but also excelling with his putter (ranking second in strokes gained: putting). Matt Fitzpatrick, Scheffler`s playing partner for Saturday`s final group, praised him as an “exceptional player,” drawing comparisons to “Tiger-like stuff.” Fitzpatrick, initially enthusing about the thrill of contention, then wryly noted that Scheffler must be entirely accustomed to that feeling.
Despite Scheffler`s seemingly unstoppable momentum, this is still The Open, where maintaining a lead demands more than just precise hitting. This championship highlights golf`s diverse demands: the unpredictable ball roll, formidable bunkers, disorienting crosswinds, and daunting lies. Success, while simple in concept, is profoundly complex in practice. Raw distance takes a backseat to strategic play; how far a player drives becomes secondary to the ultimate goal: sinking the ball.
Consider Brian Harman, a stark contrast to players like Fitzpatrick who prioritize speed and distance. The 5-foot-7 Georgian, hitting around 275 yards off the tee, secured the 2023 Open at Royal Liverpool by simply playing smart and keeping the ball in play. Harman aims for another Open title with the same approach.
“I feel really comfortable over here,” Harman said. “I think that places like this force you to be a little bit more creative. It`s not so much of an aerial attack. There`s probably 10 different types of clubs, irons, drivers, woods that you can hit off the tee. There`s different ways to attack into the green, and there`s almost always a hill that will kind of kill a shot coming into the green. I just enjoy the creativity and trying to think your way around. You don`t necessarily — you`re not forced to hit certain shots. You can kind of do it your own way.”
Beyond Scheffler, whose consistent performance transcends course types, The Open`s leaderboard reveals diverse strategies. Rory McIlroy and 52-year-old Lee Westwood, both seven shots back from Scheffler, exemplify this: McIlroy has struggled with fairways, while Westwood, despite less distance, leads in fairways hit. The field also features DP World Tour veteran Haotong Li (8-under), rising stars Nicolai (4-under) and Rasmus Hojgaard (5-under), U.S. Open contender Tyrrell Hatton, and Tony Finau, who seeks to rebound after a two-year PGA Tour win drought and recent Open misses. Matt Fitzpatrick, based on form, might pose the most significant challenge to Scheffler`s bid for the Claret Jug.
“I felt like every facet of my game was on today,” said Fitzpatrick, who won the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline.
While exceptional ball-striking is crucial for success at Portrush – as evidenced by Robert MacIntyre and Harris English also being in the top 10 – Scheffler`s victory is not yet a certainty after 36 holes. The true challenge lies not just in his competitors, but in the unpredictable nature of The Open itself. Hazards lurk everywhere: pot bunkers, out-of-bounds areas, and deceptive mounds near fairways and greens. As Scheffler discovered Friday, the weather is unpredictable, and each tee shot can bring unforeseen wind or rain. Moreover, the links course has a history of crowning unexpected champions, as seen with Harman`s 2023 win.
“I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament,” Fitzpatrick accurately assessed the situation. “I wouldn`t say I necessarily feel as much pressure. He`s going to have the expectation to go out and dominate.”
Indeed, while many will pursue Scheffler starting Saturday, his formidable opponent might be The Open itself. This major has historically been his weakest, and its unique demands could make maintaining his lead the most challenging task. Should Scheffler prevail, the comparisons to Tiger Woods will undoubtedly intensify. Woods, also a world No. 1, was the last player to win The Open after holding a 36-hole lead, back in 2006, when his victory felt equally inevitable.
“We`ll see what the weekend brings,” Fitzpatrick concluded. “There`s still a hell of a long way to go.”