In a thrilling display of skill amidst summer showers, Scottie Scheffler, the world’s number one golfer, surged to the forefront of the Open Championship leaderboard on Friday. He delivered an impressive second-round score of 64, marking the lowest score of his illustrious major championship career. Scheffler's remarkable iron play has been notably complemented by exceptional putting performance, making him a formidable opponent for the other 155 competitors at Royal Portrush.
1. Scheffler showcased his prowess by making eight birdies during his round, tying him for the highest in the field for this week. It's no surprise that he leads in strokes gained approach after two rounds, a metric he has dominated on the PGA Tour for three consecutive years. However, the real game-changer is his second-place ranking in putting, especially considering his struggles at the recent Scottish Open where he missed 17 putts within 10 feet. This turnaround has been dramatic, with Scheffler converting 30 of 31 putts from inside 10 feet at Portrush and successfully sinking six putts from 10 feet or longer.
2. This marks the fourth occasion Scheffler has held the 36-hole lead or co-lead in a major championship. He successfully converted this position into victories at Augusta National in both 2022 and 2024. Scheffler is the first reigning world number one to hold the 36-hole lead at this championship since Tiger Woods, who did so thrice in 2000, 2005, and 2006, winning all three times. Historically, only five out of 28 players who led by one stroke after 36 holes have gone on to win the tournament, with Woods being the last to achieve this feat in 2006.
3. Scheffler's continued success positions him among golf's elite. Should he secure a victory this weekend, he would join an exclusive group of only four players to have won the Masters, PGA Championship, and Open before the age of 30. This prestigious list includes legends like Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Woods. With just seven players having won four majors by age 29 since the first Masters in 1934, Scheffler’s potential triumph would be a historic achievement.
4. Close on Scheffler's heels is Matt Fitzpatrick, who sits alone in second place, just one stroke back. Fitzpatrick has made significant improvements to his iron game, going from losing strokes to gaining over a stroke per round in his last 10 rounds, which includes his performance in Portrush. His best finish in a major since winning the U.S. Open in 2022 was a T8 at the PGA Championship in May.
5. Brian Harman, winner at Royal Liverpool two years ago, shares third place, only two shots behind Scheffler. He has demonstrated exceptional ball-striking abilities this week, ranking in the top 10 for both strokes gained off the tee and approach shots. Meanwhile, Haotong Li is also two shots back, having recorded the last bogey of the week at No. 14 on Friday, showcasing his strong performance.
6. The Ryder Cup duo of Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre is tied for fifth. Hatton has started this major championship with consecutive sub-70 rounds for the first time, significantly improving his bogey rate. MacIntyre’s Friday score of 66 featured a remarkable 344-yard drive, emphasizing his strong performance off the tee.
7. Rory McIlroy finds himself seven shots back and must deliver an exceptional performance over the weekend to contend. McIlroy's driving improved in Round 2, hitting seven fairways and gaining substantial strokes on the field with his tee shots, but he faces an uphill battle as only six players have won the Open while trailing by seven or more strokes after 36 holes.
8. Bryson DeChambeau made a remarkable comeback, shooting a second-round 64 after an opening 78, marking a significant turnaround. He is the first player to go birdie-less in Round 1 of an Open and then make seven or more in Round 2 since 2008, indicating a dramatic improvement in his iron play.
9. Both defending champions, Xander Schauffele and Shane Lowry, made the cut and will compete in the weekend rounds. Schauffele continues to extend his streak of consecutive major appearances, while Lowry narrowly made it through despite facing a two-stroke penalty. Jordan Spieth also advanced, extending his active streak of made cuts at the Open to 12.
10. The afternoon/morning draw proved advantageous, with players generating a 36-hole total score approximately 1.3 strokes better than those who played early-late. Historically, 89 percent of Open winners have been within four strokes of the lead after 36 holes, further emphasizing the importance of the upcoming rounds.
The excitement continues as the 153rd Open Championship unfolds at Royal Portrush, with top players like Scheffler and Fitzpatrick battling for the coveted title. Keep an eye on the leaderboard as the weekend progresses!
