Scottie Scheffler with a 64 takes lead at Open Championship
PORTRUSH, Northern Eire — Scottie Scheffler had no thought what was coming his method Friday at The Open. He warmed up in a short-sleeved shirt. The umbrella was out when he walked off the primary inexperienced.
For the 1000’s at Royal Portrush watching him, they knew precisely what to anticipate from the world’s No. 1 participant, and Scheffler delivered one other relentless efficiency. Three straight birdies to shut the hole. Two extra on the finish to take the lead.
Scheffler had a 15-foot putt that was one flip away from dropping for a ultimate birdie. He fortunately settled for a 7-under 64, his lowest spherical in a significant, to take a one-shot lead over former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England.
It was his lowest spherical in a significant, sure, however there was a normalcy about it, too. Scheffler has been doing this for 3 years now, and there may be little left to say. Even when Sky Sports activities confirmed an inventory of his key statistics — driving accuracy down, greens in regulation nice — that elicited little greater than a shrug.
“General, I am hitting the ball stable,” Scheffler mentioned. “The match is just midway finished. I received off to a great begin.”
Scheffler made eight birdies on one other wild afternoon of climate, placing him at 10-under 132 as he chases the third leg of the profession Grand Slam.
Fitzpatrick was equally dynamic when he started the again 9 with 4 straight birdies, solely to overlook a 5-foot par putt on the 14th to sluggish his momentum, and a 3-foot birdie putt on the seventeenth gap that was mildly irritating. He shot 66.
“I felt like each aspect of my sport was on at this time and I felt like I actually performed stable,” Fitzpatrick mentioned. “To benefit from the alternatives I had on the market was clearly actually constructive.”
Brian Harman received one of the best of the climate — stunning sunshine — and took useless goal in his hunt for an additional claret jug. Harman performed bogey-free for a 65 that left him solely two pictures behind, together with Haotong Li of China, who had a 67.
Everybody else was 5 pictures behind or extra.
That features Rory McIlroy, who went round Royal Portrush in his native Northern Eire with loads of cheers however only some roars. McIlroy had a 69 however misplaced plenty of floor due to Scheffler, Fitzpatrick and Harman.
Fitzpatrick was at his lowest level simply 4 months in the past when he modified his caddie and coach and commenced pulling himself up. And now he takes that into the weekend in opposition to Scheffler.
“He will have the expectation to exit and dominate. He is an distinctive participant. He is world No. 1, and we’re seeing Tiger-like stuff,” Fitzpatrick mentioned. “I believe the strain is for him to win the golf match. For me, clearly, I hope I will have some extra house help than him, but it surely’s an thrilling place for me to be in given the place I used to be earlier this 12 months.”
Scheffler was sharp from the beginning. He hit eight of the 14 fairways — in contrast with three within the opening spherical — although his misses by no means left him too badly out of place. However he’s seeing the breaks on smoother Portrush greens, and he seems to be assured as ever.
None of his eight birdies was nearer than 7 toes. 5 of them have been within the 10-foot vary, after which he threw in a 35-foot birdie on the sixth. His lone bogey got here on a drive into deep grass on the eleventh that saved him from reaching the inexperienced.
It is his tenth time holding a share of a lead after a significant spherical for the reason that begin of 2020, 4 greater than every other golfer in that span. He’s the primary world No. 1 to have no less than a 36-hole lead at The Open since Woods in 2006, an occasion Woods went on to win.
Harman was known as the “Butcher of Hoylake” when he received the claret jug at Royal Liverpool two years in the past as a result of the British press was fascinated by the Georgia native’s love for searching. Now it is about his golf, and it was excellent.
Harman performed bogey-free, solely as soon as having to emphasize for par as Royal Portrush allowed for some good scoring in surprisingly good climate within the morning.
“They’re very totally different golf programs, however the golf is analogous,” Harman mentioned. “You’ve got received to have the ability to flight your golf ball. You have to understand how far all the pieces’s going. Then you’ll be able to’t get annoyed. You are going to find yourself in humorous spots the place it does not appear honest, and also you simply need to sort of outlast that stuff.”
The group at 5-under 137 included Harris English (70), Harman’s former teammate at Georgia; Tyrrell Hatton of England (69); and Chris Gotterup (65), who wasn’t even planning to be at Royal Portrush till profitable the Scottish Open final week.
Data from ESPN Analysis and The Related Press was used on this report.