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Scheffler Leads Open Championship with Seven-Under 64
Scottie Scheffler faces the pressure of converting his halfway lead into a first Open Championship victory, according to his nearest competitor, Matt Fitzpatrick.
Scheffler, a late starter, quietly carded a best-in-class 64 at Royal Portrush to top the leaderboard at the end of a second day marked by a flurry of birdies and intermittent torrential rain.
The three-time major winner weathered the worst of the downpours on the Northern Ireland coastline, dropping just one shot in an accomplished round. Birdies at the 16th and 17th propelled the American into the lead.
The world number one will be paired with Fitzpatrick on Saturday. The Sheffield native, aiming to become the first English winner of The Open in 33 years, insists he feels no added burden.
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“Scottie is going to have the expectation to go out and dominate,” said the 2022 US Open champion. “He’s an exceptional player, the world number one, and we’re seeing Tiger-like stuff.
“I think the pressure is on him. I wouldn’t say I feel as much pressure.”
Scheffler began the week by stating that professional golf was “not a fulfilling life” and questioned “the point” of relentlessly pursuing victories.
The 29-year-old did not watch any of the day’s play before commencing his round in the mid-afternoon.
A violent downpour soaked his opening holes, but the subsequent softening of the links and calmer conditions allowed him to target the flags and set a challenging target for the rest of the field.
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Fitzpatrick Continues Strong Performance at The Open
Fitzpatrick, who edged out Scheffler to win his sole major at Brookline, is his closest challenger after sinking a 24-foot par putt on the 18th for a 66.
The 30-year-old has been on an upward trajectory since shooting 78 and 72 to miss the cut in The Players Championship in March – which he described as the lowest point of his career – following a run of just one top-10 finish in the previous year and a fall outside the top 80 in the world rankings.
Coaching changes brought consistency, with a tie for fourth place at last week’s Scottish Open showcasing his renewed confidence.
Portrush is the site of Fitzpatrick’s best Open finish – although the word ‘best’ is doing some heavy lifting, given he tied for 20th at the Antrim course in 2019.
Now in his 10th appearance at the event, he is well-positioned to become the first Englishman to lift the Claret Jug since Sir Nick Faldo at Muirfield in 1992.
“I’ve given myself an opportunity, but there’s still a long way to go,” Fitzpatrick said.
“There’s nothing better than being in contention. It feels a bit uncomfortable at the time, but you want to feel that. It means you’re doing something right.
“It’s an exciting position for me to be in given where I was earlier this year.”
One stroke behind Fitzpatrick and two adrift of Scheffler are 2023 Open champion Brian Harman of the United States and Li Haotong of China.
World number 111 Li has dropped just one shot in posting a pair of 67s, while Harman navigated the course with a blemish-free 65.
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Fitzpatrick is not the only Englishman with aspirations of emulating Faldo.
Tyrrell Hatton is five back after adding a 69 to his opening 68, but his thoughts after finishing his round were more focused on pints than shots.
The 33-year-old revealed his pre-Open preparations included a visit to a nearby pitch and putt course, followed by three pints of a well-known local stout.
Asked if he would repeat that formula after Friday’s round, the world number 23 replied: “Be rude not to. I think three’s the magic number.”
Hatton and Robert MacIntyre of Scotland both contended in last month’s US Open as they pursue a debut major victory.
MacIntyre says his runner-up finish at Oakmont has instilled him with the belief he can soon take that next step in his career.
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Is Sunday too soon? The 28-year-old thinks not, after his splendid six-birdie 66 also left him within five of Scheffler.
“I’m not scared. I’m not going to back away,” said the world number 14.
“If I’ve got a chance, I’m going to roll the dice. I’ve got so much more confidence and so much more belief that I am good enough.”
Hatton and MacIntyre will be making their way round not long after Rory McIlroy and the large crowds that will inevitably follow the local favourite.
The world’s second-best player believes he, too, can “make a run” over the weekend, having avoided a repeat of the ignominious early exit he suffered the last time The Open was in Portrush in 2019.
“I’ve been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there,” said McIlroy, speaking before Scheffler put seven shots between the pair.
“I’m going to need to have it all under control and have it all firing over the weekend to make a run.”
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