World-class players like Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked golfer, made their talents known at Royal Portrush. From there, he looked back only once while taking a commanding lead in the 2023 Open Championship. Standing in the middle of the 18th fairway, he glanced toward the green, clearly focused on maintaining his strong performance. After two rounds, Scheffler is 10-under par and playing the best golf in the field. He carded an incredible second-round 64, which included eight birdies and red-hot night putting.
Friday was his turn to flex those tiger-killing claws. He would go on to lead the tournament in approach shots and make more than 132 feet of putts combined. His one-on-one defending and ability to just generally keep the ball in front of him has really been the bedrock of his success. At the last Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, Scheffler demonstrated his cerebral approach. This strategy was key to his big victory, keeping him out of harm’s way and in the zone playing his own game.
Scheffler’s driving distance is about 275 yards off the tee—one of the reason’s he’s leading right now. He ranks first in strokes gained: approach and second in strokes gained: putting, further emphasizing his all-around game. Tiger Woods became the first player in history to win The Open Championship with a 36-hole lead in 2006. This milestone lays substantial heat on Scheffler’s haul to date.
In the wake of his dominance, many have posited that it would be disappointing if Scheffler’s win weren’t inevitable. Through it all, he always seems to make his victories seem like they were virtually preordained. His supreme confidence is evident every time he steps onto a course.
“I hit some really nice iron shots and was able to hole some putts,” Scheffler remarked after his successful round. He noted a slight improvement in his performance compared to previous days, stating, “I felt like I hit a few more fairways than I did yesterday.”
Scheffler not ready to check out just yet. Scheffler looking forward to the weekend! The back-to-back RBC Canadian Open champion will be accompanied by Matt Fitzpatrick in the final twosome Saturday. Fitzpatrick’s recognition of Scheffler’s talent was thorough, saying, “He’s World No. 1. He’s an amazing player.” Fitzpatrick pointed out the pressure that comes with being in Scheffler’s position, emphasizing that “the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament.”
As the tournament proceeds, other contenders are undoubtedly watching Scheffler’s performance just as closely. Shane Lowry commented on the state of the competition, asserting, “Eight shots behind Scottie Scheffler isn’t in the fringes of contention the way he’s playing.” His comment drives home just how big the lead Scheffler has over the other contenders. This is what makes it so difficult for any would-be connectors to bridge that gap.
The atmospheric conditions surrounding the Royal Portrush links layout have been quite inclement, providing yet another layer of uncertainty to the proceedings. Scheffler acknowledged this uncertainty during his post-round comments, noting that “when we were teeing off, depending on what weather forecast you looked at, it was going to tell you something different.” This added unpredictability can make all the difference, requiring extensive planning and execution on such a difficult track.
As Scheffler tees it up for the weekend, it’s clear that both fans and fellow competitors are on the edge of their seats. His talent and decision-making are most evident under pressure. This rare combination makes him the perfect fit for us betting on him to win The Open Championship.
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