By Julio Cesar Valdera Morales
Contributing Sports Writer
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Scottie Scheffler laid down the law during the second round of the Open Championship, storming to first place with a 36-hole score of 10-under. Once again, the weather conditions were a challenge, but the World No. 1 successfully navigated them.
This time, the problem wasn't the alternating rain and wind, but the complete shift from sunny to rain that Royal Portrush experienced in the span of just a few minutes.
"It was super sunny when we were on the driving range, I'm out there in short sleeves, it's warm out," Scheffler recalled after his second-round performance, according to a transcript. "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."
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"Fortunately, it didn't pour the whole time. We only had maybe four or five holes where it was really coming down, and I was able to take advantage of the holes where we had some good weather."
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It's hard to pinpoint the moments Schefler didn't take advantage of during the second round. He started in the best possible way, with a birdie on the first hole, then made three consecutive birdies between the fifth and seventh. Bogey-free on the front nine, he made the turn at 4-under.
After carding his fifth birdie on the 10th hole, Scheffler had his only lapse on the 11th hole, where he played a couple of shots below his usual standard. He first hit his tee shot into the native area to the left of the fairway, then flew over the green with his third shot. He ultimately carded his only bogey of the day.
However, the Ridgewood, New Jersey, native quickly recovered from his slump and carded three more bogey-free birdies over the next seven holes, finishing at 7-under for the round.
According to golf statistician Justin Ray, Scheffler's eight birdies on Friday tied his career-best one-round record in major championships. He had previously done so twice at the PGA Championship, in 2020 (finishing tied for fourth) and this year (winning the event).
Watch Out! Scottie Scheffler's Putting is Working
It's a widely held belief in the golf world that when Scheffler's putting is on point, he's practically unbeatable. So far, the Open Championship is providing further proof of this.
After the first 36 holes, Scheffler is second in strokes gained putting (plus-6.39) and is the best player in the Open Championship's field in terms of three-putting avoidance, having not three-putted even once so far in the tournament.
With that putting performance, few are surprised that he's leading the event.
Scheffler attributed this to the work he has been doing with his team since last year.
"That was something we tested out in the Bahamas last year and felt comfortable from the start," Scheffler said via the transcript, talking about his new club and grip. "I use it (the 'claw grip') as we get closer to the hole, lag putting. Outside of 15 to 20 feet, I'm still putting conventional. It was something we felt could help us improve, and so far it has."
And boy, has it helped. Suffice it to say that Scottie Scheffler is currently on a streak of 10 consecutive top-10 finishes, including three wins. He hasn't finished outside the top 25 all year.
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