Scheffler surges to halfway lead

PORTRUSH, United Kingdom – Scottie Scheffler ignited his bid for a maiden British Open title by surging through the field to take a one-shot lead after the second round at Royal Portrush on Friday.

The world No. 1 brushed aside two torrential rain showers in Northern Ireland to fire a seven-under par 64, the best round of the week so far, and send an ominous warning to his title rivals.

He is 10-under overall at the halfway stage, one stroke clear of Matthew Fitzpatrick.

“Fortunately, it didn’t pour the whole time,” said Scheffler after his lowest round in a major.

“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.”

Fitzpatrick produced a brilliant 66 to boost his hopes of becoming the first English winner since Nick Faldo claimed his third title in 1992.

Brian Harman, the 2023 champion, is one shot further behind on eight-under, alongside China’s Li Haotong.

Home favorite Rory McIlroy carded a two-under par 69 to reach three-under for the tournament, but is already seven strokes off the pace.

Scheffler struggled off the tee on Thursday but still scored a first-round 68 to sit one stroke off the overnight lead.

He got his second round off to a flying start with a first-hole birdie in driving rain.

The PGA Championship winner then reeled off three consecutive birdies from the fifth hole, including a 34-foot putt down the hill on the par-three sixth.

A second downpour played its part in a rare bogey on the 11th, but Scheffler quickly responded with his sixth birdie of the round on the par-three 13th.

The three-time major champion picked up another shot on the treacherous 16th, dubbed “Calamity Corner”, before reaching 10-under on the 17th despite hitting his drive into the crowd.