The Open 2025: Imperious Scottie Scheffler surges into lead at halfway mark
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 number one 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 favourite 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.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription!
Techno Mag
Learn More
Undo
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.
One last birdie putt pulled up just short of the last hole, but Scheffler will be a firm favourite going into the weekend as he eyes his fourth win of the year.
Former US Open champion Fitzpatrick reeled off four straight birdies at the start of the back nine to briefly reach 10-under, before giving a shot back on the 14th.
He missed a three-foot birdie putt on the penultimate green but made up for it by draining a 23-footer for par on 18.
"He's world number one, and we're seeing Tiger-like stuff. I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament," Fitzpatrick said, looking ahead to playing with Scheffler in Saturday's final group.
Harman makes move
Harman, who won by six shots at Hoylake two years ago, completed a bogey-free 65 with his sixth birdie of the day on the 18th green.
"It's a very boring approach that I take. I'm not trying to be heroic or do anything crazy," he said.
Li is bidding to become the first Chinese man to win a major championship and he made five birdies in a second consecutive round of 67.
He came close to edging ahead of Harman, but saw a birdie putt on the 18th agonisingly slip by the hole.
"Definitely want to be comfortable... Will be a lot of pressure for sure, but just have to find a way to deal with that," Li said of the scrutiny which will be on him over the weekend.
McIlroy stays in touch
McIlroy's roller-coaster tournament continued, as his errant driving prevented him from taking full advantage of excellent early scoring conditions.
But the world number two found his groove late in his round, making two birdies in his final seven holes to stay in touch.
"I feel like I maybe could be a couple closer to the lead, but overall in a decent position heading into the weekend," said Masters champion McIlroy.
Robert MacIntyre, hoping to become the first Scottish major champion since Paul Lawrie in 1999, cruised into contention with a 66 to reach five-under.
MacIntyre is level with Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, also seeking a maiden major title, Danish youngster Rasmus Hojgaard and Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup.
Shane Lowry, who won the tournament when it was last played at Portrush in 2019, was handed a two-stroke penalty after his round due to the ball moving when he took a practice swing on the 12th hole.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
LIV Golf star expects OWGR 'to do the right thing for golf'
Joaquin Niemann expects the Official World Golf Ranking "to do the right thing for golf" as it reviews LIV Golf's latest submission to receive world rankings points for its events. HT Image The Chilean star has won a third of the 15 tournaments he has teed it up in worldwide this year and is by most accounts among the top tier of golfers on the planet. But Niemann is currently No. 103 in the OWGR because his five wins in 11 LIV Golf events in 2025 haven't accrued any rankings points. He was No. 68 after a tie for third in an Asian Tour event in February and he also tied for eighth at the PGA Championship before missing the cut at the year's final two majors. Niemann will not have an opportunity to earn more rankings points until playing a few tournaments on other tours after LIV's season concludes later this month. Niemann, 26, is among those who are hoping the OWGR softens its stance and allows players to earn points thru LIV events beginning next year. "I feel like the ranking system is not up to me, it's up to them. I'm expecting that they're going to do the right thing for golf," Niemann said on Wednesday ahead of this week's LIV Golf Chicago event. He reached as high as 15th in the OWGR before signing with LIV, but Niemann added that the world rankings don't factor into how he views himself among the game's elite players. "No, not really. It's not something that I think about to tell myself in the mirror, 'Joaco, you are No. 5,' -- no, I don't do that. That's not my job," he said. "I feel like I'm just here to do my best and try to make as many birdies as possible and to make the crowd enjoy us playing golf around the world." Despite having won five of LIV's first 11 events this year, he can still be caught by Spain's Jon Rahm for the individual title over the next two events. Rahm beat Niemann by three strokes in Chicago last year, but has yet to claim an individual title in 2025. Rahm has stayed consistent throughout the season, consistently posting top-10 results. He was among the proponents to have scores from all players count in the team competition, which Rahm's Legion XIII leads, and said the league needs to evaluate other ways it can evolve to create world rankings points opportunities. "There's a process to hopefully enter those world ranking points and at least get our foot in the door," Rahm said. "And then once we're allowed, we can see what changes can be made to earn as many as possible, keeping the integrity of what LIV Golf is about." Rahm said he hasn't been involved in conversations about further format changes, but mentioned concepts such as adding a fourth round to events and expanding the number of teams to make a cut-line more feasible "There's many possibilities that I can think of," Rahm said, adding that his ideas were purely hypothetical. "There's things we could do I think to add more world rankings points if we need it, and I'm sure there's more that I can't think of that the folks at OWGR and maybe (LIV CEO) Scott (O'Neil) or the front of the LIV office can probably tell us about to give us a little bit more of strength of field." For now, Rahm is focused on trying to track Niemann down for the individual title while having Legion XIII lock down the team title. Oh, and a little thing called the Ryder Cup, for which Rahm remains hopeful of being selected by European captain Luke Donald. "There's nothing I can confirm nor deny. But I think he has been texting me like he has been texting quite a few other players that are on that list of the possibility of getting picked," Rahm said. "Luke is extremely dedicated and very well-organized as a captain, so I think there's probably -- six automatic and then six picks, right, so there's probably about at least 10 names on top of those guys who are qualified that he's probably constantly texting. "I don't think he's actually told anybody they're in yet because it's too early. He's probably waiting until the end of August through the (FedExCup) playoffs and our events to maybe start making statements like that. In my case, I think I'm just one more of those many names." --Field Level Media
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Mike Vrabel just broke the internet with blood on his face after Patriots-Commanders brawl at camp
Mike Vrabel jumps into Patriots-Commanders brawl and walks out with blood on his face. (Image via X) If you thought NFL training camp was just about drills and walkthroughs, Mike Vrabel just reminded everyone that it's also a battlefield. During Tuesday's joint practice between the New England Patriots and the Washington Commanders, things got so heated that a full-blown brawl broke out and Vrabel, in peak 'football guy' fashion, didn't hesitate to throw himself right into the chaos. Mike Vrabel proves he's all-in, not just yelling toughness, but literally wearing it Here's what went down, rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson got into it with a Commanders defender after a heated rep during pass protection. Pushes turned into punches, and both sidelines swarmed in, a classic preseason pile-up. But the jaw-dropping part? Mike Vrabel, New England's new head coach, charged into the middle of the fight to break it up and came out of the mess bleeding. No joke. Cameras caught Vrabel with a gash on his right cheek, reportedly from accidental contact with rookie offensive lineman Will Campbell. The guy wasn't just coaching the Patriots, he was bleeding for them. What makes this story even more legendary? Vrabel didn't storm off or call it quits. He shrugged it off, stayed in the drill, and even cracked a classic Vrabel line to the guys around him, 'The guy couldn't get through and tried starting something. I wasn't gonna let that shit slide though' That's not just coach-speak, that's a man sending a message. If there were any doubts about whether Vrabel could lead the Patriots into a new era after Bill Belichick, this moment pretty much erased them. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Exclusive game bonus awaits POPG Learn More Undo Veterans and young guys alike were reportedly hyped by how Vrabel handled it. Tight end Hunter Henry said the team feeds off his energy. Wideout DeMario Douglas called it a "tone-setter." And honestly? It's hard to imagine Belichick ever bleeding for a summer practice fight. Insiders say this might be the most 'football guy' moment of 2025 training camp Once the images of Vrabel's bloody face hit the internet, NFL Twitter/X exploded. Analysts couldn't help but chime in either. Some called it the most 'hard-nosed moment' of any camp so far. For Patriots fans still mourning the end of the Belichick era, Mike Vrabel just gave them a brand-new blueprint for leadership: no monotone pressers, no hoodie mystique just full-contact culture setting, with a side of blood. Also read - 'You owe me $5,900': Shannon Sharpe says he's broke after OnlyFans settlement, tells Ocho Cinco to pay him back Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
HC declines interim relief to cricketer Dayal in rape case
1 2 Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court Wednesday declined to grant interim relief to 27-year-old cricketer Yash Dayal, who is facing allegations of raping a minor. The court refused to stay his arrest or halt police proceedings in the case. Justice Sudesh Bansal, while hearing Dayal's plea, observed that since the survivor was a minor when the alleged incident first took place, no protection from arrest could be considered at this stage. The court has called for the case diary from city police and listed the matter for further hearing on Aug 22. Yash Dayal, a fast bowler from Uttar Pradesh and a member of Royal Challengers Bangalore, the current IPL champion team, was accused of sexually assaulting the girl when she was 17. According to the survivor's lawyer, the incident occurred about two years ago, when she was a minor. It was also alleged that Dayal called the girl to a hotel in Sitapura during IPL-2025 and raped her again. Sanganer Sadar police registered the case on July 23. As per the petition, the survivor introduced herself as a cricketer and came in contact with Dayal in connection with her sporting career. She alleged that Dayal promised her help with professional opportunities in exchange for sexual favours. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Limited Time iPhone Deals (Save Big) on the Latest Models! SearchPad Undo During the hearing, Dayal's counsel, Kunal Jaiman, argued that another case from a different complainant was filed in Ghaziabad, and the Allahabad High Court stayed proceedings in that matter. He further alleged that the complainant in Ghaziabad and that in Jaipur were in collision and a group was trying to blackmail Dayal by filing coordinated cases against him.
