Scottie Scheffler provides a threatening memory to take responsibility at the Open 2025

It was a putt to send Echos to send Royal Portrush from all 23 feet to have a precious par. Matt Fitzpatrick poured it in and avoided a last setback to show the contrasting nature of an open masterpiece test. But barely a few minutes later the scale of the task for Fitzpatrick and the rest of the field became threatening.

Fitzpatrick is already a big champion, so he knows the earnings of a gunshot donor, as well as the spectacular lines that made the table before, in particular these four consecutive birdies of 10-13 when he held a fascinating control over this little white ball. But this putt only allowed him to stick to the heels of Scottie Scheffler. A meaningful memory of what he needs to exchange strokes with the best player in the world in the next 36 holes.

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In the moist conditions around Royal Portrush, Fitzpatrick appeared with a remarkable five-lower-par round of 66 to sit at Nine-over-PAR and only be from Scheffler at 10th-PAR, since he follows a second major to complement his US open title. A performance that would consolidate his place in Luke Donald’s team Europe for the Ryder Cup in September. In addition, a second big title would catapult him into rare society. Several majors are only valued differently.

The Sheffield man played an exquisite golf that has won the field in strokes. However, it reminded of the small blemishes that could prove to be expensive at the weekend. Especially against Scheffler. Fitzpatricks Remarkable golf round could have been even better, but for the annoying seven-foot foot with 14 missed 14 to waste a stroke. Then a par who felt like a bogey, according to his enormous 362-yard drive 17. Then came a great crusader who has become a synonym for Fitzpatricks polished short game. It took up the green before the brakes screamed. A simple birdie putt was certainly not falling.

It should be emphasized that Scheffler was also not flawless. But he was pretty close. A headstrong drive to 17 saw him forced to land on the scorched surface, which was created by the hordes of the spectators. Of course, he cut out a shot to produce another chance of Birdie, with the following 14-foot enough to cover up Fitzpatrick.

This rare flaw from the tee for the three -time major champion emphasized how he can rely on a newly discovered weapon that could leave his rivals in the dust. The short stick heats up in the Scottish Open after an enigmatic week, where he lost 0.36 strokes that scored coups. There, on a rare opportunity to refer to the best player in the world, Scheffler was confused and reacted in a short failure with arms outstretched. He had only made 33 percent of his putts in the range of 10 to 20 feet. And his open unveiling about how Golf does not fulfill him added this susceptibility to security.

Matt Fitzpatrick from England recognizes the amount on 12th green (getty)

Scottie Scheffler from the United States is waiting for the eighth green (AP) for putt

Scottie Scheffler watches his iron shot on the 16th T shirt on the second day (AFP via Getty)

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But in his first 25 holes this week, he cut out another figure and converted 100 percent from the same area to make a profit of 1.58 lines. And after the relentless downpour, the course began to dry, and Scheffler’s trend once again bubbled in an impressive local transport round of 64, three better than his best in the open (67, -4 in 2023). Catastropy corner? Not a little bit of it, a second two in a row before this dagger to 17 caused a direct lead.

“I definitely met a few fairways more than yesterday, quite proud of the number I produced,” said Scheffler, who won second in Strokes this week. “I only see the breaks a little better, last week I thought it was a little bit of the greens, I saw a few double breakers. I assured this week that I have hired where I was cleared up. You only know to express.”

Before Scheffler’s run, a bundle ranking produced many heroes and villains. Enter Brian Harman, who enjoyed his job in the cushioning of the festival atmosphere two years ago and emerged from a Hoylake rain casting to become the surprise champion of the year.

And the enthusiastic hunter, who triggered a sensation in the British tabloids about his favorite activity in 2023, conjured up a flap 65 round of six-end-pars to sit behind his college of the USA USA. Just like China’s Haotong Li, who even briefly stormed past Harman to attribute eight Unter-Par.

The US golfer Brian Harman reacts after making his birdie Putt on the 18th green (Getty)

Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland holds an umbrella in the rain on the 18th hole (Getty)

England’s Tyrrell Hatton reacts to his second round (Getty)

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While an annoyed Shane Lowry made the cut, the 2019 champion seemed to think about R&A with the judgment of the organizers after receiving a two-shot penalty after his ball was moved when he had moved around the 12th hole.

“I am disappointed that they no longer have a camera hinge,” said Lowry, after accepting the punishment. “I told them I definitely look down to the ball when I did this exercise swing and I didn’t see it moved.”

Rory McIlroy, the ultimate hero in Portrush, quickly banished any negativity from the overwhelming pressure of a nation behind him. Instead, McIlroy returned to the reality of two more rounds in front of his revered Northern Irish fans after releasing a 69 to sit behind the 12th and seven behind Scheffler. It was a privilege that was not due to him at the Open Championship 2019 with this qualified missed cut.

“I don’t know if you can ever flow around here,” said McIlroy, who was finished with a three-way-par and six shots behind the tour. “This golf is very demanding. It is quite visually intimidating from the tee. I am looking forward to the opportunity. I have two additional days in this atmosphere before these crowds. I have the feeling that my game is definitely good enough to run.”

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The open often differ from the other three large championships based in the USA, with the harassment imposed by the elements. But his tires, informed fans with 278,000, who are expected over the week, offer a home for the far and wide characters.

Justin Rose from England and Robert Macintyre from Scotland shake their hand after completing their round (Getty)

England’s Tommy Fleetwood on the second day of the 153rd Open Championship (Peter Byrne/Pa)

Tyrrell Hatton is viewed by some due to his fiery temperament and his advised antics on the course as a tedious presence at the top of the game. But Hatton has never swaned from his blunt approach in a world of smooth, risk -versed sporting personalities. An almost -rades in Oakmont, a US Open test, from which many were dismissed as a candidate for Hatton’s game, only fueled the fire for one of the more unique talents of the game. When others were obsessed with the curvature of their ball flight, Hatton’s majestic, just shooting approach was once again at the top of a large championship ranking: 68-69 enough for T-5 and a performance that is worthy of a pleasure.

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“Don’t be rude,” said Hatton when he was asked whether he would repeat the trick of three pints of Guinness on a local field and with friends with friends on Wednesday. “I think three are the magical number.”

Elsewhere, Robert Macintyre is well placed at five-under-Par. Now “a completely different golfer, physically and mentally”, six years later, when he ended sixth place here in 2019, the SCOT hopes to build up in second place at the US Open this year.

While Ryder Cup is hidden Rasmus Hojgaard with Macintyre at Five-over-Par, one in front of his brother Nicolai, who played with Marco Simone for Team Europe in 2023.

Tommy Fleetwood, who went into the week six years ago six years ago to achieve a better runner-up, has produced a courageous reaction to a first round of 72, which gathered around a rally with a 69er to get back into the red at one-un-pars.