GOLF – World number one Scottie Scheffler conjured up a brilliant 64 to lead the British Open after an enthralling second round as home favourite Rory McIlroy’s roller-coaster ride continued at Royal Portrush yesterday.
American Scheffler finished on 10 under par, one clear of Matt Fitzpatrick who carded 66 to boost his hopes of becoming the first Englishman to lift the Claret Jug since Nick Faldo in 1992.
American Brian Harman, the 2023 Open champion who made a big move with a flawless 65, and China’s Li Haotong were a further shot back.
Scheffler, a three-times major champion seeking his first British Open title, racked up four birdies on the front nine and four more after the turn, a bogey at the 11th hole the only blemish in a sublime display of shot-making.
Fitzpatrick made four birdies going out and an inspired run of four more in a row lifted him two shots clear of the field.
A bogey on 14 dropped him back, however, and the 2022 US Open champion missed a three-foot birdie putt on 17 before holing a nerveless 23-footer for par at the last.
Li picked up five birdies in his first 12 holes, but the world number 111 bogeyed the 14th hole, his first dropped shot of the tournament.
Li, who finished third in the 2017 Open after shooting a closing 63, safely parred the last four holes to complete a second successive 67.
Harman lifted the Claret Jug at a soggy Royal Liverpool two years ago but arrived on the Northern Ireland coast under the radar after enjoying little success since his first major triumph.
The world number 26 birdied the first two holes, however, and picked up four more shots, sinking an eight-foot putt at the last.
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