Scottie Scheffler delivers ominous reminder to take charge at The Open 2025
It was a putt to send echoes around Royal Portrush, from all of 23 feet for a precious par. Matt Fitzpatrick poured it in and avoided one final setback to show the contrasting nature of what an Open Championship test requires. Yet barely a few minutes later, the scale of the task for Fitzpatrick and the rest of the field became ominously clear.
Fitzpatrick is already a major champion, so he knows the merit of a shot-saver, as much as the spectacular strokes that lay the table before, notably those four consecutive birdies from 10-13 when he held a mesmeric control over that little white ball. But that putt only allowed him to cling onto the heels of Scottie Scheffler. A telling reminder of what he’ll need to trade blows with the world’s best player over the next 36 holes.
The soggy conditions around Royal Portrush saw Fitzpatrick emerge with a remarkable five-under-par round of 66 to sit at nine-under-par, bettered only by Scheffler at 10-under-par, as he pursues a second major to complement his US Open title. A feat that would cement his place, once again, in Luke Donald’s Team Europe for the Ryder Cup this September. Moreover, a second major title would catapult him into rare company. Multiple majors are just held in different esteem.
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Jack Rathborn18 July 2025 21:00
“I wouldn’t say I necessarily feel as much pressure.
“He’s going to have the expectation to go out and dominate. He’s an exceptional player. He’s world number one and we’re seeing Tiger-like stuff.
“I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament. For me obviously I hope I’m going to have some more home support than him, but it’s an exciting position for me to be in given where I was earlier this year.”
Mike Jones18 July 2025 20:55
Matt Fitzpatrick right in contention
Matt Fitzpatrick will be paired with Scottie Scheffler tomorrow.
Can he take on the world No. 1 tomorrow?
(AFP via Getty Images)
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
(Getty Images)
Mike Jones18 July 2025 20:50
‘Every facet of my game won on today’
He may not have the lead heading into the weekend but two rounds of 67 and 66 have put Matt Fitzpatrick in a great position.
He said: “I felt like every facet of my game was on today and I felt like I really played solid. To take advantage of the opportunities I had out there was obviously really positive.
“I’m giving myself an opportunity to win the golf tournament, but there’s still a hell of a long way to go.
“Obviously the aim of the game is to stay in it for as long as possible and hopefully you can pull away right at the death. I’m obviously 50 percent there.
“We’ll see what the weekend brings.”
Mike Jones18 July 2025 20:44
Scheffler misses out on record
Scottlie Scheffler has his eye on the record score at Royal Portrush as he lines up another birdie opportunity on the 18th.
Again, he’s placed himself with a straight putt but this time he leaves it short and has to settle for a round of 64.
That’s seven under for the day and he charges into the lead ahead of Matt Fitzpatrick.
Scheffler heads into the clubhouse with a score of -10 at the halfway stage of the tournament.
He’ll take some beating over the weekend.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Mike Jones18 July 2025 20:32
Shane Lowry receives a thunderous round of applause and cheers as he strides up to the final green.
He two putts for a par and finishes off with a round on one-under, the same as yesterday.
Good consistency from the former Open champion who will hope to push on tomorrow.
Mike Jones18 July 2025 20:30
It’s been a frustrating day for Jon Rahm. One full of near misses and slight errors.
He audibly gasps as a simple par putt slides past the hole and drops him down to level par for the tournament.
Rahm will be here for the weekend and he’ll hope the finer margins fall his way.
His playing partner, and defending champion, Xander Schauffele also bogeys and drops to -2.
Mike Jones18 July 2025 20:26
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin will miss the cut at his home Open after ending the second round on three over par.
He said: “It’s very frustrating. I started off lovely and I was playing lovely. I was one under after seven and made a silly mistake on eight.
“It’s been a frustrating last two days. I’ve played some really nice golf. I think it’s the best I’ve played in the four majors I’ve played in. There was just a few silly mistakes.
“It’s very frustrating with the way I think I’ve been playing. I birdied the first and made some really nice chances, and to drop those shots that I didn’t think were too poor of a shot, they were more of a mistake, that’s what is more frustrating than anything.
“It was a great week, the whole way through with the crowds and everything, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
Mike Jones18 July 2025 20:19
Chance for Scheffler to go clear
Scottie Scheffler has really turned it on towards the end of this round.
He’s on the green in two up on the 17th and has a 12ft putt for birdie.
There’s a little left-to-right but he judges the pace brilliantly and this one drops too!
Scheffler now has the lead outright and could even extend it.
He’s into double figures too.
Mike Jones18 July 2025 20:09
The world No.1 has been wonderful with his putter in both rounds this week.
An easy back swing and straight putt sends the ball up the hill and he rolls it in for a two from a touch over 10ft.
That takes him down to -9 and gives him a share of the lead with two holes still to go.
Mike Jones18 July 2025 20:01