PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) \u2014 Scottie Scheffler had no idea what was coming his way Friday in the British Open. He warmed up in a short-sleeved shirt. The umbrella was out when he walked off the first green.<\/p>\n
For the thousands at Royal Portrush watching him, they knew exactly what to expect from the world\u2019s No. 1 player, and Scheffler delivered another relentless performance. Three straight birdies to close the gap. Two more at the end to take the lead.<\/p>\n
Scheffler had a 15-foot putt that was one turn away from dropping for a final birdie. He happily settled for a 7-under 64, his lowest round in a major, to take a one-shot lead over former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England.<\/p>\n
It was his lowest round in a major, yes, but there was a normalcy about it, too. Scheffler has been doing this for three years now and there is little left to say. Even when Sky Sports showed a list of his key statistics \u2014 driving accuracy down, greens in regulation great \u2014 that elicited little more than a shrug.<\/p>\n
The statistics led to a shrug.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, I\u2019m hitting the ball solid,\u201d Scheffler said. \u201cThe tournament is only halfway done. I got off to a good start.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scheffler made eight birdies on another wild afternoon of weather, putting him at 10-under 132 as he chases the third leg of the career Grand Slam.<\/p>\n
Fitzpatrick was equally dynamic when he began the back nine with four straight birdies, only to miss a 5-foot par putt on the 14th to slow his momentum, and a 3-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that was mildly irritating. He shot 66.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like every facet of my game was on today and I felt like I really played solid,\u201d Fitzpatrick said. \u201cTo take advantage of the opportunities I had out there was obviously really positive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brian Harman got the best of the weather \u2014 surprising sunshine \u2014 and took dead aim in his hunt for another claret jug. Harman played bogey-free for a 65 that left him only two shots behind, along with Li Haotong of China, who had a 67.<\/p>\n
Everyone else was five shots behind or more.<\/p>\n
That includes Rory McIlroy, who went around Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland with plenty of cheers but only a few roars. McIlroy had a 69 but lost a lot of ground because of Scheffler, Fitzpatrick and Harman.<\/p>\n
McIlroy started the second round just three shots behind. He goes into the weekend seven shots behind the top-ranked player in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there,\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cI\u2019m going to need to have it all under control and have it sort of all firing over the weekend to make a run.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fitzpatrick was at his lowest point just four months ago when he changed his caddie and coach and began pulling himself up. And now he takes that into the weekend against Scheffler.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to have the expectation to go out and dominate. He\u2019s an exceptional player. He\u2019s world No. 1, and we\u2019re seeing Tiger-like stuff,\u201d Fitzpatrick said. \u201cI think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament. For me, obviously, I hope I\u2019m going to have some more home support than him, but it\u2019s an exciting position for me to be in given where I was earlier this year.\u201d<\/p>\n