Scottie Scheffler just makes golf look so easy, doesn’t he?
Scheffler went up a gear or two during his second round of The Open Championship, and he leads at Royal Portrush with 36 holes left to play.
The 29-year-old was in imperious form on day two, making eight birdies and a solitary bogey in his round of seven-under par 64.
There were doubts about Scheffler’s putting heading into The Open but he has firmly silenced his critics after two rounds at Portrush.
Scheffler looked out of sorts on the greens at The Scottish Open, but he has clearly put a lot of work in on his putting over the past few days or so.
The Dallas native currently leads Matt Fitzpatrick by one shot heading into the weekend at The Open.
He is now in a very strong position to win the fourth major of his career.
Wayne Riley predicts the score Scottie Scheffler will get to at The Open
Sky Sports on-course commentator Wayne Riley was mightily impressed by Scheffler’s performance on day two at Portrush.
The world number one is in complete control right now – that much was obvious while watching his second round.
Riley explained why he thinks Scheffler will win The Open convincingly, when speaking on Sky Sports in the UK.
He said: “I think all the players who have made the cut, Rory is going, ‘look, I’m spotting Scottie Scheffler quite a few shots here, how am I going to catch this guy because he isn’t going to do anything wrong’. Look, I am going to go out on a limb here. If the weather, and it’s supposed to only get up to six mph, that’s what they say, I’m going to say he’s going to get to 20 under. That’s a brave shout, I know it’s a brave shout. Once in a while I come out with brave shouts. I really think if the wind doesn’t get up and we’ve got these benign conditions, soft fairways and the greens slow-is, he’s just going to have fun. You don’t think he’s going to go out there and shoot five-under, five-under? I think he’ll get to 20.“
It certainly wouldn’t be a shock to see Scheffler reach 20-under par.
However, as Jack Nicklaus has noted before, the world number one usually does only what he needs to do.
If that means a couple of rounds of 69 will get the job done, that’s what he will shoot.
Scheffler has a wonderful ability Of being able to play within himself, and I expect him to do exactly that on Saturday and Sunday at Royal Portrush.
Scottie Scheffler stats after two rounds at The Open
Scheffler’s numbers are looking extremely solid right now.
And the exciting thing for the 29-year-old is that he still has room for improvement off the tee and around the greens.
| Stats | Scheffler’s ranking |
| Strokes gained off the tee | 94th |
| Strokes gained approach | 1st |
| Strokes gained around the greens | 100th |
| Strokes gained putting | 2nd |
| Strokes gained total | 1st |
Scheffler is looking ominous right now, and if he continues this form over the next two days, he will win The Open at a canter.
The world number one looks completely at ease with his game right now, and he will be relishing getting out on the golf course on Saturday.
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