Scotty Schaeffler stepped into the Royal Portrush first tee on Friday afternoon as the heavens opened wide. Those ahead of him at the 2025 Open Championship were treated in ideal scoring conditions as a possible storm bypassed the facility, allowing birdies to jump into the candidate’s scorecards in the morning wave.
It’s raining again, but it’s raining again, and this par 71 player pulls the player with momentum – Schaeffler carded not only the low rounds of the day and championship, but also the low rounds of his major championship career when tapping on par on the 18th hole with a 7-under 64.
“When we were in driving range it was very sunny. I’m there in short sleeves. It’s warm,” Schaeffler said. “Then we get to the first hole, it’s still sunny. And suddenly, you look around, it’s super dark, and it starts to rain. Boy, how long will this last?
“Fortunately, it wasn’t pouring all the time. We only had four or five holes that it really came down, and we were able to take advantage of the holes where there were some weather.”
This mark was enough for Schaeffler’s name to surge the leaderboard on Friday afternoon. He gave Scheffler his 19th career 36 holes lead on the PGA Tour, and was enough to win his fourth lead of the season and fourth in the major championship.
Perhaps even more importantly, this championship was enough to remind the public if the Northern Irish tried their weekend mix between Schaeffler and Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hutton or Rory McIlroy.
No, the final 36 holes of this championship will only be one man and one man.
“Pressure, he’ll expect him to go out and dominate,” Fitzpatrick said of his Saturday playing partner. “He’s an exceptional player. He’s number one in the world and he’s looking at something like Tiger (Woods). I think it’s the pressure to win a golf tournament.”
During the week that started Schaeffler expresses his deepest thoughts The three-time major champion continued to walk to the beat of his drums, on travel, destinations, and where joy and satisfaction could ultimately lie. He celebrates his continued appreciation for his game and his love for grinding for his switch to a claw grip that took his putter this winter.
“I always evaluate things and see if there’s a way to improve… that was something that I felt would help us improve,” Schaeffler said. “And so far, I have it.”
The results are excellent in 2025, but the question remained as to how this rating translates into a test linking the links provided by Golf. The Scotland opening offered Little Hope as Schaeffler remained baffled by putters at the Renaissance Club, but through two rounds at the Royal Portrush he was the king of the greens and won six strokes at his counterpart.
After a historic 2024 season, which includes another Masters title, another player championship, Olympic gold medals and more, the game’s top players are a move that distinguishes Schaeffler and his lines of thought from his peers, knowing where improvements lie and the least move. It is also a move that helped him leave the pack heading for the final major championship weekend of this year.
Another Friday fever dream
In 2023, Herman fired 65 on Friday, leading a five-stroke lead heading into the weekend at Royal Liverpool. Two years later, with one claret jug secured thanks to play at Hoy Lake, the left-hander found himself in a somewhat similar position as he surged the ladyboards with no bogeys in round two of the Royal Portrush.
That weekend, the British press became obsessed with Herman’s hobby outside the ropes, and it remained in front of the heart when the Americans left the golf course this Friday.
“Yeah, Big Hunter, Big Fisherman,” Herman said. “I was surprised – yeah, I was a little surprised. I was curious why everyone had a lot of questions about it. I didn’t realize that no one was so mad about it.
Not bothered, Hermann has the look of a man who can lift the second claret jug in the last three years, as the ball’s hits are fantastic at 36 holes. If he wins, Herman joined Arnold Palmer, Padraig Harrington, Greg Norman, Ernie Elles and Lee Trevino as the men who have won two titles since World War II.
“I want to spend the same weekend and play great all the time,” Herman continued. “There’s a challenge. This is a hard golf course. The pins are in really, really tough spots and you really have to think about your path. Inevitably, you’ll accidentally hit some shots and end up at a spot you don’t want to go to.
There are multiple ways to prepare
Hutton spent Wednesday evening on the local pitch and played leisurely games with five friends. They followed the round with a few pints, but it is this preparation that Hatton praised his powerful opening round.
“I think we played six balls. I just had to be careful of some of the stresses this week. It was great to be able to actually go out and feel like a kid and enjoy myself,” he said. “Just going to the tournament, it was really fun. It was a beautiful night. After that we had three pints of Guinness.
The British card may not include any additional golf after the second round of 69 moves to 5 under, but more Guinness responded perfectly as Hatton responded perfectly when asked if he was due to do the same Friday evening.
“It’s not rude. I think three are magical numbers,” Hutton said. “If you go past three, you’re…yeah, two to three. Because you’re definitely not close to a hangover, so you still feel you have.
Rory’s “first” weekend at Portrush
Well, that’s the championship Already successful compared to Ulsterman’s 2019. McIlroy progresses over the weekend, and despite slight damage driving through the first two rounds, the career grand slam winner will have the opportunity to book a historic season with a jug of clarets as they enter the weekend at 3 under.
McIlroy went through a tournament that seemed to be stopped at his point, as every time momentum was gained, it seemed like a small mistake or misread putt would soon follow. There are places to clean up (particularly par-5 scoring), but if McIlroy got off to a tidy start on Saturday, everyone on the property will know about it.
“I feel like I’ve disappointed myself more than disappointed the fans, but I definitely think it’s… a hard drug to swallow, but at the same time, I’ve left myself too much,” McIlroy said. “Then, this time, yeah, I’ve just gotten better. I know what I need to do to make the most of myself in such an environment. I’m close to the best of my best here and there in the first two days. I’d have to control it all and fire all over the weekend.
“It’s incredible to play in front of these fans… In my wild dreams I thought I would return as a Grand Slam champion with the support of the nation behind me trying to win an Open Championship.
twins
Watching the Hojugaard family golf will be a busy weekend as the Rasmus brothers and Nikolai are halfway through in the top 10 on the leaderboard. Earlier on Friday, Rasmus was the one who set the pace for his family when he entered the clubhouse at 5 under.
“It’s cool to see Lass play well this week,” Nikolai said. “I saw him pretty early on the leaderboard and I wanted to follow up on it. A little frustrated, I couldn’t get to the 5 where he was. I felt there was a possibility in the round.
Nikolai and Rasmus had different carriers as the peaks didn’t seem to match. Nikolai was a member of the European Ryder Cup team in 2023, but Rasmus won the Irish Open and won the PGA Tour card the following year. Although this season wasn’t the best, they both finished runner-up in the Zurich Classic.
“We’re going to eradicate him until we’re at nine on Sundays,” Rasmus said.
There’s a high chance that he’ll play the captain
Who are the top five Americans in golf at the moment? Schaeffler certainly tops the charts, but behind him the question may be met with a variety of answers that Keegan Bradley is likely to find a way to conversation. His play captaincy topic is based on top 12 players, but the team leader of the US Ryder Cup is among its mark.
For example, consider his open performance as Bradley endured a brutal link to his golf resume until this week. He celebrated his rejuvenating short game and subsequent balanced performance for the subsequent improvements, and with these performances piling up, it seems unlikely that the captain would be.
“No, it’s certainly not easy,” Bradley said. “There’s nothing about picking someone that makes it easier, but if you feel like you’re going to get to that position and help your team, you’ll consider playing.
The road to becoming an unlikely red person
Ricky Fowler ranks 114th in the official world golf rankings and hasn’t had a top 20 major 20 since the 2023 US Open. Now, Fowler has publicly declared his fortune, from one spot on the field to this spot.
He received an invitation to sponsor the Memorial – part of the Open Qualifying Series – Fowler finished the T7 at Jack’s location to secure one of the field’s spots in the Royal Portrush. Some may be pleading about this path, but Fowler has successfully found his path along it. In the 69-72 round, the American is the red figure heading into the weekend in the championship he has managed to get through his career.
“I feel like I’ve always been creative and had a good imagination when it comes to hitting golf shots,” Fowler said. “I grew up in a flat driving range, so I had to imagine different things and hit different shots. There is a obstacle here, but sometimes you can see the shots and you need to do that. But I think it’s a lot different.
“But there are always a few different shots that can be hit, and you can make them all work, but it’s sticking to what you choose to do. Whether how far the ball bounces downwind or using wind or not, I think it’s fun because there are so many different variables. Play.”
Bryson’s bouncing
It was a 13-stroke improvement from Bryson Dechambeau from Thursday through Friday, similar to what McIlroy achieved with Portrush in 2019. To rumble raw from his 78 with a sensational 65 and stand more than once a week, the two-time US Open champion avoided consecutive early exits at this championship and major championship.
DeChambeau scored 5.50 strokes on irons in round 2 compared to round 1, and after an opening shutout, he had seven birdies carded. His play looks much sharper and his rounds look much tighter, but his hit-out right-hander hasn’t changed much.
“I played it the same way I did yesterday,” Deccanbeau said. “It links golf for you. I did the same shot as yesterday. I didn’t feel different. Today they’ve done my way better. My wedges are better.
