On a strange day at the British Open, where we saw everything from sideways rain toa bat in the broadcast boothtoa genuine rules controversy, at least one part of the game proceeded exactly as expected: If there's a leaderboard around, Scottie Scheffler is going to be at the top of it. Sure, Scheffler has very little experience on links courses. This is just his fifth British Open, after all. But you didn't think that was going to slow him down for long, did you? Scheffler carded a stunning 64 to enter the weekend at -10, one stroke ahead of 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick. Both Scheffler and Fitzgerald put together substantial birdie strings. Scheffler had eight against one bogey, and came within a stroke of a record-tying 63. Fitzpatrick also had eight, with a four-birdies-in-four-holes run to start the back nine. "I felt like every facet of my game was on today and I felt like I really played solid," Fitzpatrick said after his round. "To take advantage of the opportunities I had out there was obviously really positive." Also near Scheffler at -8: China's Haotong Li and 2023 Open champion Brian Harman, the Georgia Bulldog who caused quite a stir two years ago when the British media learned about his love of hunting. That earned him one of the great nicknames in golf: The Butcher of Hoylake, and on Friday he carved up Portrush before most of the rest of the field teed off. "The only thing I'm really worried about is the first tee ball (Saturday), and then I'll try to hit the next one up there close to the flag. If not, go to the second hole. It's a very boring approach that I take," Harman said. "I'm not trying to be heroic or do anything crazy. I know that I've got the game to do it, and it's just a matter of executing and staying in my own head." Also in the mix: the Hojgaard twins, Nicolai and Rasmus, as well as Tyrrell Effing Hatton, Big Shot Bob MacIntyre, Harris English and Scottish Open winner Chris Gotterup. That whole group is at -5, except for Nicolai at -4 … within striking distance. At least in theory. The afternoon wave, including Fitzgerald and Scheffler, had to deal with brief but torrential rains, a soaking downpour before the sun came out … typical British Open weather, in other words. "When we were teeing off, depending on what weather forecast you looked at, it was going to tell you something different," Scheffler said after his round. "It was super sunny when we were on the driving range, I'm out there in short sleeves, it's warm out. Then we get to the first hole, it's still sunny. Then all of a sudden, you look around and it's super dark and it starts pouring rain. You're like,boy, I wonder how long this is going to last. Fortunately, it didn't pour the whole time. We only had maybe four or five holes where it was really coming down, and I was able to take advantage of the holes where we had some good weather." Also part of this odd day: A bat got loose in the broadcast booth, forcing Kevin Kisner to hide under his sportcoat: And Shane Lowry, the 2019 winner here at Royal Portrush, found himself in the midst of a rules controversy on the 12th hole where a ball moved during a practice swing: Halfway home, the British Open is looking like the Scottie Scheffler Show. Still a long way to go, but in a year when we saw one career grand slam achieved, we might be nearing another one already. "He's going to have the expectation to go out and dominate," Fitzgerald said of Scheffler. "He's an exceptional player. He's World No. 1, and we're seeing Tiger-like stuff. I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament."
