Even the weather can’t stop Scottie Scheffler’s brilliant British Open

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Go ahead and try stopping Scottie Scheffler. 

That’s becoming about as easy as it once was to overcome Tiger Woods when he had the bit in his mouth at the lead. 

That’ll be the unenviable task of the players trailing Scheffler at the top of the British Open leaderboard entering the final 36 holes at Royal Portrush. 

It’s a task taller than the swelling dunes around the beautiful championship course. Because Scheffler, the world’s No. 1-ranked player, has quietly taken on the kind of intimidation aura that Woods once owned. 

Scheffler, who’s seeking a win at the Open this week as the third leg of the career Grand Slam, tied the tournament course record with his 7-under-par 64 in Friday’s second round. 

More impressively for a player who already has three major championships on his résumé at age 29, the 64 was the lowest score Scheffler has ever posted in a major championship. 

Scheffler overcame terrible weather conditions early in his round, which began after 3 p.m. local time. After a day of sunshine and calm winds, some harsh rain and wind lashed through as he teed off. 

“It was super sunny when we were on the driving range, I’m out there in short sleeves, it’s warm out,’’ he said. “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.’’ 

None of this bodes well for those who trail Scheffler’s 10-under total entering weekend play. 

Scheffler, after enduring the bad weather spell, birdied Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 10, and then closed with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to get to 10-under. 

He played so well that he completely overshadowed the marvelous day Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick had, a 5-under 66 that followed his opening-round 67. 

Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. Open winner, is 9-under and trails Scheffler by one shot — even though he was leading for much of the day. Fitzpatrick carded birdies on eight of his first 13 holes to get to 10-under and still somehow trails. 

Brian Harman, the 2023 Open winner, is 8-under, as is Haotong Li from China. 

After that, Chris Gotterup, from Little Silver, N.J. and fresh off his Scottish Open victory on Sunday, is 5-under, along with Harris English, Bob MacIntyre, Tyrrell Hatton and Rasmus Hojgaard. Tony Finau and Nicolai Hojgaard are 4-under. 

Among the players at 3-under are Rory McIlroy and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley. 

But this tournament is about Scheffler. Much like Woods at the height of his powers, Scheffler is the man to beat whenever he’s in any field. 

Asked about the pressure of being paired with Scheffler in the final group Saturday, Fitzpatrick joked, “It’s probably nicer than playing the U.S. Open.’’ 

“I wouldn’t say I necessarily feel as much pressure,’’ he went on. “He’s going to have the expectation to go out and dominate. 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.’’ 

Fitzpatrick is trying to become the first Englishman to win a British Open since Nick Faldo in 1992. 

“There’s nothing better than being in contention,’’ Fitzpatrick said. “It feels a bit uncomfortable at the time, but that’s what you’re searching for. You want to feel that. It means you’re doing something right. 

“It must be fantastic for Scottie.’’ he added with a laugh. 

Li, who’s not been in this position before in a major, conceded that there “will be a lot of pressure’’ to the day, for sure, “but [I] just have to find a way to deal with that.’’ 

Harman, who’s unafraid, doesn’t care if you don’t think he’s a top player in the world. He doesn’t care whether you consider him a worthy British Open champion, which he was two years ago at Royal Liverpool. 

Harman wants more hardware and, though 36 holes, he’s put himself in position to hoist the Claret Jug for a second time thanks to his second-round 65. 

“I feel really comfortable over here,’’ Harman said of the links golf. “They’re very different golf courses (Hoylake and Portrush), but the golf is similar.’’ 

Harman said he plans to “approach the weekend the same way’’ as he did two years ago, when he was in the top 10 entering the third round. 

“I’m not trying to be heroic or do anything crazy,’’ he said. “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. I would love to have a similar weekend [to 2023] and just play great the whole way through.’’