British Open: Is Scottie Scheffler inevitable?

On a strange day at the British Open, where we saw everything from sideways rain to a bat in the broadcast booth to a 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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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 where we saw one career grand slam achieved, we might be nearing another one already.