THIS has been a visually dramatic Open. Even on the train from Belfast to Portrush, it was obvious that the landscape and the light in this part of the world is special. It’s why Game of Thrones is filmed here, and it’s why Royal Portrush is thrilling us, too.
The fairways and greens are crumpled and contoured. The dunes are imposing. The ocean is ever-present. But the skies are the clincher. They can be dark and brooding, but there will always be a glimmer of sunlight, and because of that, the fairways glisten.
In the second round, black clouds scuttled across the sky, delivering the galleries and the field with a deluge that left them wondering if they actually were out on the high seas, not just looking at them.
After attempting to better Scottie Scheffler through 36 holes, most of the field are probably feeling slightly shipwrecked and in need of water wings. The World No. 1 is a phenomenon, and it is striking that attempting to explain his brilliance is as difficult to do as beating him is.
“I did a lot of things well,” he said after grabbing the halfway lead, but the numbers are actually a little wild. He ranks 93rd for Strokes Gained Off the Tee, 100th for Around the Green, but 1st for Approach and 2nd for Putting. That, however, is just this week. He’s typically superb from the tee and excellent around the greens. The curiosity is that he doesn’t look good in the traditional manner with his active hands and flying feet, so it’s hard to fathom why he’s so much better than everyone else.
Scheffler leads on 10-under after scores of 68-64. He’s one blow clear of Matt Fitzpatrick, two clear of Brian Harman and Haotong Li, and five ahead of Rasmus Hojgaard, Tyrrell Hatton, Robert MacIntyre, Harris English, and Chris Gotterup.
It’s not unknown for eventual Open champions to complete significant weekend fightbacks. In the 24 Opens in the 21st century, 18 eventual champions were within three shots of the lead at halfway, but David Duval at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s in 2001 was seven shots back and T35 after 36 holes. Francesco Molinari at Carnoustie in 2018 was six back and T29. Padraig Harrington at Carnoustie in 2007 was also six back and T13. Ernie Els at Royal Lytham in 2012 was seven back and T10. Even Xander Schauffele last year was six shots back.
Robert MacIntyre
Six years ago the Scot was sixth at Royal Portrush, and he’s a very different golfer these days. He admitted as much himself. “Yeah, it’s different,” he said. “It doesn’t feel as much pressure; there’s probably less expectation for myself. In 2019 I was nervous, excited, but put a lot of pressure on myself because I love the golf course, and there was so much going on with it being my first major.
“Now I feel like this is where I want to be. These are the tournaments I want to compete really hard in come Sundays. I feel like the last three majors I’ve put myself in good position after 36 holes. This is what I want to do. I’m going to give it my best shot.
“The team that I’ve got around me are a massive, massive help in that. I trust them with everything, and they trust me with everything. Just keep the foot down and keep going forward.”
He was mightily impressive in the second round, rebounding from a tricky back nine on Thursday. He was four shots back of the halfway lead in the PGA Championship and second in the US Open. He was also a two-time winner this time last year
MacIntyre said these words before Scheffler took control of the event, but he felt confident about the impending test. “There’s potential,” he said. “It could be anyone’s time. I’m in a good spot. I feel happy, confident, and comfortable. I’m going to go out and give it my best shot all the way through to Sunday afternoon.
“I’m not scared. I’m not going to back away. It’s completely different to Oakmont. At Oakmont, I couldn’t roll the dice. It was never ‘Let’s press, let’s press.’ It was always, right, let’s go out here with pars.
“This week, hopefully later holes, I’ve got a chance. If I’ve got a chance, I’m going to roll it.”
The win price is not much below what you could get at the start of the week. MacIntyre now has only four men in front of him. One is the World No. 1 with a five shot head start but he can apply pressure.
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