“By Article 34. Martial law. I do what I want, when I want, and because I feel like it.”
This phrase from the mouth of the genius Andrés Montes always brought a night-time smile to viewers every time Shaquille O’Neal scored a basket. It was his way of emphasizing the insulting dominance that the powerful pivot from New Jersey sometimes imposed in the NBA.
Scottie Scheffler (-11) has his particular Article 34. His own martial law. As soon as he putts half well, he doesn’t even need something very special, he is devastating. He does what he wants, when he wants, and how he feels like it.
Scheffler today has been the sixth-best putter in the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am and is already the leader after delivering a fabulous round of 64 strokes, the best of the day. He has beaten the tournament average by more than two and a half strokes on the greens. Last year this only happened in three rounds throughout the season.
And don’t think that the golfer born in New Jersey, like Shaquille, has put them in from all corners. Not at all. Of the eight birdies he made this Friday, without bogeys, three have been given (literally), two have come with putts of two and two and a half meters, there has been one more of three and a half meters and then, yes, here comes Article 34, one of ten meters and another more than twelve. He has putted well, but not rabidly.
What he has done exquisitely is to hit the green. The hallmark of the Scheffler brand. He has hunted 17 in regulation. Devastating. You have to do it. It is not a data within the reach of anyone at Pebble Beach. By the way, it is the second time he plays this course in competition. The first was at the 2019 US Open. Stop counting.
Scheffler’s blow leaves us an AT&T Pebble Beach to dip bread and lick your fingers. The classification is a delight. The world’s Number One shares the lead with Thomas Detry (-11) and Ludvig Aberg (-11). The European force does not lower the piston. In addition, one stroke is Patrick Cantlay (-10) and two appear Justin Thomas (-9), the tireless Matthieu Pavon (-9) and Emiliano Grillo (-9). Finally, they have sneaked into the top 10 Collin Morikawa (-8), Matthew Fitzpatrick (-8), Sam Burns (-8) or Sahith Thegaala (-8). Six players who were in the last Ryder Cup are in the top 10.
If we add to this table that the weekend is very spicy in terms of weather, with rain and wind, and that the Pro Am version has already ended, it turns out that the remaining 36 holes at Pebble Beach are a big deal. Don’t make plans.
Who has fallen from this beautiful battle is Rory McIlroy (+1). The Northern Irishman has had a bad day on the greens and has signed 74 strokes. Even for him, it seems impossible that he can win, although we already pointed out something similar after the second round in the Dubai Desert Classic and he responded with a “zas, in your face”. The young Nick Dunlap (+6) has also not lifted his head, for whom his first tournament as a professional after winning the American Express as an amateur, is becoming a ball.
