– Scottie Scheffler (-14) has set his sights on his fourth major and his first victory in an Open Championship, the Major that ultimately adds the most prestige to the record of legendary champions, which is exactly what this player aspires to be. Because, although he doesn’t express it openly and sticks to one of his favourite sayings, that of “I just want to play the best I can in every tournament,” Scheffler has dreams of sporting greatness.
Today he signed a 67 in the moving day, a score that has strengthened his lead to the point of going out tomorrow to play the decisive round with a four-shot advantage over his closest pursuer, the Chinese Haotong Li (-10), five over Matt Fitzpatrick (-9), and six over Rory McIlroy (-8), Tyrrell Hatton (-8), Harris English (-8), and Chris Gotterup (-8). Beyond Scheffler, it’s already hard to think of another winner; beyond these six players, it’s impossible.
– Even Scheffler makes mistakes, of course. Today, for example, he took longer than expected to get his round going mainly because he missed a very short birdie putt on the 2nd hole. Then, on holes 11 and 14, everything pointed to a bogey after missing the second shot on the first of them and the tee shot on the second, two of the very few gross errors (let’s call them that) this player has made this week, but he saved both situations with par putts holed from about three metres away. If Scottie gets into this mode, it’s almost impossible to escape the noose the Texan kindly puts on you at the 1st tee…
In the end, you start doing the math and confirm that Scheffler has recorded only one bogey in the last 43 holes and only three in the three rounds played. He is a prodigy of reliability and efficiency that keeps even the most skilled in check, no matter their name, taming the wildest stallion with wise and firm hands. To top it off, aside from occasional errors, he hasn’t stopped feeling very comfortable on the greens of the Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush all week. As Tiger said, let’s repeat it once more: “when Scottie struggles on the greens, he finishes in the top ten; if he putts decently, he wins; if he putts well, you don’t even see him.”
– Haotong Li, in any case, promises strong emotions on Sunday, going out in the star match alongside the great champion. He won’t be lacking in courage. The brave Chinese player has plenty of it, possessing a very particular virtue, demonstrated hundreds of times and which can be very useful in such a complicated situation: if he loses his way, he usually finds a way to get back on track. In other words: Li is not one to give up when the first difficulties arise. The Chinese may add the exotic note of the week among the final contenders for victory, but we shouldn’t consider him a mere bystander. He has talent, resources, and a much more consistent swing than not so long ago.
– Fitzpatrick and Hatton have still given themselves a chance to return the Claret Jug to English golf 32 years after Nick Faldo’s last victory in this tournament. They will need, however, a more complete and convincing round than today, especially in Fitzpatrick’s case. That and for Scottie not to be at his best. It’s a lot to ask, but the Texan, surely, will also find it hard to sleep tonight.
– It would have been truly crazy if the beautiful gallop of Rory McIlroy had taken him today to the very star match, face to face with the World Number One and Number Two in the last Major of the year. With Rory, being who he is, we dare to go a bit further: maybe, just maybe, he might be able to sign the card of the year, of the century, tomorrow, playing just ahead of Scheffler, to give himself a chance.
– And now let’s come back down to earth. And also, why not, let’s be a bit naive: the normal thing would be that tomorrow, at this time, we are already remembering the venue of the next US Open, the one in 2026, where Scottie could well face the first opportunity to complete his particular Grand Slam Career before turning thirty. Let it be known in advance that the event will be at Shinnecock Hills…
Scheffler would frown, even get angry, at the mere mention of this crazy idea. And rightly so. But let the Texan know that it is he, with the overwhelming logic of his divine game, who has given us all permission to get ahead of events. To dream.
