Pressure Is On Tiger-like Scheffler To Turn Lead Into Open Win - Fitzpatrick

The unit is connected Scottie Scheffler to move his halfway lead into a first Open Championship victory, alternatively than connected those chasing him, says nearest challenger Matt Fitzpatrick.

Late starter Scheffler softly compiled a best-in-class 64 astatine Royal Portrush to crest nan leaderboard astatine nan extremity of a 2nd time that mixed a blizzard of birdies pinch bursts of apocalyptic rain.

The three-time awesome victor endured nan worst of nan downpours connected nan Northern Ireland coastline but dropped conscionable 1 changeable successful an accomplished information that included birdies astatine 16 and 17 to separator nan American into nan lead.

The world number 1 and Fitzpatrick will beryllium paired together connected Saturday and nan Sheffield autochthonal - who is looking to go nan first English victor of The Open successful 33 years - insists he does not consciousness burdened by nan circumstances.

"Scottie is going to person nan anticipation to spell retired and dominate," nan 2022 US Open champion said. "He's an exceptional player, nan world number one, and we're seeing Tiger-like stuff.

"I deliberation nan unit is for him. I wouldn't opportunity I consciousness arsenic overmuch pressure."

Scheffler started nan week by saying master play was "not a fulfilling life" and questioned "the point" of zealously pursuing victories.

And nan 29-year-old did not watch immoderate of nan day's play earlier opening his information successful nan mediate of nan afternoon.

A convulsive spell of rainfall drenched his opening fewer holes, earlier nan consequent softening of nan links and calmer conditions allowed him to target nan flags and station a stiff target for nan remainder of nan section to chase.

Fitzpatrick, who edged retired Scheffler to triumph his sole awesome astatine Brookline, is nan closest challenger aft consenting successful a 24-foot par putt connected nan 18th for a 66.

The 30-year-old has been connected an upturn successful shape since shooting 78 and 72 to miss nan trim successful The Players Championship successful March - which he described arsenic nan lowest constituent of his profession - pursuing a tally of conscionable 1 top-10 decorativeness successful nan erstwhile twelvemonth and a autumn extracurricular nan apical 80.

As outpouring gave measurement to summer, coaching changes brought consistency, pinch a necktie for 4th spot astatine past week's Scottish Open showcasing his renewed confidence.

Portrush is nan segment of Fitzpatrick's champion Open decorativeness - though nan connection 'best' is doing immoderate dense lifting fixed he was tied for 20th spot astatine nan Antrim people successful 2019.

However successful this, his 10th quality astatine nan event, he is correct successful nan operation to go nan first Englishman to assistance nan Claret Jug since Nick Faldo astatine Muirfield successful 1992.

"I've fixed myself an opportunity, but there's still a agelong measurement to go," Fitzpatrick said.

"There's thing amended than being successful contention. It feels a spot uncomfortable astatine nan time, but you want to consciousness that. It intends you're doing thing right.

"It's an breathtaking position for maine to beryllium successful fixed wherever I was earlier this year."

Tucked 1 down Fitzpatrick and 2 adrift of Scheffler are America's 2023 Open champion Brian Harman and Li Haotong of China.

World number 111 Li has dropped conscionable 1 changeable successful posting a brace of 67s, while Harman plotted his measurement information successful a blemish-free 65.

Fitzpatrick is not nan only Englishman pinch visions of emulating Faldo.

Tyrrell Hatton is 5 backmost aft adding a 69 to his opening 68 but its pints much than shots that were connected his mind aft finishing his round.

The 33-year-old revealed his pre-Open preparations included a sojourn to a adjacent transportation and putt course, followed by 3 pints of nan well-known section stout.

Asked if he would repetition that look aft Friday's round, nan world number 23 replied: "Be rude not to. I deliberation three's nan magic number."

Hatton and Robert MacIntyre of Scotland some contended successful past month's US Open arsenic they hunt for a debut awesome victory.

And MacIntyre says his runner-up decorativeness has inbued him pinch nan belief he tin soon return that adjacent measurement successful his career.

Is Sunday excessively soon? The 28-year-old thinks not aft his splendid six-birdie 66 besides near him wrong 5 of Scheffler.

"I'm not scared. I'm not going to backmost away," said nan world number 14.

"If I've sewage a chance, I'm going to rotation nan dice. I've sewage truthful overmuch much assurance and truthful overmuch much belief that I americium bully enough."

Hatton and MacIntyre will beryllium making their measurement information not agelong aft Rory McIlroy and nan swollen crowds that will inevitably travel nan section favourite.

The 2nd champion subordinate successful nan world reckons he, too, tin "make a run" complete nan weekend, having avoided a repetition of nan ignominious early exit that befell him nan past clip The Open was successful Portrush successful 2019.

"I've been somewhat adjacent to my champion complete nan first 2 days successful small bits present and there," said McIlroy, speaking earlier Scheffler put 7 shots betwixt nan pair.

"I'm going to request to person it each nether power and person it each firing complete nan play to make a run."