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Scottie Scheffler might be forgiven for sketching out the speech of the Open Championship winner on Saturday night.
With 18 holes left, the world no. 1 has previously led a major three times.
He led by three at the Masters of 2022. By one year, two years later at Augusta. He left the Green Jacket twice.
The American won the US PGA by six shots in May after a three-shot lead.
After a display of understated authority in the hazy Northern Irish sunshine, Scheffler now holds a four-shot lead at Royal Portrush in the current Open Championship.
The 29-year-old’s dominance has appeared to be becoming more and more unassailable as the past few days have unfolded on the Antrim coast.
His closest rival is China’s undiscovered Li Haotang. Matt Fitzpatrick from England is further back. Sixth place is Rory McIlroy.
Scheffler will he join the elite club next?
After the second round, Fitzpatrick had suggested that Scheffler, the world’s number one, would carry the expectation around the links over the weekend.
In a calm round of 67, he didn’t feel any pressure, though.
Scheffler completed his day’s work without a single flaw with a birdie and two birdies that were perfectly timed to clear his rivals at the right moment.
After Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods, he is 18 holes away from becoming the only player to win the Masters, US PGA Championship, and Open before turning 30.
Not bad for someone who claimed that playing professional golf was “not a fulfilling life” and “the purpose of zealously pursuing victories in his week in Northern Ireland.”
By the end of Sunday, he might be on his way to a career Grand Slam, though not as much as some people might.
Given that he has four of the top-10 finishes in his last eight US Open appearances, it’s likely that he will soon join McIlroy in announcing his affiliation with that elite group of six men.
After his 67 on Saturday, Scheffler said, “I’m just trying to execute, not overthinking things.” “I feel like I’ve done the right thing so far,” he says.
How did it go following him on Saturday?
When Shane Lowry, who won the Open here in 2019, said the course would never be “anything new.”
Anyone who wanted to stop Scheffler’s seeming procession toward the Claret Jug received an ominous warning.
Not long after the Irishman, who was already two shots clear, began his course.
Scheffler shot the kind of stress-free 67 that has become his calling card rather than the type of birdie blitz that his playing partner from the first two days warned was possible.
The American’s unwavering ability to avoid disaster was once more the most glaring quality of his game at a course with the name Calamity Corner.
There were instances where Scheffler’s blending of patience, control, and execution made the majestic appear uninteresting despite winning six and eight consecutive pars in a round without bogeys.
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What distinguishes Scheffler as exceptional?
Scheffler is primarily not a big talker. After Saturday’s exhibition, however, others were more than happy to support the Olympic gold medalist.
McIlroy was referred to as “incredibly impressive,” the man who is the closest to the American in terms of rankings and the most recent Grand Slam winner.
The Northern Irishman, who was given his Green Jacket by deposed champion Scheffler in April, said, “I don’t think it’s a surprise – he’s playing like Scottie.”
“Everyone has seen how he’s played the past two or three years.” He is so strong. He avoids errors. There doesn’t seem to be any weakness in him because he’s also turned himself into a really consistent putter.
It’s difficult to do when you’re chasing down a guy like that.
Robert MacIntyre admits that Scheffler and he are a 14th-place athlete in the world, but he is also very close.
Scheffler was further ahead of No 2 in the world at the start of this year when we checked the statistics, the Scot said.
He works incredibly hard, is a great player, and is a great person.
Harris English, one of the top 20 people in the world, has known Scheffler since they were just a kid.
He is unbelievable, according to English. He has been at the top for as long as I can remember, but he puts in more effort than anyone I’ve ever seen. He plays like he’s never going to compete in another major championship.
Can anyone refute Claret Jug?
Scheffler’s resolve swells on a Sunday, not just in majors. He has won the first nine of his final nine PGA Tour victories.
He frequently prefers machine to man. However, some machines malfunction.
In the Tour Championship’s final round, Scheffler never lost a larger lead than Scheffler did in the final round of a regular tour competition.
He was six clear before the final day of the war, but he was unable to perform the task in Atlanta.
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