World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has risen inexorably to the top of the British Open leaderboard at halfway, looking every inch a British Open champion-in-waiting at Royal Portrush with a majestic round of 64.
The American superstar cruised into pole position late on Friday evening on the Dunluce links at 10-under par, one shot clear of English hope Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, who got to nine under with a terrific 24ft par-saving putt at the last earning him a 66.
Fitzpatrick was in turn just a shot clear of a third major champ, 2023 Claret Jug winner Brian Harman, the famed deer-hunting 'Butcher of Hoylake' who is back with his "very boring" assault on a second title, and China's Li Haotong, who's quietly dropped just one shot in 36 holes.
