TOP-RANKED DEFENDING champion Scottie Scheffler fired a bogey-free eight-under par 64 to seize a two-stroke lead after Friday’s second round of the Hero World Challenge.
The 28-year-old American made eight birdies, seven of them on the front nine, to stand on 13-under 131 after 36 holes in the 20-player unofficial invitational at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.
Compatriots Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia shared second on 133 with US 2025 Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley fourth on 135.
Scheffler matched the lowest 36-hole total in the event at Albany, a mark set by host Tiger Woods, but winds are expected for the weekend after two calm opening rounds.
“A lot of it here is just keeping the ball in play,” Scheffler said. “When it gets windy, it can be pretty challenging to putt these greens because they can be pretty fast.
“They can be difficult to read and as the winds pick up, you start missing fairways, you can get into some pretty bad spots around here.”
Scheffler, who won eight titles this year including his second Masters green jacket and Paris Olympic gold, has changed his putting grip to improve his accuracy on the greens.
“Pretty comfortable with my start lines all day,” Scheffler said. “Made some important ones out there to keep the momentum of the round going. Overall pretty pleased so far with the results.”
Scheffler birdied the first four holes and seven on the front nine to seize the lead, his longest birdie putt in the run a 17-footer at the par-4 fourth. His front-side 29 was one stroke off the course record set by Rickie Fowler in 2017.
“Just trying to keep my foot down on the pedal,” Scheffler said.
Scheffler dropped his approach at the par-4 14th inches from the hole for a tap-in birdie to reach 13-under with a three-stroke lead and then parred his way to the clubhouse.
“It was good. I did a lot of good things,” Scheffler said. “Front nine was really nice and then the back nine I felt like I did some good things as well.
“Maybe a few things didn’t go my way but under par on the back as well so overall very solid day.”
Two-time PGA Championship winner Thomas and Bhatia each birdied the par-5 15th to close the gap entering the weekend, Thomas firing a 67 and Bhatia a 66.
Sharing fifth on 137 were Austrian Sepp Straka, Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg and South Korean Im Sung-jae.
Cameron Young, who led after day one with a 64, stumbled back to share 10th after a second-round 75.
An amazing position to be in…going for 3 in a row. Although if an outsider were to read the comments sections here they’d likely be fooled into believing Ireland are a rag tag team who have won nothing coached by imbeciles who haven’t a clue what they are doing.
@anthony davoren: Agreed
@anthony davoren: Them guy’s even got a leinster page closed sad sad
@Raymond: I am not sure why anyone from Leinster would be reading the comment sections never mind paying any attention to them. It comes across quite soft to be honest.
@anthony davoren: Irish rugby has never had it better. I am old enough (now I feel old that I have made that statement) to remember annual wooden spoon deciders v Wales.
@Paul Ennis: agree and we still get the negitive bashers praising every other country bar ireland unreal some people are
‘Si’ – for some reason it reminds me of The Inbetweeners when he says that! Probably nit picking but the players referring to ‘Si’ and ‘Faz’ is a tad disconcerting. For the head coach, afford them some respect and call them by their name!
@Aidan Farrell: hi
@Aidan Farrell: was thinking the exact same, “faz” and “si”. seems all a bit too cosy and pally wally to me. should be a direct segregation between players and coaches. should be no friendly relationship. it should be im the boss and you’re an expendable commodity who’ll be cut from the squad if not performing to the required standards. once that line is crossed into some sort of “friendship” and calling “faz” or “si”, far harder to cut players or tell them their service is no longer required.
@Niall English: The experts got out again.
@Barry Moran: not really. maybe your not old enough to be working yet, but in most professional environments/companies the world over, it would not be common practices to be addressing your bosses by a nickname.
Good piece
@Teddy O neill: The “take the reign” ruined it.
Its great to be in the position to win three in a row,but our line out is still a concern two years on,and coaches telling us that players are going to be fit after injury I will take with a pinch of salt. Add on the amount of penalties we give the opposing sides is becoming a regular occurrence 13 a game. So favourites no but a chance yes,so come on Ireland
@Phillip Keohane: even with the list of things wrong we are still winning almost all our games. Going into a 6 nations as twice defending champions is some achievement