PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Matt Fitzpatrick is annoyed with his putting coach Phil Kenyon. Not for something he did or didn’t do to help Fitzpatrick’s game but rather because Kenyon has shared his secrets with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
“His putting is night and day,” said Fitzpatrick, who was paired in the final group on Saturday at the 153rd British Open with Scheffler. “He’s just not missed a putt today. There isn’t one putt that he’s missed, and that’s obviously the difference that’s taken him to this unbeatable run.”
Scheffler is the leading the field in Strokes Gained: Putting this week and whenever his putter heats up – and outshines his otherworldly ball striking – Scheffler is going to be tough to beat. On Saturday, he shot a bogey-free 4-under 67 at Royal Portrush Golf Club to improve to 14-under 199 – his lowest 54-hole total at a major – and assume a four-stroke lead over China’s Haotong Li. Scheffler stayed patient, even when he endured an early 3-putt par, even when he failed to make a birdie in his first six holes and even when he needed to salvage pars at Nos. 11 and 14.
“I think anytime you can keep a clean card around a major championship, you’re going to be having a pretty good day,” Scheffler said. “Sometimes major championships it can be tough to make birdies, and today was one of those days where I just had to give myself some looks and was able to hole a few.”
The two-time Masters champion already added the PGA Championship to his trophy case in May and now he’s 18 holes away from a Claret Jug and a third leg of the career Grand Slam. Asked how satisfying it would be to conquer links-style golf, he replied, “it would be nice, but I’m not going to be thinking about that tonight.”
Scheffler will be bidding for his 17th Tour title and fourth career major and will attempt to become the seventh Open Championship winner to record four rounds in the 60s. He’ll be paired in the final round with Haotong Li, who was a member of the International Team in the 2019 Presidents Cup but suffered the yips and hadn’t played in a major in three years. He shot 2-under 69 on Saturday and is alone in second.
“I’m actually quite looking forward to it,” he said of playing alongside Scheffler on Sunday. “Four shots behind, kind of like play for second, especially play with world No. 1. I just try to play my best out there and hopefully make something happen.”
Fitzpatrick, who is seeking to become the first Englishman since Nick Faldo 33 years ago to win the British Open, is in third after shooting even-par 71. He knows he faces an unenviable task on Sunday.
“Let’s be realistic, he’s five ahead. It’s not easy. But if you get off to a good start, you get 3-under through 6, like some of the guys today, 7 the par-5, and all of a sudden you’re kind of right back in it, you would hope,” he said. “It’s clear what I have to do tomorrow.”
Four golfers are tied at 8 under, including Chris Gotterup, who won last week’s Scottish Open, Harris English, Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy. The world No. 2 has had his fair share of battles with Scheffler and was honest as ever in assessing the uphill battle he faces.
“He’s playing like Scottie. I don’t think it’s a surprise. Everyone’s seen the way he’s played or plays over the last two or three years. He’s just so solid. He doesn’t make mistakes,” McIlroy said. “He’s turned himself into a really consistent putter as well. So there doesn’t seem to be any weakness there. Whenever you’re trying to chase down a guy like that, it’s hard to do.”
But much like Fitzpatrick, McIlroy can envision a path to coming from behind and stealing the trophy from one of golf’s top frontrunners. McIlroy has done it before, most notably at the 2023 FedEx Cup.
“I’ve got a chance,” McIlroy said. “I need to get off to a great start like I did today, and if I can do that, anything can happen. I’ve come from a few shots behind before at big tournaments and was able to win. If I can get off to one of those hot starts again, maybe Scottie feels a little bit of that a couple of groups behind, and you never know. Scottie is the best player in the world right now. I think it’s clear for everyone to see. He’s just consistently so good each and every week he tees it up, so it’s going to be a tall order to be able to catch him tomorrow. But I’m going to look forward to the challenge.”
Whomever comes out on top will have the honor of being known as the Champion Golfer of the Year.
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