Scottie Scheffler’s second round at The Open was a reminder that elite ball-striking does not always translate into a low number on the greens. The world No. 1 missed seven birdie putts from 15 feet or less, yet still signed for a bogey-free 68 at Royal Birkdale and remained four shots behind leader Lucas Herbert.
For a defending champion trying to keep hold of the claret jug, that is both encouraging and frustrating. Scheffler did enough from tee to green to stay in the conversation, but his putting left too many chances unused on a day when the leaders were still within reach.
Seven missed chances, but no damage done
Scheffler said he was pleased with the overall shape of his game. “I did a lot of good stuff,” he said, adding: “I gave myself a lot of opportunities. Wish I holed a few more putts.”
That really is the story of the round. He missed four birdie putts inside 10 feet, including one from about 3 feet and another from 6 feet, but never let the round unravel. A bogey-free 68 kept him on the right side of the leaderboard at 1-over 141 after two straight 68s.
The concern for everyone else is obvious. If Scheffler continues to strike the ball the way he has over the first two rounds, he will keep creating enough chances to put pressure on the field. He put it simply himself: “Just continue to knock on the door, continue to give myself opportunities.”
Why the putting matters most
On a links course, the margins are always thin. Scheffler’s approach play and control off the tee are still giving him a platform, but the putter is now the main factor separating a solid week from a likely title defense challenge.
He was clear that the broader performance is there. “If I continue to strike it like I did today and yesterday over the next couple of days, I’ll be in a good spot,” he said. That is the key point: he is not chasing form from a bad position, he is simply waiting for the putts to start falling.
That makes the next two rounds important, not because Scheffler is in trouble, but because the tournament may not give him endless time to convert chances. With Lucas Herbert setting the pace and the defending champion still only four shots back, Scheffler’s putting is the one part of the equation that could decide whether he stays in striking distance or moves into control.
Chasing the lead at Royal Birkdale
The Open has already shown that the cut line and the leaderboard can move quickly. David Duval, the 2001 champion at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, shot 77 and missed the cut this year, while Marcus Plunkett made it through on the number at 1-over 141 with a 71.
Against that backdrop, Scheffler’s consistency stands out. He is still there, still steady, and still creating enough birdie looks to suggest the title race is far from settled. The difference now is simple: if the putts start to drop, the defending champion can become very dangerous very quickly.
