PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — The rain pounded Royal Portrush right when Scottie Scheffler poured in a birdie putt on his first hole Friday in the British Open. No matter. Nothing stopped the world’s No. 1 player on his way to a 7-under 64 to build a one-shot lead going into the weekend.

That moment arrived Thursday while Scottie Scheffler played his second shot on the 17th hole at the 2025 British Open at Royal Portrush. Scheffler, sitting to the right of the fairway and 111 yards out, hit a beautiful iron shot that landed three feet from the pin.