Day two of the 153rd Open Championship was marred by glorious weather. Despite the best efforts of the announcers and walking journalists, nary a cloud, drop of rain, nor zephyr of wind could be summoned from the extensive history of the tournament. The Royal Portrush course was helpless against the combined skills of the competing amateurs and professionals, and equipment manufacturers. Over sixty rounds bettered par on this inauspicious day. As I type this report, aged former competitors and battle-scarred pundits are gathering in a smoke-filled room, attempting to enlist the services of the Super Friends and their weather dome.

It’s important to honor both sobriety and humor, lest we lose sight of all professional sport as entertainment first, and then many other things, after. Round two of the 2025 Open Championship reminded all of us that these guys are really, really good. They will light up a golf course if given the opportunity. Make no mistake: Royal Portrush would humble me and you and the rest of youse guys. The gulf between the competing golfers and humans is greater than the mortal coil. If numbers stay low, understand that this is how things go, and enjoy the grandeur of extraordinary preparation, skill, and execution.

Indeed, I learned five things today, and I’m champing at the horse’s bit to tell you what they are. Let’s have a look at that quintet of elements that made holes 19 through 36 most unforgettable, even if they were a bit batty.

1. Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler tried his hardest to post 63, with eight birdies and ten pars. Unfortunately for the gods of perfection, he strayed a bit. On the 11th hole, a sizable, 477-yard par four, Scheffler tugged a driver into the native area. He was compelled to pitch out some 145 yards, leaving a seventy-yard pitch to the green. His third was a pinseeker, but came to rest atop the back fringe. Scheffler’s fourth, a chipper, scared the hole before settling, inches away. He tapped in for his only bogey of the morning.

As imperfection goes, that was it for the Texan. Four birdies on each side of the course crafted the low round at the halfway pole. Scottie Scheffler isn’t Tiger Woods, nor Jack Nicklaus. He is the top-ranked player in the world, and when his orchestra of clubs find their harmony, there is none better. While his lead is but a shot over Matt Fitzpatrick, every fan anticipates that lead to double or triple by nightfall on Saturday. Scheffler whispers the wind game, he speaks fast and firm with fluency, so a super-human effort by another of the greats will be needed to deny him a third, unique major title.

2. Day One Stories on Day Two

Before we dig deeper into the merits of day the second at Portrush, let’s have a glance at the newsmakers of day one. It wasn’t chocolates and meringue for the leaders. Jacob Skov Olesen was part of the quintet at four-under par, but he was back to even par by the 20th tee. Olesen went wide left, then wide right, before a third tee shot stayed inbounds on the opening hole. He made a ten-feet putt for eight, and to his credit, played the remaining 17 hole in plus-one. He’ll make the cut and play through Sunday, but the next 36 holes will be ones of education, rather than contention. Christian Bezuidenhout also fell away on day two. The South African posted 73, giving back two shots to old man par. He’ll need two, Scheffler-esque rounds to return to importance.

The other three, day-one medalists remained in the chase. Matt Fitzpatrick improved on his 67 by one, and will join Scheffler in the final game of day three of the Open Championship. Haotong Li defied odds and signed for another 67. He’ll be one pairing ahead of Fitzpatrick, and will attempt to win a first major title for China. Harris English, whose name figure in Open Championship stories more often than not, went round Portrush in 70 shots. He begins round three five back of Scheffler, in that dangerous place where a pressure-free, low round awaits.

3. You shall not pass (or, Elvis has left the building)

We don’t need Gandalf the Grey to guard the gate. The keepers of the Royal and Ancient have informed those golfers above 143 strokes that their presence will not be required over the weekend. The executioner’s axe fell at one-over par, sending those at plus-two and above to the airport, the train station, or some other concourse.

Eight golfers missed by a single shot. Daniel Hillier made bogey at two of his final three holes, to miss by one. Joaquin Niemann made bogey at three of his final six, to also slip one shot to the bad. Others who missed by more, include Tom Kim, Aldrich Potgieter, Darren Clarke, Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Cameron Smith …

and yes, Elvis Smylie.

4. DeComeback Kid?

13 is usually an unlucky number. Bryson DeChambeau might ask for a trade to a different team, given that he improved that many shots on his day one score. Less than 24 hours after adding up two doubles, three singles, and a bushel of pars to 78, DeChambeau unleashed all of his pent-up, social-media fury on Royal Portrush. He posted seven birdies against a solitary bogey on day two, reducing his tally to 65 on day two. Coincidentally, BDC made his only over-par number on eleven, the same hole that bit Scottie Scheffler.

DeChambeau won’t win this week, but he can do his level best to put to rest the suggestions that his game is not built for the vagaries and unpredictability of links golf. BDC is a high-ball hitter, despite spending his college days in Texas. The low ball is king at the Open Championship, and it would behoove the mad scientist to put that facet of the game to the test. That, and work on the fade.

5. Anything can happen

I’ll certainly be taken to task for this, but the rules official got it COMPLETELY WRONG COMPLETELY RIGHT when they assessed a two-shot penalty to Shane Lowry. First and foremost, Lowry had not grounded his club behind the ball. He appeared to be swinging at the ball, but it was deception. His intent all along was to take a practice swing. He pulled wide left of the ball, barely grazing the tip of one anonymous, blade of grass. The ball moved, and Lowry doubtless had no idea that it did.

The problem was, that unnamed blade of grass (identity witheld to protect it from legal action) was a long one, folded over by the weight of its own maturity. It extended the entire foot leftward, where Lowry’s through swing passed. We’ve seen crazy things happen at major championships, and lack of intent doesn’t always absolve one of the jury’s wrath.

It’s safe to say that the Royal Portrush’s Dunluce course will exact more tax over the final 36 holes. If it happens to one of the leaders, we’re in for more drama.