Scottie Scheffler just shot his career-best major round

You know that feeling when you’re absolutely crushing it at something but can’t figure out why you’re doing it in the first place? Scheffler went on for 5 minutes in his pre-tournament press conference that made the rounds online and in the players’ locker room, saying he doesn’t draw fulfillment in golf – that the feeling of winning is fleeting and the satisfaction erodes quickly. Then he goes out and shoots a career-best 64 to take the lead. Talk about mixed signals from the world’s best golfer.

The Performance That Left Everyone Speechless

Scheffler posted a 64 on Friday in the second round of the Open Championship, which had him just a shot off the course record in Northern Ireland. Scheffler carded eight birdies on the day, which matched his career-best at a major championship. This wasn’t just good golf – this was Tiger-level domination that had Matt Fitzpatrick comparing it to the old days. “He’s going to have the expectation to go out and dominate,” Fitzpatrick said of Scheffler. “He’s an exceptional player. He’s world No. 1, and we’re seeing Tiger-like stuff.”

The Mental Game Nobody Talks About

Here’s what fascinates me about Scheffler’s week: What he cares about is his family. On the golf course, he cares about his process. The results? That’s not how he measures himself, and though he badly wants to win, he’s not satisfied when he does. Maybe that’s exactly why he’s so damn good. When you stop caring about the outcome and focus purely on the process, you become unstoppable. It’s like he’s accidentally discovered the ultimate mental game secret while having an existential breakdown.

What This Means for the Weekend

He’s now the first No. 1 golfer to lead the Open Championship at the midway point since Tiger Woods did so in 2006. Woods won the Claret Jug that year, something that Scheffler has yet to do. The pressure is mounting for his first Open Championship win, but here’s the kicker – pressure might be the one thing that can’t touch a guy who’s openly admitted he doesn’t know why he wants to win anymore.