World number one Scottie Scheffler showcased his mastery of challenging conditions to take a one-stroke lead over England's Matt Fitzpatrick after the second round of The Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Despite torrential rain and unpredictable weather, Scheffler carded an impressive 64, his lowest round in a major, featuring eight birdies and just one bogey.

Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, matched Scheffler's eight birdies in a brilliant 66, narrowly missing out on the lead after a few costly putts. The Englishman remains firmly in contention at nine under par, just one shot behind the American leader.

Brian Harman, the 2023 Open champion, and China's Li Haotong share third place at eight under. Harman's bogey-free 65 evoked memories of his dominant performance at Royal Liverpool last year, while Li continued his resurgence with back-to-back 67s.

Elsewhere, England's Tyrrell Hatton and Scotland's Robert MacIntyre are tied at five under, alongside Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard and Americans Chris Gotterup and Harris English. Hatton humorously revealed his pre-tournament preparation included a casual round at a local pitch and putt course followed by three pints of stout, a routine he plans to repeat.

Rory McIlroy, the world number two, struggled off the tee but managed to stay in contention with a 69, leaving him at three under. Ireland's Shane Lowry, the 2019 Open champion, faced a two-stroke penalty after his ball moved during a practice swing, but he remains at level par, just inside the cut line.

Scheffler, who has been grappling with questions about his motivation for the game, has let his performance do the talking. His laser-sharp focus and ability to capitalize on softer greens after the rain have put him in prime position to challenge for his second major title of the year.

Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, remains optimistic despite narrowly missing opportunities to share the lead. "I felt like every facet of my game was on," he said. "I'm giving myself an opportunity to win the golf tournament, but there's still a long way to go."

As the tournament heads into the weekend, all eyes will be on Scheffler to see if he can maintain his lead and clinch the coveted Claret Jug.

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