Scottie Scheffler is leading an American effort to complete a rare Grand Slam of Majors, but he had to shoot a second straight 70 without the usual support of his friend and caddie, Ted Scott.
The world number one remained in contention by five shots behind leader Shane Lowry despite Scott feeling so unwell he had to sit or lie down on the side of the green while his pupil putted.
“I had a little food poisoning or some kind of stomach virus,” Scheffler revealed.
“He didn’t get much sleep Thursday night and we didn’t know if he was going to be able to play this morning, but he fought. We saw him laying around for quite a while, which was pretty funny.
‘It was one of those situations. I’m used to him being in one position, standing by the bag, and all of a sudden on the 9th hole he was literally sitting on the 10th tee for 10 minutes while we were playing.
Ted Scott, Scottie Scheffler’s caddie, lay down while waiting on the fifth green during Day 2
Scheffler revealed that Scott, who has been with his caddie since 2021, is battling food poisoning.
Scott, 39, reviews a map of Royal Troon’s 45-hole golf course during the sixth hole on Friday.
“I didn’t even see him, which was a little unusual, but he’s a fighter. He fought and he did well.”
Scheffler and compatriots Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau have won the first three Majors this year and another victory for the United States would complete its first clean sweep since 1982, when Tom Watson (2), Craig Stadler and Raymond Floyd triumphed.
The 28-year-old Masters champion, who was arrested at the USPGA in May after trying to enter Valhalla Golf Club and the charges were later dropped, moved into contention with birdies at the 14th and 16th and believes in his chances despite losing a shot at the last after a wide tee shot.
“I feel like I’m in a good position,” he said. “I would have liked to be in the lead, but I’ve played two solid rounds and I’ll keep trying to hit good shots and good putts.”
Although Great Britain and Ireland lead the rankings, there is a strong contingent of Americans in addition to Scheffler ready to attack over the weekend and they will have strong gallery support with a large number of fans crossing the Atlantic to Royal Troon.
Billy Horschel (-2), US Open winner Schauffele (-1) and Patrick Cantlay (-1) are all in the top 10, and Horschel took advantage of the milder morning conditions to shoot 68.
Scott used to caddie for Bubba Watson and watched him and Scheffler win two majors each.
With his caddie ill, Scheffler shot a 1-under 70 with three birdies and two bogeys on Friday.
Schauffele and Cantlay were in Tiger Woods’ group with Cantlay, who entered on the 33rd turn, inspired by playing with the 15-time major winner.
“Hanging out with Tiger is always great, especially when I have my friend Xander in the group,” he said. “Tiger is a great competitor and the three of us have a lot of fun.”
“I felt like we had the best fans out there, which is something you can get with Tiger.”
Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Collin Morikawa formed a heavyweight trio of American players who can’t be counted out after finishing with one over.
Johnson doesn’t rule out another Stars and Stripes success. “It’s tough conditions, you can get far behind as long as you play well,” he said.
Scott appeared to improve physically throughout the day, which was an encouraging sign for Scheffler.
‘My wife and a couple of friends are in Saint-Tropez. I don’t blame them for not liking the weather!’
Other American hopes were not so lucky. Justin Thomas, who led the pack for much of Monday, made double bogey on three of his first five holes yesterday and fell down the leaderboard.
Defending champion Brian Harman found the terrain difficult and lost shots on holes three, four and five.
DeChambeau missed two shots before making his first birdie on the ninth as he tried to rectify the damage caused by a 76 in his opening round.