Scottie Scheffler produced a tee-to-green masterpiece to jump atop the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Tiger Woods Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
The world number 1 carded eight birdies in a superb bogey-free 64 at Albany Golf Centre, including six in the opening seven holes, to move to 13 under and in prime position for his ninth world victory of the year .
Scheffler enters the weekend two shots clear of Akshay Bhatia and Justin Thomas, who posted rounds of 66 and 67 respectively, with Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley four shots off fourth place.
A successful title defense would cap off a special 2024 for Scheffler, who has already won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players, The Masters, RBC Heritage, Memorial Championship, Travelers Championship, Olympic gold and Tour Championship this campaign. earn
Scheffler the star man again
Scheffler shot his approach close to the first four and added a 10-foot birdie at the next fourth, with the Masters champion taking advantage of the par-five third and holed from 15 feet at the hole. fourth to continue with the bird. climb
The run ended temporarily with a two-putt par at the fifth, but he made amends with back-to-back birdies from the sixth, with Scheffler converting another from eight feet at the par ninth five to reach the turn in 29.
Scheffler failed to capitalize on the two par-fives on the back nine, but left himself a tap-in birdie at the par-four 14th, although he missed a five-foot chance to extend his lead at the four finally.
“I did a lot of good things,” Scheffler said. “The front nine was really nice, obviously, and then on the back nine I felt like I did some good things too. Maybe a few things didn't go my way, but still under par in the back, so overall a very tough day. .”
Scottie Scheffler claimed a three-shot victory in 2023, after finishing runner-up to Viktor Hovland the previous two years
Bhatia made four birdies in a six-hole run from the seventh and overturned a bogey at the par-three eighth by making back-to-back wins from the 11th, with the American adding another birdie on the 15th and holes from 10 feet. to save par at the last to stay on 11 under.
He is tied for second with Bhatia, who mixed six birdies with a single bogey on Friday, while Bradley made three consecutive birdies in a bogey-free 67 to move to nine under.
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Sepp Straka shares fifth place with Sungjae Im and Ludvig Åberg, while Scotland's Robert McIntyre is tied for tenth and eight shots back after a second-round 71.
Overnight leader Cameron Young is also on five under, after piling up six bogeys and a double bogey in a thrilling three-over 75 – 11 shots worse than he had signed on the opening day.
Who will win the World Hero Challenge? Watch all weekend live on Sky Sports! Live coverage continues on Saturday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW.
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