Scheffler's patience pays off by claiming course record in Houston

Scottie Scheffler equalled the Memorial Park course record at the Houston Open on Friday, noting he had to stay patient in order to not get too far ahead of himself.

The world number one holds a one-shot lead at the halfway point, sitting above Taylor Pendrith and Min Woo Lee, having hit an eight-under 62, matching the record he set back in 2021.

Scheffler set the pace with eight birdies and no bogeys, for the second consecutive round, to move to 11 under, enjoying the best of the weather conditions before play was suspended due to thunderstorms.

"It was important for me to stay patient out there," said Scheffler.

"It was nice to get off to a good start and kind of hold the momentum and keep the card clean.

"[On Thursday], I felt like I made a couple key par saves, and [on Friday], I felt like - for the most part - I kept the golf course in front of me, and I had a lot of looks for birdie.

"I didn't feel like I was struggling for par too much, and that was mostly because I was in the fairway."

Friday 62 for World No. 1Scottie Scheffler heads to the weekend at the top of the leaderboard @TCHouOpen. pic.twitter.com/ygbzsCG8Re
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 29, 2025

Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, saw his second round disrupted, but recovered after the two-hour delay to make the cut by reaching four under just before play was cut short when darkness fell.

He had been in danger of dropping out, but three successive birdies from the 16th ensured that he would be playing through the weekend after carding a four-under 66.

"I holed a couple of putts," McIlroy said. "That was it. It was nice to see a couple putts go in and get finished.

"It was a little dicey there at the end. Nice to finish the round the way I did."