The early wave has the advantage. Rain has arrived at Royal Portrush, just as World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler hits the course. It's spotty around the course — it's pouring at 18, where Rory McIlroy is trying to finish — but clearly those already in the clubhouse — including leader Brian Harman — are the beneficiaries.

Follow live as five players enter the second round of The Open atop the leaderboard, tied at -4 at Royal Portrush Golf Club

The Open Championship continues Friday at Royal Portrush. Scottie Scheffler headlines a jammed leaderboard. Here's how to watch all the action.

That moment arrived Thursday while Scottie Scheffler played his second shot on the 17th hole at the 2025 British Open at Royal Portrush. Scheffler, sitting to the right of the fairway and 111 yards out, hit a beautiful iron shot that landed three feet from the pin.

By the time play finally ended on Thursday night, there were five players tied for the lead at 4-under. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, thanks to a very solid 68 in the early wave, is just a shot back. Rory McIlroy climbed into contention briefly, but three bogeys on his back nine dropped him to 1-under — so he still has some work to do.

The first round of the 2025 Open Championship saw Royal Portrush giving the 156-player field all it could handle as ever-changing weather conditions allowed the Northern Ireland course to show off its strength against the best players in the world.

Another major championship means another opportunity for Scottie Scheffler, but success at the Open Championship and golf in general isn’t what fulfills the American.