Scottie Scheffler shoots a 67 on a tough course, giving him a 5-stroke lead going into the weekend. (1:45)
Scottie Scheffler strolled off Augusta National with both hands in his pockets as if he had just finished a casual round at home in the late afternoon.
The Masters was not that Friday.
The wind gave many golfers all they could handle, a relentless fight from tee to green. It felt even tougher after that.
He tied a Masters record with a five-shot lead after 36 holes, matching the low score of the day. The four players who led by five shots went on to win. In 1936, the lone exception was Harry Light Horse Cooper.
The No. 1 player in the world shrugged.
There is a bunch of other guys in the field. I can't be paying too much attention to them both ways.
Along with Augusta National, Scheffler is beating them all.
Adam Scott said that he was playing with a guy who made it look easy. That is how he is playing at the moment.
In his first game as the world's top player, he looked like himself. He was bogey-free over the final 15 holes, played smart from the fairway, and trusted every shot he faced even as the wind was strong.
The 25-year-old Texas Longhorn has won three of his past five starts on the PGA Tour and doesn't appear to be overwhelmed by the stage of Augusta National.
I put myself in a good position to win the golf tournament. After 36 holes, I couldn't ask for anything more. I have to keep doing what I am doing and not over think things.
He was at 8-under 136, five shots clear of defending champion Hideki Matsuyama, former champion Charl Schwartzel, former British Open champion Shane Lowry, and 18-hole leader Sungjae Im.
A group that included two-time major champion and former PGA champion Justin Thomas and two-time major champion Collin Morikawa were all at 2-under 142, while another group that included a former Masters champion and a two-time major champion were at 2-under 142.
Two hours after the start of a glorious and calm spring day in Augusta, the wind arrived with a blast and players were held on for dear life. The sand was blowing out of the Bunker. There were flags that were torn. Scores were going up.
"It felt like I went 10 rounds with him," said the fighter. It was after a hard-earned 74.
On the par 3 12th, Jordan Spieth hit two into Rae's Creek and took a triple bogey. He missed the cut when he made a double bogey on the 18th. Scott was trying to stay in the mix until he had a wedge in the water on the par-5 15th and took a triple bogey.
Even if it didn't feel that way, Scheffler had no problems.
After making a couple of mistakes, he began to play better and made a couple of pars before making the turn. He made a par save from the right of the 11th green and then made a pair of pars on the 12th and 13th.
The wind died down in the afternoon and by the evening, he was a clear and difficult target for the weekend.
He didn't have a victory on the PGA Tour until two months ago.
Thomas opened with a 76 and spent the rest of the day unhappy with what looked to be a lost opportunity.
He scored three straight times on the back nine.
Thomas said that he was in a good spot going into this weekend, and that he could be going home right now.
He was seven behind, but he wasn't surprised that he was able to build a big lead.
Thomas said that if he played how he should yesterday, he should be right there with him. If you don't have control of your ball, it exposes you when it gets windy.
Thomas said he was not surprised that he had control of everything based on the last couple of months.
The Associated Press contributed to the story.
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