Scheffler rues missed putts but happy with his game after tee-to-green clinic at the British Open

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — Scottie Scheffler put on a tee-to-green clinic in his second round at the British Open, one he says bodes well for his chances of keeping hold of the shiny claret jug.All that's left for the world No. 1 is to find his range on the greens.

Scheffler missed seven birdie putts from 15 feet or less — four of them inside 10 feet — in a bogey-free, second straight 68 at Royal Birkdale that could have yielded so much more.“I did a lot of good stuff," Scheffler said. "I gave myself a lot of opportunities.

Wish I holed a few more putts.”The two putts for birdie he did make were from 3 feet at No. 5 — the hole where playing partner Bryson DeChambeau incurred a two-stroke post-round penalty — and 6 feet at the par-5 No.

14.Four shots back from leader Lucas Herbert, Scheffler sees himself in a good position going into the weekend.“Just continue to knock on the door, continue to give myself opportunities,” he said.

“If I continue to strike it like I did today and yesterday over the next couple days, I’ll be in a good spot.”The last player to retain the British Open title was Padraig Harrington in 2008.Ten-hut!

The Army captain makes the weekend at BirkdaleMarcus Plunkett, who left the Army as a captain to pursue golf, achieved one goal in his British Open debut. He made it to the weekend.Plunkett was at 2-over par with seven holes to play when he nearly chipped in on the par-5 14th and tapped in for birdie, then had no stress in closing with six pars for a 71.

The cut was 1-over 141, and he wound up making it on the number.“When I got out of the Army and kind of embarked on this journey, this was the goal for sure,” said Plunkett, who currently plays on the Asian Tour. “I got out and just wanted to see how far I could take this.

Very grateful and feeling very fortunate and lucky to be in a position like this.”He was a transportation officer in the U.S.

Army, mainly overseeing the movement of convoys. How does that carry over to golf? “I think the thing t