But after play was suspended because of rain near the end of the second round Friday, only three players had shorter odds on the BetMGM Sportsbook money line, where Scheffler was at 8-1. He was tied for 23rd on the real leaderboard, seven strokes off the lead.

Scheffler, despite not having his best stuff, grinded out a 1-over-par 71 in Friday’s second round to keep himself in contention, at 4-over par, to win his second major of the year, and the third leg of a career Grand Slam. He spent much of the day hovering around the cut line, which was projected to be 5-over while he was playing.

The ridiculously high standards that Scottie Scheffler has set the last 3 ½ years often lead to even higher expectations, which makes his start at the U.S. Open feel like such an anomaly.