5 Olympics golf storylines you missed overnight: Xander Schauffele charges, more weather and Rory Sabbatini’s wife

Another batch of rough weather played havoc with many of those competing in the second round of the Olympics men’s golf competition, but the storylines kept coming, even while most in the Western hemisphere were sleeping.

As a reminder, Kasumigaseki Country Club is the site of both the men’s and women’s competitions. The East Course is playing 7,447 yards for the men and there is no cut.

While the third round of competition will be held Saturday morning local time, the 13-hour time difference means play will begin Friday night, July 30, in Eastern Daylight Time.

Here are the biggest stories you missed while dreaming last night.

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1. Only the weather could slow Xander Schauffele

Xander Schauffele (USA) and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) talk to an official after play is suspended due to weather during round two of the men’s individual stroke play of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

A day after Sepp Straka tied the Olympic-best mark of 63, Xander Schauffele did the same thing during the second round, using a pair of eagles to move atop the leaderboard. Schauffele eagled the sixth hole and then added another on No. 14 in moving to 11 under for the tournament. Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz is a shot behind at 10 under with a group at 8 under — Straka, Alex Noren and Mito Periera.

2. Weather is still an issue

General view as Adria Arnaus (ESP) rides a cart after play is suspended due to weather during round two of the men’s individual stroke play of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

This has to be exhausting for players — on top of the intense travel to get to Japan players are enduring lengthy days on the course as another lightning delay held up action in the second round. Play was halted at 11:57 a.m. local time, and resumed at 2:20 p.m. Although Sunday’s final round should avoid any weather issues, the forecast has more rain coming on Saturday.

3. Irish eyes — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry — were indeed smiling

Shane Lowry (IRL) tees off on the third hole during round two of the men’s individual stroke play of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

After he opened with a 2-under 69 on Thursday, Rory McIlroy followed with a front nine birdie-birdie-eagle stretch in Friday’s second round to ignite a charge toward the top of the leaderboard. At day’s end, he was 7 under and within four of Schauffele. He wasn’t the only Irish golfer who shined, as Shane Lowry sits tied with his countryman at 7 under after a second-round 65.

4. Mito Periera keeps charging

Mito Pereira (CHI) tees off on the fifth hole during round one of the men’s individual stroke play of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Chilean Mito Pereira sits halfway toward an Olympic medal, which would be another stellar achievement in what’s been a breakout year. Periera’s 65 put him in a tie for third after 36 holes. In 2021 on the Korn Ferry Tour, he won his second and third events of the 2020-21 season, earning an immediate automatic promotion to the PGA Tour. The past two weeks, he tied for fifth at the Barbosol Championship and tied for sixth at the 3M Open. He’s shot three rounds in the 60s in three consecutive PGA Tour events this month.

5. Another Rory is shining — and his wife is by his side

Rory Sabbatini (SVK) walks with his wife and caddy Martina Sabbatini on the fifth hole during round one of the men’s individual stroke play of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Rory Sabbatini’s 67 put him just five shots off the lead after two rounds of play, and he’s got an interesting storyline — he’s representing Slovakia, where he became a citizen in 2019. Sabbatini’s father-in-law is the president of the Slovak Golf Association and his wife, Martina, is working as his caddie.

How is that experience?

“Oh, it’s great. I don’t know if she’s enjoying it as much as me but, no, it’s great,” Sabbatini said. “She’s got a tough job and but she’s staying in there, she’s got two more days of tough work to do.”