Scottie Scheffler made a strong start to the 3M Open on Thursday, carding a six-under-par 65 to sit three shots off the lead and remain firmly in the mix for the 3M open prize money. After a frustrating week on the greens at The Open, the world No 1 looked far more comfortable on fresh surfaces at TPC Twin Cities.
Ben Kohles set the pace with a 62 to hold the overnight lead, with Emiliano Grillo also among the names near the top after the opening round. For Scheffler, the response was important as much as the score, because his first round suggested a quick reset after the challenges he had faced at Royal Birkdale.
Scheffler finds a cleaner putting rhythm
Scheffler said the difference was not complicated. “Fresh greens are a little bit easier than links greens,” he said, pointing to the change in conditions after last week’s event.
He also felt his troubles at The Open were not entirely down to his own execution. “Part of playing links golf is the ball's not going to roll true every single time,” he said. “I felt like I was just on the wrong end of that last week.”
That made Thursday’s round a welcome shift. Scheffler explained that he simply focused on starting the ball where he wanted it to go and trusting the line, adding that he was able to hole enough putts to build momentum and make birdies.
Where Scheffler sits after round one
The opening day left Scheffler in second place in the field, three back of Kohles and still well positioned in a tournament that can change quickly. The key point is that his game looked more settled after the frustrations of Sunday, when he finished tied fourth at Royal Birkdale.
There was also a notable return for Jordan Smith, who had finished tied 18th at Royal Birkdale last week before coming back onto the PGA Tour. That added another layer to a leaderboard that already had plenty of movement early on.
The next round will show whether Scheffler’s improved putting can hold up. The second round is scheduled to be shown live from 9pm on Sky Sports Golf on Friday, and if Thursday was any guide, the world No 1 has given himself a proper chance to chase down the lead.
