Scottie Scheffler’s second-place finish at the 3M Open was another reminder of just how often he has been right in the mix this season. Johnson Wagner would see it as a strong week at TPC Twin Cities, but also one that added to a familiar pattern for the world number one, who has now finished second five times.
For Scheffler, though, the headline was not frustration so much as appreciation. After making his first appearance at the event in Blaine, Minnesota, he said the week was tremendous and praised the atmosphere throughout the tournament.
Johnson Wagner: Scheffler leaves Minnesota with praise and another second place
Scheffler said the fans were great, adding that the tournament was really solid and that it was a lot of fun hearing the cheers during the week. It was a measured reaction from a player who has become so used to contending that even a runner-up finish can feel like part of the larger story.
The result came after he posted rounds of 64 and 63 over the weekend, putting together a strong final push at TPC Twin Cities. But even with that late surge, he finished second behind Jackson Koivun.
That context matters because Scheffler had not played the 3M Open before this week. He had also played in each of the last two weeks across the pond before arriving in Minnesota, so this was not a fresh and fully rested build-up. Even so, he still managed to produce another high finish.
How close was Scheffler to the top?
Scheffler explained that he knew a very low score would be needed to make up ground. He said he was six shots back to start the day, though three shots behind second, and understood that Jackson Koivun’s score would set the standard he had to chase.
He also pointed to the key stretch that prevented him from putting real pressure on the leaders early. Scheffler said he wanted to go really low on the front nine and get himself onto the leaderboard, but he did not quite have that and was only 3 under on the front. That left him without the kind of early momentum he needed.
Still, there was no sense of disaster in his assessment. Scheffler described it as a pretty solid week and felt that, on a course like this, a player cannot afford too many off nines. For him, he said, back nine Friday and front nine Saturday probably cost him that little stretch.
That is the key takeaway from the week. Scheffler was good enough to contend again, and he was positive about the reception he received, but the 3M Open also became another example of how small margins have repeatedly kept him from finishing first. For Johnson Wagner, that makes the result less about disappointment in Minnesota and more about how relentless Scheffler’s consistency has been all season.
