Scottie Scheffler quickly put his recent putting difficulties behind him after a disappointing performance at the Open, delivering a commanding six‑under‑par 65 in his first round back on the PGA Tour at the 3M Open in Minnesota. The four‑time major champion, who had struggled with his flat stick on the links last week, opened the tournament just three strokes behind overnight leader Ben Kohles, who closed his round with a dramatic eagle to finish at 62. A trio of players—Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivun and Gary Woodland—were also positioned a shot ahead of Scheffler, all tied at seven under par.
The world‑number‑one entered the event after a tied‑fourth finish at Royal Birkdale, a result that left him feeling unsettled by his putting on the links. He arrived at TPC Twin Cities ready to reset his game, and after a measured start on the back nine, he recorded his first birdie on the 12th hole.
He followed that with another birdie on the 18th, even though his approach shot missed the green, demonstrating his ability to salvage pars and turn them into birdies when the putter is working. Scheffler’s momentum built steadily from there. He opened the front nine with a birdie on the first hole, again despite missing the green, and continued to chip in solid scores on the fourth, sixth and seventh holes.
While he fell short of an eagle on the sixth and missed a 15‑foot birdie putt on the 14th, his overall putting performance was impressive enough to rank him second among all competitors for strokes‑gained putting on Thursday afternoon. "Fresh greens are a little bit easier than links greens," Scheffler explained, noting that the unpredictable roll of the ball on traditional links surfaces can make putting a gamble. "Part of playing links golf is the ball's not going to roll true every single time." He added that the previous week had left him feeling "on the wrong end" of his putting, but that he had taken a methodical approach to his practice round in Minnesota. "I got here and made sure I was lined up where I thought it was and made sure I was hitting it on that line and that was about it," he said, emphasizing the importance of routine and confidence.
Scheffler also mused about the elusive nature of a good putting day. "Golf's funny. Some days you're hitting your lines and the line seems to be tracking toward the hole and other days it feels like you're doing the same thing and it kind of goes around the hole. But today was a day in which I was able to hole some nice putts and that's why I was able to make some birdies out there," he remarked, highlighting the mental side of the sport.
The tournament also featured a notable return for England's Jordan Smith, who had posted a tied‑18th finish at Royal Birkdale the week before. Smith, 33, experienced a rocky start at the 3M Open, carding a three‑putt bogey on the fifth hole, then bouncing back with a birdie on the sixth. However, his tee shot on the seventh found water, resulting in a double‑bogey.
Undeterred, Smith rallied on the back nine, securing birdies on the 13th and 17th holes to finish his round at even par. The 3M Open continues to attract a strong field, with the leaderboard shaping up tightly as players vie for a spot in the final round. Spectators can follow live coverage on Sky Sports Golf, with streaming options available without a long‑term contract.
For those interested in the broader PGA Tour schedule, the 2026 season promises a packed calendar of events across the United States and internationally, offering fans ample opportunities to watch top‑tier golf. In summary, Scheffler's rebound illustrates how quickly a professional golfer can adjust after a setback. By focusing on fundamentals, maintaining confidence in his putting stroke, and adapting to the different green conditions in Minnesota, he turned a potentially discouraging week into a promising start at the 3M Open. His performance sets the stage for an exciting tournament as he chases the leaders and looks to add another victory to his already impressive résumé.