Scottie Scheffler quickly shook off the disappointment he experienced with his short game at last week’s Open, turning his attention to the PGA Tour’s 3M Open on Thursday and delivering a six‑under‑par 65. The four‑time major champion, who had been haunted by missed putts on the links, demonstrated a markedly better performance on the fresh, manicured greens of TPC Twin Cities, signaling a strong start to his Minnesota campaign. Scheffler’s round placed him three shots behind overnight leader Ben Kohles, who capped his day with a spectacular eagle on the final hole to finish at 62. Close on Kohles’ heels were Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivun and Gary Woodland, each sitting at seven under par, just a single stroke ahead of Scheffler.
The field’s early leaderboard underscored the competitive nature of the tournament and highlighted the thin margins that separate victory from a respectable finish. The world‑number‑one entered the event after a tied‑fourth finish at Royal Birkdale, a result that, while solid, left him feeling unsettled by his putting on the windy, undulating links.
He arrived at TPC Twin Cities with a clear intention: to realign his routine, trust his instincts, and let his ball‑striking skills dictate the day. Starting on the back nine, Scheffler’s opening holes were deliberately measured.
He recorded a birdie on the 12th, followed by another on the 18th, despite missing the green with his approach shots. Those two birdies set the tone for a round that would see him string together a series of solid scores. Early on the front nine, Scheffler’s momentum built steadily.
He birdied the opening hole, again without hitting the green, showcasing his confidence in his short‑game touch. Subsequent birdies arrived on the fourth, sixth, and seventh holes, each earned through precise iron play and deft putting. Although he missed an eagle opportunity on the sixth and fell short of a 15‑foot birdie putt on the 14th, his overall performance with the putter was markedly improved.
In fact, his putting statistics for the day placed him second in the field for strokes‑gained putting, a metric that quantifies how many strokes a player saves relative to the field average. Reflecting on the contrast between links and park‑style greens, Scheffler noted, "Fresh greens are a little bit easier than links greens. Part of playing links golf is the ball's not going to roll true every single time." This observation highlighted his awareness of the differing conditions and his adaptability.
The smoother, more predictable surfaces at Twin Cities allowed him to trust his line and speed more than he could on the unpredictable, wind‑swept fairways of Royal Birkdale. Scheffler also addressed his mental approach after the recent disappointment. "I felt like I was just on the wrong end of that last week," he admitted.
"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." His candid comments reveal a player who is both self‑critical and proactive, willing to make small adjustments to regain confidence. He went on to say that he would "love to predict" when a good putting day would arrive, acknowledging the sport’s inherent variability.
"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 explained.
This insight underscores the psychological ebb and flow that even elite golfers experience, and how a single solid round can reset a player's confidence. While Scheffler’s performance dominated headlines, other notable storylines unfolded on the course.
England’s Jordan Smith, who had impressed with a tied‑18th finish at Royal Birkdale, made his return to the PGA Tour at the 3M Open. Smith’s round was a rollercoaster: a three‑putt bogey on the fifth hole was offset by a birdie on the sixth, only to be followed by a double‑bogey after his tee shot found water on the seventh. Nevertheless, he demonstrated resilience, rebounding on the back nine with birdies on the 13th and 17th to finish at even par.
His ability to recover after early setbacks mirrors the broader theme of perseverance that defined the day’s competition. The tournament’s schedule continued to draw attention from fans worldwide, with live coverage available on Sky Sports Golf starting at 9 p.m.
on Friday. Viewers were encouraged to stream the event without a long‑term contract, reflecting the growing trend toward flexible, on‑demand sports broadcasting. The PGA Tour’s 2026 calendar, which includes the 3M Open among other high‑profile events, promises a busy season for both players and spectators.
In summary, Scheffler’s six‑under‑par 65 at the 3M Open serves as a compelling illustration of how a top‑level professional can rebound from a brief slump. By focusing on fundamentals, adapting to course conditions, and maintaining a constructive mindset, he turned a potentially demoralizing week into a statement of resilience.
As the tournament progresses, his early positioning—just three strokes behind the leader—places him squarely in contention, while his improved putting performance suggests that the challenges he faced at the Open may be behind him. The remainder of the week will reveal whether his resurgence continues, but for now, Scheffler’s Minnesota start stands as a testament to the power of adjustment, confidence, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in professional golf.