Scottie Scheffler quickly put his recent putting difficulties at the Open behind him when he returned to PGA Tour competition on Thursday, posting a six‑under‑par 65 at the 3M Open in Minnesota. The four‑time major champion, who had been haunted by a sub‑par performance with his putter at Royal Birkdale, demonstrated a markedly improved short game and a steady rhythm that placed him just three strokes behind overnight leader Ben Kohles, who closed his round with a dramatic eagle to finish at 62. Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivuniemi and Gary Woodland all sit one shot ahead of Scheffler, tied at seven under par, underscoring the tightly packed leaderboard as the tournament heads into its second round. The event, played at the challenging TPC Twin Cities layout, has already produced a series of dramatic swings in momentum, and Scheffler’s resurgence adds another compelling storyline.
World No. 1 Scheffler entered the tournament with a quick turnaround after a tied‑fourth finish at Royal Birkdale on Sunday. He began his first round on the back nine, a decision that gave him a chance to gauge the course conditions before tackling the more demanding front nine.
While his start was modest by his own lofty standards, he managed a birdie on the 12th hole and another on the 18th, even though his approach on the final hole missed the green. That modest beginning gave way to a surge of confidence.
He recorded a birdie on the opening hole of his round despite also missing the green, then added further birdies on holes four, six and seven. The only blemishes on his card were a missed eagle putt on the sixth and a 15‑foot birdie attempt on the 14th that rolled just past the hole. Nevertheless, his overall performance with the flat stick was strong enough to rank him second in the field for strokes‑gained putting on Thursday afternoon.
"Fresh greens are a little bit easier than links greens," Scheffler observed, noting the contrast between the manicured, relatively predictable surfaces of the Midwest and the unpredictable, often uneven terrain of coastal links courses. "Part of playing links golf is the ball's not going to roll true every single time." The world‑number‑one also reflected on the mental shift required after a disappointing week. "I felt like I was just on the wrong end of that last week," he said. "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 added a wry comment about the elusive nature of putting consistency: "I would love to predict when a good putting day is coming.
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." Scheffler’s ability to rebound so swiftly highlights the resilience that has become a hallmark of his career.
After the disappointment at the Open, he made a deliberate decision to focus on fundamentals—checking his grip, ensuring a steady tempo, and visualizing each putt as a separate challenge rather than a continuation of the previous day's frustrations. This mental reset, combined with the slightly softer, less undulating greens at TPC Twin Cities, seemed to unlock his confidence.
Elsewhere in the field, England’s Jordan Smith also made his return to the PGA Tour after a solid tied‑18th finish at Royal Birkdale. The 33‑year‑old’s round was a roller‑coaster: he began with a three‑putt bogey on the fifth hole, quickly erased that mistake with a birdie on the sixth, then suffered a double‑bogey after his tee shot on the seventh found water. Undeterred, Smith rallied on the back nine, posting birdies on the 13th and 17th holes to finish the day at even par. The tournament’s schedule continues to feature a blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars, each vying for a spot in the final weekend.
With Kohles perched atop the leaderboard at 62, and a tight cluster of players at seven under, the competition promises to be fierce. Spectators can tune in to Sky Sports Golf for live coverage beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday, or stream the event through various online platforms that offer contract‑free access.
Looking ahead, Scheffler’s performance sets him up as a strong contender for the title. His ability to adapt his putting strategy to different green types, coupled with his overall ball‑striking prowess, suggests that he could very well climb the leaderboard in the coming rounds. As the tournament progresses, fans will be watching closely to see whether his early momentum translates into a final‑round charge, or if the pressure of a tightly packed leaderboard will test his composure. For those following the PGA Tour’s 2026 schedule, the 3M Open remains a key event, offering a glimpse of how players adjust to varied course conditions early in the season.
The tournament also serves as a barometer for upcoming major championships, where the ability to navigate both links‑style and parkland courses will be crucial. Scheffler’s rebound after a rough week at the Open illustrates the fine margins that separate triumph from disappointment in professional golf, and underscores the importance of mental resilience, precise execution, and the occasional bit of luck on the greens.