Scottie Scheffler shook off the disappointment of his recent putting performance at The Open and made a strong statement on Thursday when he opened his 2024 PGA Tour campaign with a six‑under‑par 65 at the 3M Open in Minnesota. The four‑time major winner, who had been struggling with his short game on the links, showed that he could quickly adjust to the different conditions of a parkland course and get back into contention. After a tied‑fourth finish at Royal Birkdale on Sunday, Scheffler arrived at TPC Twin Cities with a clear goal: to prove that the putting woes he experienced on the seaside could be a one‑off event rather than a lingering problem.
He started his round a little slower than usual, making his first birdie on the 12th hole and another on the 18th despite missing the green with his approach shot. Those two birdies set the tone for a round in which he would steadily build momentum. From the first tee, Scheffler demonstrated his trademark aggressiveness. He missed the green on the opening hole but still managed to sink a 12‑foot putt for birdie, showing that his feel for the greens was returning.
He followed that with birdies on the fourth, sixth, and seventh holes, each time displaying a combination of precise iron play and confident putting. Although he fell short of an eagle on the sixth and missed a 15‑foot birdie putt on the 14th, the overall picture was one of a player who had regained his rhythm.
Statistically, Scheffler’s performance on Thursday was notable. He ranked second in the field for strokes‑gained putting, a metric that measures how many strokes a player saves relative to the field average.
This was a striking contrast to the previous week, when his putting numbers had dipped below his usual standards on the undulating, windy links of Royal Birkdale. "Fresh greens are a little bit easier than links greens," Scheffler explained in post‑round comments. "Part of playing links golf is the ball's not going to roll true every single time." He went on to describe his mindset: "I felt like I was just on the wrong end of that last week. 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 also admitted that predicting a good putting day is almost impossible.
"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 said.
Scheffler’s 65 placed him three strokes behind overnight leader Ben Kohles, who had finished with a sensational 62 after an eagle on the final hole. Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivuranta and Gary Woodland were all one shot ahead of Scheffler, tied at seven under par, meaning the leader board remained tightly packed and the tournament still very much open. Other notable performances included England’s Jordan Smith, who returned to the PGA Tour after a solid tied‑18th finish at Royal Birkdale. Smith’s round was a roller‑coaster: a three‑putt on the fifth hole produced a bogey, but he quickly answered with a birdie on the sixth.
A wayward tee shot on the seventh sent his ball into a water hazard, resulting in a double‑bogey. However, he recovered on the back nine, posting birdies on holes 13 and 17 to finish at even par. The 3M Open, part of the PGA Tour’s 2026 schedule, continues to attract a strong field, and Thursday’s action set the stage for a thrilling weekend.
Fans can watch live coverage on Sky Sports Golf starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, or stream the tournament without a contract through various online platforms. Overall, Scheffler’s rebound illustrates the resilience required at the highest level of golf.
By adjusting his approach, trusting his instincts, and embracing the different green conditions in Minnesota, he turned a potential slump into a statement round. If he can maintain this level of play, he will be a serious contender not only for the 3M Open title but also for the upcoming majors.
The next few days will reveal whether his putting has truly steadied or if Thursday was simply a fortunate day on the greens. Either way, his performance has reignited interest in his quest for another major championship.