Scottie Scheffler quickly shook off the disappointment of his recent putting performance at The Open, demonstrating his resilience with an impressive six‑under‑par 65 in the opening round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. The four‑time major winner, who had struggled with his flat stick on the links last week, arrived in Minnesota with a clear purpose: to prove that the rough patch was only temporary. His round placed him just three strokes behind the overnight leader, Ben Kohles, who sealed his day with a dramatic eagle on the final hole to finish at 62. Scheffler also found himself a single shot behind a trio of players—Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivuniemi and Gary Woodland—who were all tied for the lead at seven under par.

The world‑number‑one’s turnaround was especially striking given his tied‑fourth finish at Royal Birkdale the previous Sunday, a result that had left him feeling off‑balance with his putting. At TPC Twin Cities, Scheffler began his round on the back nine, a strategic choice that allowed him to settle into the course’s relatively flat, well‑maintained greens. He opened with a modest start by the standards of his career, birdieing the 12th hole and then adding another birdie on the 18th, even though his approach shot missed the green.

Those two early birdies set the tone for a surge of confidence that would carry him through the rest of his round. From the 1st tee, Scheffler quickly found his rhythm. He recorded a birdie on the opening hole despite missing the green, showcasing his ability to recover with a precise putt. The momentum continued on holes four, six and seven, where he again demonstrated his knack for making up ground when his ball landed short of the target.

Although he missed a chance at an eagle on the sixth and fell short of a 15‑foot birdie putt on the 14th, his overall putting performance was solid enough to rank him second in the field for strokes‑gained putting on Thursday afternoon. This statistic underscores a significant improvement from the previous week, when his flat stick had been a source of frustration. Scheffler reflected on the differences between the types of greens he had encountered.

"Fresh greens are a little bit easier than links greens," he explained. "Part of playing links golf is the ball's not going to roll true every single time." His comments highlight the adaptability required of elite golfers when transitioning from the undulating, often unpredictable surfaces of a links course to the smoother, more predictable putting surfaces found at many American venues. By aligning his aim and trusting his line, Scheffler felt he could regain control of his short game. He also admitted that the previous week had left him feeling "on the wrong end" of his putting.

"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. The mental reset he experienced in Minnesota allowed him to approach each putt with a clearer mindset, which he believes contributed to his success. Scheffler’s optimism extended beyond the day’s results.

He expressed a desire to develop a better sense of when a good putting day is on the horizon. "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," he noted. "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." Beyond Scheffler, the tournament featured other notable storylines.

England’s Jordan Smith, who had impressed with a tied‑18th finish at Royal Birkdale, also returned to the 3M Open. Smith’s round was a roller‑coaster: after a three‑putt bogey on the fifth hole, he quickly rebounded with a birdie on the sixth, only to suffer a double‑bogey after his tee shot found a water hazard on the seventh.

Nevertheless, he showed resilience on the back nine, posting birdies on holes 13 and 17 to finish at even par, a respectable score given the early setbacks. The tournament’s schedule continues to draw attention, with live coverage slated on Sky Sports Golf beginning at 9 p.m.

on Friday. Fans can also stream the event without a long‑term contract, offering flexible viewing options for a global audience.

As the 3M Open progresses, all eyes will be on Scheffler to see if he can maintain his momentum and climb the leaderboard, while other contenders aim to capitalize on any opportunities that arise. Overall, Scheffler’s performance in Minnesota serves as a reminder of the mental and technical adjustments top golfers must make when transitioning between different types of courses and conditions. His ability to rebound swiftly from a disappointing showing at The Open underscores his status as one of the sport’s most adaptable and determined competitors.

The coming rounds will test whether his resurgence is a temporary spark or the beginning of a sustained run toward another major title.