Scottie Scheffler quickly shook off the disappointment of his recent putting difficulties at The Open, delivering a commanding performance when he returned to PGA Tour competition on Thursday at the 3M Open. The four‑time major winner posted a six‑under‑par 65, signaling that he has regained his confidence on the greens and is ready to contend once again. Scheffler’s round placed him just three strokes behind the overnight leader, Ben Kohles, who finished his round with a dramatic eagle on the final hole to card a 62.
A trio of players—Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivun and Gary Woodland—are now tied at seven under par, each sitting a single shot ahead of Scheffler as the leaderboard tightens. The world‑number‑one entered the tournament with a quick turnaround after a tied‑fourth finish at Royal Birkdale last Sunday.
Starting his first round at TPC Twin Cities on the back nine, Scheffler’s early momentum was modest by his own standards. He recorded a birdie on the 12th hole and followed it with another on the 18th, even though his approach shot missed the green on the latter.
Those two birdies set the tone for a round that would soon build into a series of steady gains. From the 1st tee, Scheffler demonstrated his trademark resilience.
He birdied the opening hole despite missing the green, then added birdies on the 4th, 6th and 7th holes. Although he fell short of an eagle on the 6th and missed a 15‑foot birdie putt on the 14th, his overall putting performance was impressive. In fact, his flat‑stick work on Thursday earned him the second‑best strokes‑gained‑putting rating among the field, a clear indication that his recent struggles are fading. "Fresh greens are a little bit easier than links greens," Scheffler explained, noting the differences in surface texture and roll.
"Part of playing links golf is the ball's not going to roll true every single time." His comments highlighted the adjustment required when moving from the firm, undulating conditions of a links course to the more manicured, faster greens typical of a mid‑western tournament. After a disappointing finish at The Open, where his putter seemed to betray him, Scheffler reflected on his mindset heading into Minnesota. "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 that he would love to be able to predict when a good putting day was coming, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the sport. "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 resurgence is not just about a single round; it signals a broader return to form that could influence the rest of the 2026 PGA Tour schedule. His ability to adapt quickly after a setback demonstrates the mental toughness required of a world‑class player.
With the tournament still early, his six‑under‑par start positions him as a serious contender for the title, especially as he continues to fine‑tune his putting stroke. Meanwhile, 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 experienced a rocky beginning, carding a bogey on the fifth after a three‑putt, then bouncing back with a birdie on the sixth.
However, his tee shot on the seventh landed in a water hazard, resulting in a double‑bogey. Smith recovered on the back nine, securing birdies on the 13th and 17th holes to finish at level par, showing that he can regroup after early setbacks. The 3M Open continues to draw attention, with live coverage available on Sky Sports Golf beginning at 9 p.m.
on Friday. Fans can also stream the tournament without a contract, ensuring broad access to the action.
As the field tightens and players like Scheffler and Smith vie for positions, the tournament promises exciting golf and a showcase of how quickly elite competitors can rebound from adversity.