Scottie Scheffler quickly shook off the disappointment he experienced with his short game at last week’s Open, delivering a commanding six‑under‑par 65 in his first tournament back on the PGA Tour at the 3M Open in Minnesota. The four‑time major champion, who had endured a frustrating putting performance at Royal Birkdale, demonstrated that he could still dominate when his game clicks, positioning himself just three strokes behind the overnight leader Ben Kohles, who sealed his round with a dramatic eagle to finish at 62.
Scheffler’s round placed him in a tight cluster with Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivuniemi and Gary Woodland, each of whom sat at seven‑under‑par, a single shot ahead of the world‑number‑one. The field was tightly packed, and the early leaderboard hinted at a thrilling tournament that could swing in any direction over the next few days.
After a tied‑fourth finish at Royal Birkdale on Sunday, Scheffler arrived at TPC Twin Cities with a clear mission: to regain confidence in his putting and prove that the setback was only temporary. He began his first round on the back nine, a section of the course that typically tests a player’s precision and composure. While he did not explode onto the board immediately, he managed a birdie on the 12th hole and followed it with another on the 18th, despite missing the green with his approach shot on the latter.
Those two birdies set the tone for a steady climb up the scorecard. The momentum truly built on the front nine. Scheffler opened his round with a birdie on the first hole, again missing the green but sinking a long putt that underscored his improving feel on the greens.
He continued to add strokes on the fourth, sixth and seventh holes, each birdie reflecting a blend of accurate iron play and a more confident putting stroke. Although he fell short of an eagle on the sixth and missed a 15‑foot birdie putt on the 14th, his overall performance with the flat stick was impressive 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 commented after his round. "Part of playing links golf is the ball's not going to roll true every single time." His observation highlighted the subtle differences between the firm, fast conditions of a seaside course and the softer, more receptive surfaces he encountered in Minnesota. The transition required a slight adjustment in his stroke, but he appeared to have made that shift quickly.
Scheffler also reflected on the mental side of putting. "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 said. The statement reveals his focus on fundamentals—alignment, line, and tempo—rather than over‑thinking the outcome.
He added that predicting a good putting day is a challenge, noting, "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." Beyond Scheffler, the tournament featured other notable storylines. England’s Jordan Smith, who had impressed with a tied‑18th finish at Royal Birkdale, made his return to the PGA Tour at the same event. Smith’s round was a roller‑coaster: a three‑putt on the fifth hole produced a bogey, but he quickly rebounded with a birdie on the sixth.
Trouble struck on the seventh when his tee shot found a water hazard, resulting in a double‑bogey. Nevertheless, Smith showed resilience on the back nine, birdieing the 13th and 17th holes to finish his round at even par, demonstrating the same perseverance that has become a hallmark of his career. The 3M Open continues to attract attention from fans worldwide, with live coverage available on Sky Sports Golf and streaming options that require no long‑term contract. As the tournament progresses, the leaderboard remains tightly packed, promising a competitive finish.
Scheffler’s strong start puts him in a position to challenge for the title, while his renewed confidence in putting could prove to be a decisive factor in the days ahead. Overall, Scheffler’s performance in Minnesota serves as a reminder that even elite athletes experience fluctuations in form, but with focused adjustments and a resilient mindset, they can rebound quickly.
His six‑under round not only erased the doubts raised by his recent putting struggles but also set the stage for what could be a compelling run toward the championship. The next rounds will test whether he can maintain this level of play, especially as the course conditions evolve and the pressure mounts. Fans can continue to follow the action live, with Sky Sports Golf providing comprehensive coverage starting at 9 p.m.
on Friday. For those who prefer streaming, there are contract‑free options that allow uninterrupted viewing of every swing, putt, and dramatic moment as the 3M Open unfolds.