Scottie Scheffler returned to the PGA Tour on Thursday, bouncing back from a poor putter performance in last week’s Open with a 6-under 65 at the 3M Open.
The four-time major champion was three strokes behind overnight leader Ben Kohles and shot a stunning eagle in the final round for a 62.
Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivun and Gary Woodland are all tied for the lead at 7 under par, one stroke ahead of Scheffler.
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Jake Knapp misses an ace on the fourth hole during the opening round of the 3M Open.
World number one Scheffler made a quick turnaround after finishing tied for fourth at Royal Birkdale on Sunday and began his first round on the back nine at TPC Twin Cities. He started off a little slow by his standards, making a birdie on the 12th hole and then adding a birdie on the 18th hole despite missing the green on his approach.
From there, he gained some momentum, including a birdie on the first hole despite missing the green, and also made gains on holes 4, 6 and 7.
Despite missing an eagle putt in the sixth and a 15-foot birdie putt in the 14th, Scheffler impressed with the flat stick in Minnesota on Thursday afternoon, finishing second in the field in strokes put.
“The fresh greens are a little easier than the links greens,” the world number one said. “Part of links golf is that the ball doesn’t roll exactly every time.
“I felt like I was on the wrong end last week.
Scheffler shot a 6-under-par 65 on Thursday afternoon and took second place in putting.
“I got here and made sure I lined up where I thought I would, made sure I hit that line and that was it.”
Scheffler added that he “likes to predict” when a good putting day will come.
“Golf is fun. Some days you’re hitting a line and it seems like you’re following it towards the hole, and some days you’re doing the same thing and it feels like it’s going around the hole.
“But today was a day where I was able to putt well and make birdie.”
Elsewhere, England’s Jordan Smith returns to the PGA Tour after finishing in an impressive tie for 18th at Royal Birkdale last week.
The 33-year-old got off to a good start, three-putting for a bogey on No. 5, canceling it out with a birdie on No. 6, before finding a water hazard on his tee shot on No. 7 and making double bogey.
Smith recovered on the back nine, hitting birdies on the 13th and 17th holes, and finished the round with a par.
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