Scottie Scheffler commenced his pursuit of a third consecutive Players Championship with rounds of 3-under 69 and 70, placing him six shots behind the leaders by the conclusion of his morning round on Friday. Despite his success in previous years, Scheffler expressed frustration with his performance, particularly with his putting. Over the course of 36 holes, he has lost 0.21 strokes to the field with his putter, a stark contrast to last season’s +0.095 strokes gained: putting, which helped him secure eight tournament victories.
Scheffler's round was characterized by several almost-successful putts, as he commented, "At times last year those were the putts that would go in, and the last few weeks seems like they haven't been." His drive on the 7th hole found a fairway bunker, adding to the challenges of the day. Although he managed five birdies, his game lacked the excitement that typically ignites the crowd.
"I didn't do a whole lot to fire [the crowd] up today," remarked Scheffler.
Despite these setbacks, Scheffler appeared more at ease after completing his round, reflecting on the differences between this year and last. He acknowledged that this year is "a totally different year compared to last year" and expressed optimism about improving over the weekend. Scheffler's frustration was evident as he walked to the fourth tee box after missing a 14-foot putt for par, notably exclaiming, "I'd just love a lip out!"
Nevertheless, Scheffler remains focused on what he can achieve moving forward. He noted, "If you go to a course like where The Open Championships usually are, you could play the ball on the ground. Around this place you can't really," highlighting the unique challenges presented by the Players Championship course.
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