Scottie Scheffler entered the third round in a strong position, with calm conditions and a receptive course offering a prime opportunity to climb the leaderboard. Early signs were promising as he consistently found fairways and gave himself excellent looks at birdie. His approach play remained sharp, repeatedly setting up chances from inside 10 feet. Yet time and again, those opportunities slipped away.
Scheffler’s Putting Struggles Overshadow Strong Ball Striking Amid Tough Conditions
The issue was not his tee-to-green performance but his inability to convert on the greens. Multiple short putts failed to drop, including several attempts that missed the hole entirely. He finished the round at 1-over 71, a disappointing result considering that many of his competitors posted under-par scores. Statistically, it marked one of his poorest putting displays in recent months, losing more than two strokes on the greens.
Despite the frustration, Scheffler maintained a measured outlook. He pointed to the difficulty of the course, where heavy wind and pronounced slopes made putting unpredictable. Even well-executed putts often veered off line late, turning what looked like certain birdies into routine pars. His comments reflected confidence that better results could follow if the same quality of shots continued.
Leaderboard Tight as Scheffler Stays Close Despite Ongoing Putting Struggles
The tightly packed leaderboard has kept him within reach of contention. He trails Alex Smalley by five strokes and sits just a few shots behind a cluster of players near the top. The margin highlights how costly his putting struggles have been. Over the last two rounds, he has failed to make a single putt beyond 10 feet, a stark contrast to his improved performance with the flatstick in recent seasons.
Earlier in his career, putting inconsistency often limited Scheffler’s success. With dedicated work and coaching, he turned it into a strength, becoming one of the more reliable putters on tour this year. However, Aronimink’s challenging greens have exposed lingering vulnerabilities at a critical stage of the tournament.
Missed chances defined his round, including a three-putt bogey and several missed birdie attempts from close range. With one round remaining, Scheffler remains in contention, but a turnaround on the greens will be essential if he hopes to contend for the title.