Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, has actually been hitting the ball fantastically well at The Open Championship this week. You'd think that'd put him right at the top, right? But here's the gut-punch: his putter has been ice cold through the first three rounds, leaving him a frustrating four strokes behind leader Sam Burns with just 18 holes to go. Honestly, if he'd just putted *averagely*, this guy could easily be sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard at Royal Birkdale. It's brutal watching him leave shots out there.
The Flat-Stick Freeze-Out Is Killing His Claret Jug Defense
Think about it: Scheffler has putted exceptionally well for most of 2026. This isn't some rookie struggling with the short game, this is the reigning champion! He won the claret jug last year at Royal Portrush, and you know he's trying to defend that title. But right now, his flat-stick is betraying him at the worst possible time. He's got an outside shot at winning on Sunday, sure, but his putter is gonna need to get seriously hot. Like, melt-the-green hot. We're talking about a guy who could be running away with this thing if his putts were dropping. It’s hard to watch him battle so hard from tee to green only to lose it on the putting surface.A "Two-Stroke Penalty" Just For Showing Up?
And if the cold putter wasn't enough, golf analyst Brad Faxon is out here saying Scheffler was dealt a bad hand by the R&A. Faxon thinks Scheffler got a raw deal with his pairings for the first two rounds. "Pairings make a big difference," Faxon said, pointing out how "so many things can influence how a player plays." He flat-out called Scheffler's grouping with Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton a "tough pairing." Why? Because DeChambeau and Hatton are "two guys that are difficult to play with." Faxon even went so far as to say it was "almost like a two-stroke penalty." DeChambeau, for his part, actually claimed he enjoyed playing with Scheffler during those first two days. But you gotta wonder if Faxon's got a point. Fiery characters like those two can definitely make things interesting out on the course.Scheffler Stays Locked In, No Matter What
Here's the thing, though: Scottie Scheffler is the consummate professional. He's only ever focused on his own game, no matter who he's playing with. You can bet he wasn't letting DeChambeau or Hatton dictate how he played. He shot two rounds of 68 when he was paired with those two, which is pretty darn good if you ask me. Compare that to Saturday, when he shot a 70 playing alongside Francesco Molinari. If he *did* let his playing partners mess with his head, he wouldn't have achieved everything he has in the game. Look, he might not have chosen DeChambeau and Hatton as playing partners at The Open, but I'm certain his grouping wouldn't have affected his actual play. He's just too locked in for that. So, 18 holes left on Sunday. Scheffler needs to find that putting stroke he's had all year. He's four strokes back, it's not an impossible mountain to climb, especially for a world number one. Can he turn it around and defend that claret jug? He's gotta go out there and absolutely light it up, starting with every single putt. Let's see if he can make some magic happen!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.