Scottie Scheffler bounces back with a 5-under performance free of bogeys at the Players Championship.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler made a significant improvement in the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Saturday, recording a bogey-free 5-under 67.
While some may have expressed concern regarding Scheffler’s recent performance, he stated that he was not troubled.
“Did I find anything?” Scheffler remarked, after moving to 4 under following 54 holes, 8 strokes behind leader Ludvig Åberg. “I think that would suggest that I was lost, which is not the situation. No, I believe I’m always just trying to gauge where things stand, and sometimes a bit of practice is beneficial, and at times a little rest is advantageous.”
The four-time major champion finished tied for 24th in last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, marking his first finish outside the top 20 since he tied for 20th in last year’s Players Championship.
Following that, Scheffler recorded scores of 72-73 in the opening round this week, leaving him just one stroke above the 36-hole cut line on Friday.
“It’s more enjoyable battling to be near the lead is how I would characterize it,” Scheffler stated.
Scheffler dedicated over an hour on the range Thursday collaborating with swing coach Randy Smith and caddie Ted Scott — even amidst a downpour.
Scheffler’s dedication proved fruitful, as he hit 11 of 14 fairways on Saturday, compared to 14 of 28 in the first two rounds combined. He hit 9 of 18 greens in the third round. With the greens becoming firmer, many of his approach shots came to rest on the fringe.
He successfully scrambled 9-for-9 and gained over 1.5 strokes on the field in putting.
“When I assess tournaments, I’m not focused on winning,” Scheffler explained. “I’m concentrating on approaching things correctly. I did my utmost to remain committed, and I believe I managed to maintain the right mindset and keep my focus steady to grind out a couple of challenging rounds.
“And then I shot a solid round today as well. So, overall I think I’ve been in a favorable position regarding my attitude and commitment to my shots. So for me, that’s a positive week.”
The two-time Players Championship winner reverted to using TaylorMade’s Qi4D driver, which contributed to his 16 victories worldwide over the past two seasons.
“I was a bit sharper today than I was in the first two days,” Scheffler noted. “I felt like I was swinging better each day of the tournament. Today, I hit a few more fairways and was able to create a few more opportunities for birdie.”
When asked if he is close enough to the leader to make a move on Sunday, Scheffler quipped, “Not unless it starts blowing like 30 miles an hour.”
