Scottie Scheffler's Uncharacteristic Start at the WM Phoenix Open

Why this matters: Scheffler's unexpected struggles highlight the unpredictable nature of golf, even for top-ranked players. His performance impacts his chances for a third consecutive win at TPC Scottsdale and continuing his impressive cut streak.

Scottie Scheffler's opening round was marred by uncharacteristic errors, particularly with his short game. He lost over two strokes to the field around the green, a stark contrast to his usual performance. A double bogey on the 2nd hole and a series of bogeys contributed to his 2-over score. In contrast, Chris Gotterup capitalized on an early start time to take the lead. Hideki Matsuyama's strong performance and Joel Dahmen's crowd-pleasing chip-in added excitement to the first round.

Scheffler's struggles can be attributed to a combination of factors, including a difficult tee shot on the 11th hole, where he found the water, and general inconsistency with his irons. While he managed five birdies, the errors proved too costly. The focus now shifts to whether Scheffler can rebound in the second round to make the cut and remain in contention.

Scottie Scheffler shot a 2-over 73.

Chris Gotterup is the leader after shooting a 63.

Scheffler struggled with his approach play and short game, making uncharacteristic errors around the green.

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