Scottie Scheffler Sums Up Royal Troon’s Brutal Back Nine With 7 Words
Scottie Scheffler has thrust himself into the spotlight for potentially securing his second major victory of the year after an impressive even-par 71 in the third round of the 152nd Open Championship on Saturday.
The 2024 Masters champion now stands at 2-under par for the tournament, just two strokes shy of leader Billy Horschel, who sits at 4-under. Scheffler, maintaining his relentless consistency, is one of only two players who have not recorded an over-par round at The Open this week.
Reflecting on the challenges presented by Royal Troon, particularly its notorious inward nine, Scheffler expressed the intense difficulty of the course following his third round. “I can think of a couple days with some crazy high winds that may have been more challenging, but overall the back nine, I think that was probably the hardest nine holes that I’ll ever play,” Scheffler shared with CBS Sports. “I shouldn’t say ever, but it’s definitely the hardest that I’ve played to this point.”
The back nine at Royal Troon has tested even the finest players this week, featuring treacherous par-3s and lengthy par-4s that have proven difficult to reach in two shots amidst Scotland’s wet and windy conditions.
Displaying his trademark precision, Scheffler hit 13-of-14 fairways and 14-of-18 greens in regulation during his third round. He currently leads the field in Strokes Gained on Approach, amassing an impressive +8.15 for the week. This dominance in approach play is a familiar sight for Scheffler, though his putting remains a concern. He ranks near the bottom in Strokes Gained Putting, sitting 114th with a -1.61 SG.
With just a two-stroke gap to the top, Scheffler will embark on his pursuit of the coveted Claret Jug at 8:55 a.m. ET on Sunday, teeing off alongside Daniel Brown. As the final round looms, all eyes will be on Scheffler as he aims to etch his name in golfing history once more.
