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Scottie Scheffler bounced back from a poor performance with his putter at last week’s Open when he returned to PGA Tour action Thursday to card a six-under par 65 at the 3M Open.
The four-time major champion was three shots off overnight leader Ben Kohles, who capped his round with a sensational eagle at the end to post a score of 62.
Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivun and Gary Woodland all sit one shot ahead of Scheffler, tied at seven under par.
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Jake Knapp misses an ace on the 4th hole during his first round at the 3M Open
World No. 1 Scheffler had a quick turnaround after his tie-fourth finish at Royal Birkdale on Sunday and started his first round at TPC Twin Cities on the back nine. He started a little slow by his standards, making a birdie on the 12th hole before adding another on the 18th, though missed the green with his approach.
From there, he found some momentum, carding a birdie on the first hole despite missing the green, before making gains on the fourth, sixth and seventh holes.
Despite missing an eagle putt on the sixth and a 15-foot birdie putt on the 14th, Scheffler impressed with his flat stick Thursday afternoon in Minnesota, finishing second in the field for stroke gains.
“Fresh greens are a bit easier than link greens,” said the world number one “Part of playing links golf is that the ball won’t hit true every time.
“I felt like I was on the wrong end of last week.
Scheffler finished second in the field after shooting a six-under par 65 Thursday afternoon
“I came in here and made sure I lined up where I thought I was and made sure I hit it on that line and that was it.”
Scheffler added that he would “like to predict” when a good putting day is coming.
“Golf is funny. Some days you hit your line and the line seems to track toward the hole and other days it seems like you’re doing the same thing and it goes around the hole.
“But today was a day where I was able to hole some nice putts and that’s why I was able to make some birdies there.”
Elsewhere, England’s Jordan Smith returned to the PGA Tour after his impressive tie-18th finish at Royal Birkdale last week.
The 33-year-old got off to a rough start, three-putting the fifth hole for a bogey, canceling that with a birdie on the sixth and finding a water hazard to drop off a double bogey with his tee shot on the seventh.
Smith regained his back nine to finish his round at level par with birdies on the 13th and 17th holes.
Watch live coverage of the 3M Open on Sky Sports Golf from 9pm on Friday. Get Sky Sports or Golf Stream with no contract
