Scottie Scheffler opens Hero World Challenge bid with routine 66 despite short game woes

Scottie Scheffler gives his thoughts on how he played in the opening round of the Hero World Challenge

It’s one thing to shoot six under when you’re in complete control, but to do it while feeling out of sorts is a real testament to how strong Scottie Scheffler has become.

Scheffler’s game rarely looks flashy, but there’s a quiet consistency that runs through everything he does. He doesn’t often go low with highlight-reel moments, but there are even fewer mistakes.

Still, one part of his game did stand out for the wrong reasons during Thursday’s play at Albany.

The 29-year-old lost 2.08 shots to the field around the greens on day one, finishing dead last in that category among the 20-man field (Data Golf).

Speaking after his round, Scheffler offered some insight into why he found it tough around the greens during Thursday’s opening round:

“I mean, I think the grain has a lot to do with it. The ball has a tendency to sit down in the turf. And a lot of it’s rough here, so you’re below the green, ball’s sitting down. It can be pretty challenging.”

How Scottie Scheffler performed in his first round at the Hero World Challenge

Outside of his short game, everything else was in great shape. He was steady off the tee and did well across both accuracy and distance categories.

Going into Friday, few would be surprised if he went even lower. If he sharpens up his short game, there’s every chance we’ll see him go well under par again.