Scottie Scheffler has etched his name alongside several records this year but one unwanted one came his way at the US Open in Pinehurst no.2.
Scheffler is six-over-par through 54 holes after rounds of 71, 74 and 71 and after an over par final round at the Memorial Tournament last week despite winning, it means for the first time in his professional career the world number one has carded four successive over par rounds.
“How was today? No, another frustrating day. Today was a day where I thought I played a lot better than my score,” the two-time Masters champion said.
“I’m having a lot of trouble reading these greens. I had a lot of putts today where I felt like I hit it really good. I looked up and they were not going the way I thought they were going to go.
“Really my swing today felt a lot better than it did yesterday. I felt like the last 27 holes I’ve played, I’ve hit it really nice, but I just haven’t been able to hit it quite close enough, which is difficult around this course. I haven’t been able to hole the putts the last few today.”
Scheffler struggled off the tee in the opening two rounds and spoke of a little fatigue having been forced to play the week before the major given the Memorial was a signature event on the PGA Tour. Winning also can take its toll mentally on a player and the gruelling test of Pinehurst caught him out this week.
“The game of golf is a mental torture chamber at times, especially the U.S. Open.
“Yeah, I thought it was challenging. The first 27 holes, I was in the native area way too much of the times. Everything felt really tough. Now that I was able to hit a lot more fairways today, it maybe felt a touch easier to me.
“Wouldn’t be using me as a bearing for what’s good right now. Pretty mediocre at best right now.”