Scottie Scheffler Struggles Mightily at WM Phoenix Open, Posting His Worst Stats in Years
Scottie Scheffler of Team USA during his practice round. 2025 Ryder Cup, Wednesday Practice, Golf, Bethpage Black Golf Course, New York, USA - 24 Sep 2025New York Bethpage Black Golf Course New York NY United States of America EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROUxBULxUAExKSAxCHNxDENxINDxITAxPORxESPxSWExTURxMEXxCOLxVENxPERxECUxBRAxARGxCHIxURUxPARxPANxONLY Copyright: xJamesxMarsh/Shutterstockx 15501089z
Scottie Scheffler of Team USA during his practice round. 2025 Ryder Cup, Wednesday Practice, Golf, Bethpage Black Golf Course, New York, USA - 24 Sep 2025New York Bethpage Black Golf Course New York NY United States of America EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROUxBULxUAExKSAxCHNxDENxINDxITAxPORxESPxSWExTURxMEXxCOLxVENxPERxECUxBRAxARGxCHIxURUxPARxPANxONLY Copyright: xJamesxMarsh/Shutterstockx 15501089z
After winning The American Express in his first start of the season, Scottie Scheffler entered the 2026 WM Phoenix Open as a two-time winner, with expectations following him into the week.
Scottie Scheffler reinforced that early narrative by making a birdie on his opening hole.
However, the round did not continue in the same direction. From there, Scottie Scheffler was unable to build momentum and eventually posted a 2-over 73.
As a result, it marked his first over-par opening round since June 2025.
The round ended a streak of 32 consecutive opening rounds with strokes-gained improvement and stood as his weakest strokes-gained performance since the 2023 Travelers Championship, a span of 50 rounds.
Playing partner Chris Gotterup opened with a bogey-free 63 to take the first-round lead, finishing 10 strokes ahead of Scottie Scheffler.
As a result, it marked the first instance of Scheffler being outscored by 10 or more strokes in a round by a playing partner since Rickie Fowler did so at the 2021 Texas Open, according to Justin Ray.
That scoring gap between Scheffler and his playing partner developed early in the round.
Scottie Scheffler Round 1 Shows Early Scoring and Late Setbacks
Scottie Scheffler recorded five birdies, five bogeys, and a double bogey during Thursday’s round.
Scheffler did not make a par on a par 4 until his fifth hole, which was his 14th hole after starting on the back nine. Several birdies were followed by bogeys, preventing sustained momentum.
Still, Scheffler reached 2 under through eight holes by converting both par 5s on the back nine and the par-4 17th.
However, near the turn, the round shifted as he went bogey, bogey, double bogey, followed by another bogey on the par-4 eighth after a short chip rolled back toward him.
The round exposed several problem areas for Scottie Scheffler, with tee shots missing left, iron shots coming up short, and uneven play around the greens. One instance occurred on the 11th hole, where his drive went into the water.
Still, Scheffler will have an opportunity to respond on Friday as he works toward the cut line. Scheffler now owns the longest active made-cut streak on the PGA Tour.
Can Scottie Scheffler respond in Round 2 and move closer to the cut line at the WM Phoenix Open?
Written by
Aditi Singh
Edited by
Joyita Das