World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler is facing a significant challenge heading into the U.S. Open: his putting. While his long game remains dominant, Scheffler's performance on the greens has been subpar this year, ranking him 148th on the PGA Tour. He's currently experimenting with different putters and trying to maintain a positive mindset despite frequently missing seemingly makeable putts.
Scheffler acknowledges the frustration of hitting a great approach shot only to have a short putt lip out. He emphasizes that while a slightly longer approach shot might not raise eyebrows, a missed short putt draws immediate criticism. This discrepancy in perception underscores the outsized impact putting has on scoring.
Despite his putting woes, Scheffler's overall performance remains impressive. He leads the PGA Tour in scoring average and strokes gained on approach shots, consistently demonstrating his mastery from tee to green. His greens in regulation statistics are also exceptional, which ironically can negatively impact putting stats as it leaves him with fewer opportunities for short chip-in putts.
Scheffler's putting struggles became apparent during his Masters title defense, where he finished a disappointing 10th. He described feeling as though he was putting towards a moving cup. At the recent Memorial Tournament, he narrowly missed a playoff despite a remarkable 20-stroke advantage against the field from tee to green, ultimately losing 8.5 strokes putting.
Scheffler's experimentation with a new putter has drawn attention. The new putter is similar to his usual one but with a wider head and different weighting. He jokingly referred to it as a tactic to “scare” his original putter into performing better, acknowledging the psychological aspect of putting. He cited historical examples of golfers who've seen dramatic improvements after switching putters, including Jack Nicklaus and Sergio Garcia.
Despite his two wins, a runner-up finish, and 12 top-10 finishes this season, Scheffler recognizes the unique challenge putting presents. He emphasizes its personal nature and the importance of finding the right feel. He remains tight-lipped about his final putter decision, leaving everyone to wait and see what he chooses for the U.S. Open.
