Scottie Scheffler Shows Signs of Recovery with Bogey-Free 67 at Players Championship

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler demonstrated his resilience with a bogey-free 5-under 67 in the third round of the Players Championship, signaling a potential turnaround from recent struggles.

Bouncing Back From Poor Form

Scheffler had endured a challenging period, finishing T24 at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational - his first result outside the top 20 since last year's Players Championship. His opening rounds of 72-73 this week left him barely inside the cut line.

After 54 holes, he sits at 4-under par, nine strokes behind leader Ludvig Åberg.

Intensive Practice Session Pays Off

The breakthrough came after spending over an hour on the practice range Thursday with swing coach Randy Smith and caddie Ted Scott, even in heavy rain. The work showed immediate results as Scheffler hit 11 of 14 fairways on Saturday, a dramatic improvement from hitting only 14 of 28 in the first two rounds.

Short Game Excellence

Despite many approach shots landing on the fringe due to firm greens, Scheffler demonstrated exceptional short game skills, going 9-for-9 in scrambling and gaining more than 1.5 strokes putting against the field.

Returning to his TaylorMade Qi4D driver, which helped him secure 16 victories over the previous two seasons, also contributed to his improved performance.

Looking Ahead

When asked about making up the nine-shot deficit, Scheffler humorously replied he'd need 30 mph winds. However, his focus remains on process over results, emphasizing commitment to each shot and maintaining the right attitude throughout difficult rounds.