Scottie Scheffler had to grind through the hills of Shinnecock during his opening round of the US Open.
Scheffler shot a two-over par 72 for his opening round, but that score was far better than it looks on the surface. In the howling wind at Shinnecock, Scheffler looked capable of producing a far worse score, but he gritted his teeth and stayed in contention.
He still doesn’t look like the Scheffler of old. His once laser-accurate irons were wayward, which you will be punished for at this treacherous golf course.
But 2002 PGA Championship winner Rich Beem spotted a major positive in Scheffler’s round that will encourage him for the rest of the tournament.
The positive Rich Beem spotted in Scottie Scheffler’s opening round at the US Open
While Scheffler’s iron play left much to be desired throughout his first 18 at Shinnecock, his true weakness this year has been his driver. That club has been dialed so far though, hitting 11 of 14 fairways.
That’s the big positive that Scheffler can take into the rest of the week, according to Beem, who said on Sky Sports, “I think for Scottie Scheffler, initially just because he battled so much out there. He really struggled on the front nine, did not have his best stuff.
“He has struggled in his opening rounds this year, he has got some flak for it from the media. But he has world number one for a reason. He is a battler.
“I think shooting two over par today is going to feel a lot better than what it felt like this morning going three over par through nine holes.
“He has got it in him. He has got it in the tank. He just has to clean up a few things with the iron play. But I believe he hit 11/14 fairways. That is a massive positive, especially around here. You have to put yourself in position.
“It’s no guarantee you are going to hit the green but you have to feel that some time this weekend he is going to find it with the irons and really produce what he is capable of producing.”
If Scheffler can get more comfortable with his traditional strength on this second-shot golf course, then he will have a phenomenal chance of completing the career grand slam.
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