Scottie Scheffler explains back nine meltdown at the 3M Open on Friday

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Scottie Scheffler was right in the thick of things on nine-under par after 13 holes of his second round at the 3M Open on Friday.

However, disaster struck on the 14th hole when Scheffler found the water with his second shot and went on to make a double bogey.

The 30-year-old then made a bogey on the par-three 17th before carding a birdie at the 18th, coming home in 38 after going out in 32.

Of course, Scottie Scheffler is still in the hunt to win the 3M Open, but his back nine on Friday made his task of doing so a whole lot more difficult.

Scheffler has had huge support at the 3M Open so far this week, and he will need more of that over the weekend.

The man from Dallas, Texas, followed up his opening-round 65 with a second-round 70.

Day two in Blaine, Minnesota, really was a tale of two nines for Scheffler.

Scottie Scheffler explains back nine meltdown at the 3M Open on Friday

Scheffler addressed the media after his underwhelming performance over the final five holes of his second round at TPC Twin Cities.

The world number one responded when asked to sum up what went wrong on his back nine.

“I mean, I felt like I did some good stuff,“ Scheffler insisted.

“Played the 12th hole a little sloppy. Made a poor swing on I think it was maybe 14, and then the wind seemed to just knock that ball down into the water, that was tough. Then what else?

“Bad break on 17. Missed in the right spot, just got a bad break, but that happens.“

Scheffler then responded when asked whether he was heading off to hit some balls on the driving range.

“Probably just get some rest.“

Scottie Scheffler comments on challenging conditions at the 3M Open

Scheffler was asked by one reporter after his round to describe the challenge that the golf course represented on Friday compared with Thursday.

“Yeah, the winds were up so that made the golf course a bit more challenging, especially in the afternoon,“ he replied.

“Yeah, some of the greens were maybe a bit firmer, but other than that the greens still weren’t super firm.

“But definitely the wind increased the challenge.“

Scottie Scheffler will need to replicate the form he showed during the first 27 holes of the 3M Open over the final two rounds, if he is to have any chance whatsoever of winning the tournament.