Scottie Scheffler endured a difficult end to his first round of The Open after making a strong start at Royal Birkdale.
Scheffler carded a two-under 68 on Thursday, leaving him two shots behind the leaders at the time, Sungjae Im and Dan Brown.
His day could have been even better if not for bogeys on holes 7 and 17, which he discussed after his round.
Is Scottie Scheffler more likely to win The Open or miss the cut at Royal Birkdale?
Scottie's worst Open finish is T23, but he did miss the cut at last week's Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler shocked by his lie on hole 17 on day one of The Open
Speaking from Royal Birkdale in Southport, Scheffler said: “Yeah, I felt like the few shots I hit offline today, really only a couple… I didn’t get up-and-down on 7 and then missed the fairway on 10, I’m in a pot bunker, and then on 17 was really the only other shot I hit offline and I end up in that spot.
“That’s a pretty good assessment. I felt like I could have gotten a little bit more out of it, but yeah, if I continue to do what I did today with the ball-striking I’ll be in a good spot as the week goes on.”
Confirming his ball was buried on 17, Scheffler was then asked in his press conference if it was embedded.
“It looked like somebody had potentially stepped on it, but it was underneath the wire and it was just… I’m hoping somebody stepped on it, but nobody would fess up,” he said.
“Apparently nobody did. It was just one of those things. I was just shocked at how deep the ball was in that grass.
“It looked like a lot of good spots around there, and then all of a sudden you get to one area where my ball is… I considered actually taking an unplayable.
“I didn’t think I was going to be able to get the ball out of the grass that it was sitting in, but was able to get it out. Just didn’t get it up-and-down.
“Just one of those deals; sometimes you hit it over there and you get a clean lie and you’re able to give yourself a look, and then other times like today, you pay a pretty severe price. But I guess don’t hit it offline.”
Scottie Scheffler satisfied with his first round of The Open
Scheffler was also asked if he’d consider his start to The Open to be good even though it could have been better.
He responded: “Yeah, anytime you can shoot under par to start a major championship, it’s a good spot to be in.
“I got off to a hot start in the round today and wasn’t able to make as many birdies as I would have hoped to down the stretch.
“I played the par-5s in over par. My only other bogey today was a wedge on 7, so those are a little disappointing.
“Like I said, if I continue to strike the ball the way I did today and just keep giving myself looks, that’s part of it.
“Golf is played over 72 holes, and I definitely liked what I saw today.”
Scheffler, who won The Open at Royal Portrush this time last year, carded four birdies and 12 pars along with those two bogeys on 7 and 17.
Currently seeking his fifth major championship title, the 30-year-old is certainly in a great position after his opening round.
Read more: What putting guru Phil Kenyon said about Scottie Scheffler just before the start of The Open
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