Whereas 54-hole chief Hideki Matsuyama seemingly made all the things on the greens, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler couldn’t purchase a bucket.
That’s the reason Scheffler faces a seven-shot deficit going into the ultimate spherical of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The reigning Masters champion misplaced 1.5 strokes on the greens, rating 61st among the many 70-player discipline on Saturday. He even expressed a uncommon burst of frustration on the twelfth gap, slamming the face of his putter into his hand after one other missed birdie attempt.
Scheffler missed 4 birdie putts within 12 ft. He made solely 53 ft of putts general—with virtually half of that approaching the par-3 eleventh, the place he poured in a 24-footer for birdie. However that was the one putt Scheffler remodeled 5 ft.
“I did hit a few lips, however I didn’t really feel like I used to be hitting it too good,” Scheffler assessed.
“There have been instances the place I felt like I used to be getting away with some stuff, hitting some good pitches, making some good saves, however I felt like I hit a whole lot of lips immediately. However yeah, it occurs.”
Nonetheless, he managed to submit a 1-under 69, a day that included 4 birdies and three bogies. But, if he needs to threaten Matsuyama on Sunday, he believes he has to present himself higher seems on the greens.
“Simply get the ball a little bit bit nearer to the outlet and provides myself extra alternatives,” Scheffler added.
“As we speak I felt like, like I mentioned, I received away with some stuff, so hopefully, clear it up a little bit bit and provides myself a whole lot of extra alternatives immediately.”
Matsuyama holds a commanding five-shot lead over rookie Nick Dunlap, who sits in solo second at 12-under. Viktor Hovland, in the meantime, posted a 4-under 66 on Saturday to maneuver up the leaderboard to 11-under and into solo third.
Then there may be Scheffler, who has made large comebacks earlier than. He trailed Xander Schauffele by 5 strokes at The Gamers Championship and fired an 8-under 64 to win by one. Then, Scheffler carded top-of-the-line rounds of his profession in Paris, capturing a 9-under 62 to beat a four-shot deficit to win the gold medal.
However seven may very well be an excessive amount of to beat. That mentioned, Scheffler stays optimistic about his probabilities since TPC Southwind has 11 holes with water in play.
“It’s a golf course the place there’s alternative and there’s a whole lot of hassle,” Scheffler mentioned.
“It’s going to be powerful to shut it out on the again 9. There’s a whole lot of water coming down the stretch. So attempt to get off to a great begin, and Hideki is clearly taking part in some implausible golf, however do my finest to place a little bit little bit of stress on him and see what occurs.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.