Golf's golden boy Scottie Scheffler faced a rude awakening at Royal Troon as The Open Championship's notorious weather delivered a brutal opening-round reality check to the world's top-ranked player.
The usually unflappable American star carded a disappointing 72 (+1) in Thursday's gruelling conditions, leaving him eight shots behind early leader Justin Harding and facing an uphill battle to maintain his remarkable 2024 winning streak.
Mother Nature's Unrelenting Challenge
Scheffler's metronomic game - which has produced six victories this season including two majors - finally met its match in the form of 30mph winds and sideways rain at the historic Scottish links.
"It was extremely difficult out there," admitted the normally composed Texan after his round. "The wind was howling, the rain felt horizontal at times. You're just trying to survive more than play golf."
Uncharacteristic Struggles for Golf's Dominant Force
The 28-year-old's usually impeccable iron play deserted him as he hit just 10 greens in regulation, while his famed putting touch abandoned him completely with 33 putts on Troon's undulating greens.
Key moments that derailed Scheffler's round included:
- A double-bogey 6 at the par-4 11th after his approach shot got caught in the gale
- Three consecutive bogeys from the 5th hole as conditions worsened
- Missing a 4-foot birdie putt at the last that would have salvaged an even-par round
The Road to Redemption
With more foul weather forecast for Friday's second round, Scheffler faces a monumental challenge to make the cut, let alone contend for his third major of the year.
"I need to regroup tonight and come out fighting tomorrow," Scheffler told reporters. "This tournament is about patience and grinding. I've dug myself a hole, but it's not over yet."
Golf fans worldwide will be watching closely to see if the sport's most dominant player can mount a Friday charge or if Royal Troon's fickle weather has already ended his historic season's grand slam hopes.
