Scottie Scheffler’s Royal Birkdale round crumbles after early brilliance

Scottie Scheffler teed off at Royal Birkdale on Thursday with a blistering start that had the field on notice. But by the back nine, his round had unraveled, leaving him six strokes behind the clubhouse lead and his title hopes in tatters.

What happened?

Scottie Scheffler carded a 65 on the opening nine at the 2025 Open Championship, rocketing up the leaderboard. His bogey-free start included five birdies and a lone par, sparking whispers of a major charge. But a three-over-par stretch on the back nine turned a dream into a nightmare. He finished with a 73, ending his day at 4-under for the tournament, six shots off the clubhouse lead.

Why it matters for Scottie Scheffler

This wasn’t just a bad round-it was a missed chance. Scheffler arrived in Southport as the world No. 1 and the favorite to end his major drought. A 65 would’ve put him in the mix. Instead, he’s six back with 36 holes to go, needing a near-flawless weekend to erase the damage. His putter, usually a weapon, betrayed him late, costing him strokes he couldn’t afford.

What comes next?

Scheffler now faces a must-win weekend at Royal Birkdale. He’ll tee off Friday at 8:10 a.m. local time, needing to erase six shots in one round. The path isn’t easy-wind and firm greens will punish mistakes. But if anyone can grind out a 63, it’s him. The question is whether his round on Thursday was a blip or the start of a slide.

The bigger picture

The Open’s early leaderboard is a who’s who of contenders, with Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland already lurking. Scheffler’s round shows the volatility of links golf-one minute you’re flying, the next you’re fighting for pars. His ability to reset will define the rest of his week.