Scottie Scheffler Struggles in Opening Round of WM Phoenix Open

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Scottie Scheffler, the world's top-ranked golfer, had a surprisingly poor start to the 2026 WM Phoenix Open, shooting a 2-over 73 in the opening round. This marks Scheffler's worst round since a 72 at the Travelers Championship last June, ending his streak of 33 consecutive rounds under par. Scheffler struggled with his short game, missing six greens and only saving par on one of those holes, well below his season-long scrambling percentage of 68.9%. After the round, Scheffler bypassed the typical post-round media obligations and headed straight to the practice facilities to work on his game.

Why it matters

Scottie Scheffler has been one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour over the past two seasons, winning twice as often as he's finished outside the top-10. His poor start at the WM Phoenix Open, where he is a two-time champion, is surprising and raises questions about whether he can bounce back and contend for the title this weekend.

The details

Scheffler shot a 2-over 73 in the opening round of the WM Phoenix Open, his worst round since a 72 at the Travelers Championship last June. He missed six greens and only saved par on one of those holes, well below his season-long scrambling percentage of 68.9%. Scheffler's struggles came to a head on the back nine, where he yanked a wedge shot left on the 18th hole, three-putted the 1st hole, and made a double bogey on the 2nd hole after finding a fairway bunker.

• Scheffler shot a 2-over 73 in the opening round on February 5, 2026.
• His previous worst round was a 72 at the Travelers Championship last June.

What’s next

Scheffler will look to bounce back in the remaining rounds of the WM Phoenix Open as he aims to defend his title at the tournament where he has won twice before.