World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stumbles in opening round of WM Phoenix Open

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Scottie Scheffler, the world's top-ranked golfer, got off to a poor start at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open, shooting a two-over 73 in the opening round. It was 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 saving par on just 16.7% of those holes, well below his season-long scrambling percentage of 68.9% in 2025. 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 is one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour, having won twice as often as he's finished outside the top-10 over the past two seasons. His poor opening round at the WM Phoenix Open, an event he has won twice before, is a surprising stumble for the world No. 1 player. This early struggle raises questions about whether Scheffler can regain his dominant form and continue his rise to superstardom.

The details

Scheffler shot a two-over 73 in the opening round, his worst score since a 72 at the Travelers Championship last June. He missed six greens and saved par on just 16.7% of those holes, well below his season-long scrambling percentage of 68.9% in 2025. 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 first hole, and found a fairway bunker and double-bogeyed the second hole.

• Scheffler shot a two-over 73 in the opening round of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open on February 6, 2026.
• Scheffler's previous worst round was a 72 at the Travelers Championship last June.

What’s next

Scheffler will look to bounce back in the second round as he tries to make the cut and contend for the title at the WM Phoenix Open, an event he has won twice before.