Pre-tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler’s opening round at the 2025 US Open did not go as many expected, and he must now do something special.
Scheffler’s slow start to the season only lasted a few months as he won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and the PGA Championship in May.
He also won the Memorial Tournament two weeks ago and headed into this week’s US Open as the leading contender.
The world number one is not out of the running at this early stage, but he must play to his best from now on to have any chance.
Scottie Scheffler must do what no player has in 27 years to win US Open
Scheffler’s three-over-par 73 on day one at the US Open leaves him seven shots back from 18-hole leader J.J. Spaun.
At many other tournaments, that would seem totally achievable, especially for the best player in the world. The US Open is a different animal.
No player has come from seven shots or more behind the leader after round one to win the event since Lee Janzen in 1998.
Indeed, it’s only happened three times in the last 60 years. But if anyone is capable of making it four, it’s Scheffler.
Scottie Scheffler’s nightmare opening round at US Open
Scottie Scheffler’s US Open got off to an almost perfect start. He parred the first hole and made an excellent birdie at the second.
However, it quickly went downhill, with bogeys at holes three, four, six, and nine on his way to a front-nine 37.
He also bogeyed the 14th and 15th holes to end up with a three-over 73 at Oakmont. It was one of his worst rounds in years.
According to Underdog Golf, Scheffler has only made six bogeys or more in three rounds in the last three seasons: 2025 US Open round one, 2024 PGA Championship round three, and 2023 Open Championship round two.
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