Scottie Scheffler Off to a Rare Slow Start at the Memorial

The world No. 1 shot over par for the first time in an opening round this season.

DUBLIN, Ohio — Scottie Scheffler is on top of the world rankings and No. 1 in the SI World Golf Ranking after reacquiring the top spot after a runner-up finish at Oak Hill in the PGA Championship last month.

But his game in the first round of the Memorial Tournament on Thursday showed little signs of his elevated position, as he shot a 2-over 74 and may have to dig himself out of a hole for a weekend appearance.

The over-par start was not only the second time in nine rounds that Scheffler has been over par at Muirfield Village, but it’s his first opening round in 2023 that hasn't been under par.

“Different player ... I got to go rebuild it this afternoon,” Scheffler joked after his first round. “I didn't hit it very good today and I didn't putt very good, I didn't really do anything good.”

Scheffler started on the 10th hole and played the back nine nicely with a birdie at the 11th but would turn at even par, and then saw his game deteriorate on the second nine with three bogeys and a lone birdie as the wheels came off.

“I had a couple birdies in there, a few good chips,” Scheffler said of his worst round since a 75 in the second round of the Masters. “I didn't do much that was that good today.”

The former Texas Longhorn first got to the top of the rankings after winning the WGC-Dell Match Play in March 2022 and fell out after 13 events, then at two different times before the 2023 PGA Championship he was on top of the world for short periods of time.

During that 13-event stretch last year, Scheffler missed only three cuts: the PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open and FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

Sitting outside the top 60 at Muirfield Village, Scheffler will likely need to find something under par to get him into the weekend or face his first missed cut this season.

“Some places you can fake it,” Scheffler said. “Around this place, not so much.”