Scottie Scheffler might have played his way out of contention early in Round 3 of the PGA Championship, playing his first four holes in 4 over par.
After missing a 13-foot birdie putt at the first, Scheffler hit his tee shot on the par-4 second into the right fairway bunker. His second shot traveled left, into a hazard area but not in the water. With his ball settled deep in the tall grass, Scheffler could only hack out 55 feet. His fourth shot then screamed well past the hole, leaving him 40 feet. Scheffler two-putted from there for a 6.
He followed that with a three-putt bogey from 40 feet at the par-3 third.
On the drivable, 297-yard, par-4 fourth, Scheffler pulled his tee ball across the left cart path and next to a fence. He took an unplayable lie (and penalty stroke) and then chunked his third shot. His fourth shot left him 10 feet for bogey, which he made.
In just four holes, Scheffler went from three off the lead to seven back of front-runner Xander Schauffele. At 5 under for the championship, he was tied for 33rd.
The world’s No. 1 bounced back with birdies at Nos. 5 and 7, but gave one back with a bogey at the par-3 eighth. He turned in 3-over 38.
Scheffler is playing the third round at Valhalla Golf Club without his usual caddie. Ted Scott traveled to Louisiana for his daughter’s high school graduation. He will be back for Sunday’s final round.
In his place Saturday is Brad Payne, the PGA Tour’s chaplain.
