BLAINE, Minn. — Scottie Scheffler has made a strong impression during his unexpected debut at the 3M Open this week. The world No. 1 visited the downtown area, stopping by a local coffee shop with his family on Monday, signed autographs after his practice round on Tuesday, and greeted fans on Wednesday.
“A few people who recognized me were very nice,” Scheffler said on Wednesday, reflecting on his Monday visit to Minneapolis. “They asked for photos. I was with my family, so I said, ‘No, not right now.’ They didn’t bat an eye; they were kind, saying, No, no, I totally understand, thanks for being here. I was taken aback by how friendly the fans have been so far.”
Minnesota Nice. That’s another tagline here. People are thrilled the world No. 1 is in town, as evidenced by soaring ticket sales. On Thursday, Scheffler’s arrival drew a large crowd.
Scheffler teed off at 7:29 a.m. local time and was greeted by a sizable gallery from the outset, which grew as his round progressed. A security officer walking alongside the players secured a spot in the trio, and the group’s designated marker was a popular photo subject. By the time Scheffler reached the par‑4 ninth hole — his final hole of the day — fans crowded the green in numbers comparable to what the tournament expects on Sunday’s closing pairing, should Scheffler still be in contention.
The scene on 9 (Scottie Scheffler’s last hole) at noon Thursday at the 3M Open.
Biggest gallery I’ve ever seen around one hole here. Bogey‑free 65. pic.twitter.com/hfXO3Hopea
— Josh Berhow (@Josh_Berhow) July 23, 2026
Scheffler delivered plenty to cheer about, posting six birdies with no bogeys en route to a six‑under 65, which gave him the early clubhouse lead. Emiliano Grillo soon posted a 64 to hold off the top spot.
“It was a lot of fun,” Scheffler said. “There was a great crowd this morning, especially for an early tee time. Playing in front of so many fans is always exciting, and the support for all three players in our group today was really nice.”
During his pre‑tournament press conference at TPC Twin Cities on Wednesday, Scheffler discussed the “ebbs and flows” of putting, emphasizing the significance of alignment and the unpredictable nature of link‑style greens. A sluggish putter had challenged him at last week’s Open Championship, yet he still managed to finish fourth.
On Thursday, his luck improved. Scheffler led the Strokes Gained: Putting category and sank several putts from over 130 feet.
“Golf’s funny,” Scheffler said after his round. “Some days your lines seem to be tracking toward the hole, and other days you do the same thing and the ball goes around. Today, however, was a day I was able to hole some nice putts, which helped me birdie several holes.”
From the back nine, Scheffler missed a 7‑foot birdie putt on the 10th but then did not miss another from that distance the remainder of the round. He birdied both par‑5s on his front nine and collected three birdies on his final six holes, including a 28‑footer on the par‑3 fourth.
Scheffler’s 65 followed only two days of preparation on a course he had never played before. He hit 10 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation. “The winner here always goes low,” he noted, emphasizing the need to maintain his form. With fresh greens on Thursday, he is slated for a late tee time on Friday at 1:44 p.m. ET.
