Scottie Scheffler showed real class and grit on the back nine at Muirfield Village on Friday.
After 10 holes of his second round at The Memorial, Scheffler seemed destined to miss the cut as he sat at four-over par for the tournament with just eight holes left to play.
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However, the 29-year-old proved exactly why he’s the world number one by playing those final eight holes in three-under par.
When the going got tough, Scottie Scheffler got going, and he made his 76th consecutive cut on the PGA Tour after finishing up at one-over par after two rounds of The Memorial Tournament.
Scheffler’s frustrations spilled over at The Memorial on day one, when he berated his caddie, Ted Scott, after he misjudged the wind direction.
And the world number one seemed to be in a fairly subdued mood on day two at Muirfield Village as well.
Scheffler spoke to reporters after his second round on Friday and discussed the current state of his game.
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He responded when asked if he felt like he would miss the cut at any point during his round.
“I felt like I was going to shoot about 90 today,“ he said.
“I don’t know if you were out there on the course, but I was going to be hard to find if you were out watching my group. I felt like I got my first birdie putt of the day on the 13th hole.
“I maybe had one on 11, but I couldn’t imagine I hit more than six or seven greens today. So around this golf course, with heavy rough and deep bunkers, you got to be hitting the ball in the right spots and for a long time today that was definitely not the case for me.“
He was then asked if he felt like he had to grind harder than normal.
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“I think I grind like that every day,“ Scheffler responded.
“I think that’s just part of the game. That’s maybe some of the worst I’ve hit it in a couple years out there and I still managed to shoot even par around a golf course that requires you to strike the ball really well. Yeah, I’m definitely very proud of stuff like that.
“This tournament was one that definitely could have got away from me, but right now I’m only nine shots back and still have a chance going into the weekend.
“With the conditions the way they are, you never really know what’s going to happen around this golf course and just getting inside the cut line you still have a chance.“
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Scheffler’s putter saved him on Friday at Muirfield Village.
The world number one ranked eighth in strokes gained putting, having gained 1.791 strokes on the field.
He chipped and pitched the ball decently, and was ranked 21st in strokes gained around the green.
However, two other departments of his game were clearly not in fine working order.
Scottie Scheffler ranked 63rd in strokes gained off the tee and 40th in strokes gained approach on Friday at The Memorial Tournament.
Something clearly isn’t right with the world number one right now, and he will have to get to the bottom of whatever issues he has with his swing if he is to contend at the U.S. Open later this month.
