Scottie Scheffler leads Open Championship but misses key chances

Scottie Scheffler stormed into the lead at the 2026 Open Championship on Thursday with four birdies in his first six holes at Royal Birkdale. The defending champion looked set for a dominant round until a late stumble left him with a 2-under 68, two shots behind the leaders.

What happened in the first round?

Scheffler started scorching hot, draining a 43-foot birdie putt on the sixth hole to take the solo lead. Playing alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton, he capitalized on light winds in the late morning. But his momentum stalled after a bogey on the par-3 seventh, followed by another on the par-5 17th when his ball landed in thick fescue.

A near-miss on the 18th green summed up his day-a putt that looked destined to drop but stopped just short. Scheffler admitted frustration, saying, I felt like I could have gotten a little bit more out of it.

Why it matters for Scottie Scheffler

The World No. 1, fresh off his first missed cut in nearly four years, showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with consistency. He gained 2.23 strokes putting in the first six holes but lost 2.21 in the next 12, failing to make anything over 5 feet. Despite the missed opportunities, Scheffler remains a threat.

If I continue to do what I did today with the ball-striking, I'll be in a good spot as the week goes on, he said.

What comes next?

Scheffler sits two shots back heading into Friday’s second round. While his opening 68 wasn’t his best, it keeps him in contention. The question now is whether he can build on his strong start or if the missed chances will haunt him.

One thing is clear: no one should count out the defending champion just yet.