Scottie Scheffler shocked by buried ball on 17th at The Open

Scottie Scheffler opened The Open with a two-under 68 at Royal Birkdale on Thursday, but his round ended on a frustrating note. The 30-year-old, who won last year’s Open at Royal Portrush, bogeyed the 17th after his ball became buried in deep grass, leaving him two shots behind leaders Sungjae Im and Dan Brown.

What happened on the 17th hole?

Scheffler’s ball landed in a troublesome spot on the 17th, appearing as if someone had stepped on it. The lie was so severe he considered taking an unplayable. He managed to get the ball out but failed to save par.

'I was shocked at how deep the ball was in that grass,' Scheffler said. 'I didn’t think I was going to be able to get it out.'

Why Scheffler remains optimistic

Despite the late bogey, Scheffler was satisfied with his start. He birdied four holes and parred 12, but the par-5s cost him. He played them in over par, a rare disappointment for the world No. 1.

'If I continue to strike the ball the way I did today, I’ll be in a good spot,' he said. 'Golf is played over 72 holes.'

What’s next for Scheffler?

Scheffler, chasing his fifth major title, sits in a strong position after day one. He’ll need to avoid similar mistakes on the 17th in round two to stay in contention. His ball-striking was sharp, and if he can clean up the par-5s, he’ll be a major threat this weekend.