Why Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1, is Struggling at The Players Championship

Scottie Scheffler has showcased his elite ball-striking ability through 36 holes at The Players Championship, but his putting continues to hold him back. Sitting at 5-under and six shots off the lead, the world’s top-ranked golfer has struggled to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities.

Despite ranking fifth in strokes gained on approach and hitting 27 of 36 greens, Scheffler has converted only nine birdies. His frustrations mirror the early struggles of 2024 before switching to a mallet putter, a change that led to a historic season with nine victories, including last year’s Players Championship.

Now, with high winds expected over the weekend, Scheffler faces a challenging path to a potential third consecutive Players title. He remains optimistic, believing his game is in a good place, but acknowledges that his putter must improve if he hopes to climb the leaderboard and contend on Sunday.