THE 153RD OPEN

July 17, 2025

Scottie Scheffler

Mixed Zone

Q. You might not have hit as many fairways as you wanted to hit, but you must be pleased with that score.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, you're the second guy that's mentioned that to me. I actually thought I drove it pretty good. I don't know what you guys are seeing. When it's raining sideways, it's actually, believe it or not, not that easy to get the ball in the fairway. Thank you guys all for pointing that out.

But yeah, 3-under par. Felt like I hit the ball nice off the tee, and really only had one swing I wasn't too happy with on maybe the 2nd hole, but outside of that, I felt like I hit a lot of good tee shots, hit the ball really solid, so definitely a good bit of confidence for the next couple rounds.

Q. Has there been an adjustment in how you're putting since last week, and if so, what is the difference?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Different greens, different surface. These greens, it's just different. I don't know how you want me to elaborate on that.

Q. They're smoother than last week, aren't they?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Definitely a bit smoother, but putting is one of those deals where, especially when there's a little bit of activity on the greens, you can hit a lot of good putts that don't go in. I'm trying to do my best to be perfect every week, but some weeks the putts just aren't going in and did a good job battling last week to finish top 10. So yeah, all good.

Q. Biggest challenge condition-wise?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Probably the rain. Wind is something that obviously makes links golf challenging, but the rain adds a whole new element to it, especially when you're hitting the tee balls. You get a little moisture between the club face and the ball, especially with the longer clubs and the woods, and it can be pretty challenging.

Q. How many holes did you have to deal with that rain, and was it to the point where you were like, yeah, this is going to be --

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: We played basically 7 through 13 in rain. A little bit of rain to start the round on 1 and 2. A little over half the round, which is challenging.

I felt like No. 7 is a good example. Without the rain, where the wind direction was for us to start the day would have been a little down off the left, and basically you can eliminate that one bunker, that big giant bunker on the right side of the fairway, and all of a sudden it starts raining sideways, the ball doesn't go as far, and now you can still run into that left bunker but you can't carry the right bunker, and instead of hitting driver and 4-iron, right now it's driver and 3-wood.

Just little stuff like that makes it really challenging. Then we get to No. 12, and I hit what was a really good tee shot there that just happened to kick a little bit right and go into the bunker and just little -- the margins out here are just really small. Sometimes the rain can make that pretty challenging.

Q. There's been a fair bit of reaction to your comments in the press conference. I wonder what you make of that. Secondly, what would you take more fulfillment from, from taking the Claret Jug home this weekend, or is there something else you'd find more fulfillment in this week?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: This week I'm trying to play good enough to win the golf tournament. I think I've made that pretty clear over the course of my career. As far as my comments or anything like that, Doug always asks too many questions, so I blame him.

No, I mean, I think I try to be as honest as I can with y'all, with the stuff that I'm willing to kind of say. At times I feel like maybe I should be a little less honest. Maybe I shouldn't have said the stuff I said yesterday because now I'm going to get asked about it more.

But really it's just a matter of perspective, and I've had some players come up to me and say that they feel and think the same things. If anybody has disagreed with me, they haven't said it to my face yet, so I don't know what the reaction would be. But overall just glad to be out playing golf and competing again.

Q. Where does today's round rank in terms of performances you've had previously at The Open?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Gosh, I have no idea. I barely remember what I did last week, let alone last year.

Q. You played with Shane Lowry who obviously won last time it was played here in 2019. He was getting a huge reception all the way around. You must have enjoyed playing with him today. He said he enjoyed your company.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I always enjoy playing with Shane. Last week I got to play with Bob in Scotland as well so I've had some good pairings the last couple weeks. We've had great crowds the last two weeks, and I'm hoping it will be more of the same tomorrow.

It was definitely fun getting to play with Shane and watching him play some links golf. I felt like we both competed really well today, and look forward to going out with him again tomorrow.

Q. Was there a shot that stood out today for you that you were really pleased with?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: No. (Laughter.)