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Rich Beem believes that Scottie Scheffler has proven that he has the gear to become more aggressive in tournaments after putting himself in the mix on Sunday at The Open Championship.
Heading into the final round at Royal Birkdale, it appeared that Scheffler was probably too far back to make the kind of charge he needed to retain the Claret Jug.
The world number one started Sunday six shots adrift of good friend Sam Burns. He also had the problem of being outside the top 10, so it seemed highly likely that one of the players ahead of him would step up.
However, as Scheffler approached his final handful of holes in Southport, he absolutely was in the mix. He was four under par for the day after 12 holes, while he kept his hopes alive with birdies on 16 and 17.
Rich Beem reacts to Scottie Scheffler’s performance on Sunday at The Open Championship
Ultimately, a bogey up the last would see Scheffler finish one shot adrift of the clubhouse leader, Cameron Young. But perhaps the manner of the 30-year-old’s display on Sunday may have an impact on Scheffler moving forward.
Young was the only player to make more birdies than Scheffler in the last round. And speaking on 5 Clubs, Rich Beem suggested that Scheffler showed a different side to his game at Birkdale.
“I think the one thing that I saw yesterday afternoon is the fact that he decided to not hit it in the heart of the green. He started off with the very first hole, went at that flagstick, stuck it within four feet. Same at the second. He didn’t back away from flying at flagsticks,” he said.
“He went ahead and started taking on a couple of drives. He didn’t hit driver most places around that golf course. He hit it on 13, he hit it on 16. And he took on shots that he wouldn’t have normally, and I think if he was a stroke or two closer, he may not have taken those tee shots on or even gone after some pins. He felt like he had to, he had to step on the gas, and that’s what’s interesting to me.
“He’s got the ability, he’s got the control, distance control, it’s surprising that he doesn’t go after more pins. He plays it conservatively, hits it in the centre of the green a lot of times. It’s one of his great superpowers. I’d like to see him get after a few more pins. He’s got a great short game, so what if you short-side yourself two or three times a round. You’re going to make it up by making birdies because you’re going to stick it in there close.
“So I’m interested to know whether or not he’ll take a look at some of that and say, ‘listen, maybe I’m being just a little too conservative with some of my lines, maybe it’s time to go ahead and step on the gas a little bit’, because I think that’s the one thing that he’s just not as proficient at. The wedge play and irons have just not been as close as they have been the last couple of seasons when he was dominating.
“If he just takes a few more chances, looks at some flagsticks, and says, ‘listen, I’m the number one player in the world, I’ve got this’. He wasn’t nearly as conservative yesterday, and it was exciting. He really got into it, got the crowd fired up, and he was right in the middle of it coming down the last nine holes.”
How Scottie Scheffler takes a similar approach to his iron play to Tiger Woods
There is an argument that there is a misconception about Scheffler being conservative with his approach play.
While he does not often attack flags during a tournament, particularly if he is not on the back foot, it would be unfair to say that he does not always step on the gas.
It may surprise some to learn that Scheffler leads the PGA Tour this year in birdie averages. He has made 4.66 birdies per round this season.
Those who felt that Tiger Woods could be cautious with his irons do not realise just how aggressive he was being to the spot he had picked out on the green, even if that was 20 feet away from the hole.
It seems like Scheffler has a similar attitude to hitting the putting surfaces. So it is difficult to see him changing his approach unless it does appear that he does need a flawless round to stand any chance of victory.
