SerpApi.Org
Scottie Scheffler was unable to defend his title at The Open Championship, instead finishing in a tie for fourth place.
Ryan Fox superbly clinched the Claret Jug with his score of 10-under, three shots ahead of the world number one.
The American carded back-to-back 68s on Thursday and Friday, and followed that up with a 70 and a 67 to finish on seven-under.
And Scheffler’s performance at Royal Birkdale has now been analysed by Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley, who has been left really surprised by one area of his game in particular.
Wayne Riley analyses ‘bizarre’ Scottie Scheffler display at The Open
Upon the conclusion of The Open, Riley said on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast: “I have watched a lot of his golf in the States this year. His wedge game isn’t as lethal as it was last year.
“Any wedge you gave him from 150 yards and in it was phenomenal how his distance control and spin control was. You start knocking putts in then.
“They say what about his putting? But if you don’t wedge it really close like he did last year and you keep on hitting it to 20 feet, you can’t keep on holing 20 footers.
“But you can hole inside 10 feet like he did last year. I think it’s just a matter of his wedge play at the moment is not as good.
“He’s still cruising far and far away from Rory McIlroy who is the number two golfer in the world, though. And what can you say? You can’t question the man, but we do question him.
“I have never seen him putt like that this week. I have never seen it. He was missing the hole from five feet. That is bizarre.”
His putter was certainly cold this week, with his Strokes Gained figure of -1.299 ranking him 105th in the entire field.
Scheffler also ranked 61st for putts holed by distance, with that particular leaderboard topped by champion Fox.
Scottie Scheffler continues stunning major championship run
It may not have been classic Scheffler at Royal Birkdale, but it just shows how talented he is that he can still contend despite not being at his best.
He’s gone from two major championship wins in 2025 to zero in 2026, but can still hold his head very high after his displays on the big stage this season.
Scheffler finished second at The Masters and T4 at the US Open, before and after a T14 finish at the PGA Championship.
In fact, across the last four years, the American superstar’s worst major finish was T41 at the US Open in 2024.
Across his 72 holes at Royal Birkdale in Southport, the American recorded 13 birdies, 53 pars and six bogeys.
And throughout the 2026 PGA Tour season, he’s claimed one victory, which arrived in his maiden event at The American Express.
