Scottie Scheffler reveals what the rules official told him during his controversial incident at The Open
· Yahoo Sports
Scottie Scheffler received a huge break in the closing stages of his final round of The Open, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to claim the Claret Jug.
That honour instead went to Ryan Fox, but Scheffler was able to finish in a tie for fourth thanks to a major boost on the 17th hole.
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His ball landed in the hospitality area at Royal Birkdale, but the presence of a Temporary Immovable Obstruction (TIO) meant he didn’t actually need to find it.
Golf fans were unhappy after Scheffler received a free drop at that stage, before carding a stunning birdie four at the par-five hole.
The world number one has now shed light on the discussion he had with the rules official at Royal Birkdale, having fallen short of his title defence at The Open.
Scottie Scheffler reveals rules official discussion during controversy at The Open
Explaining the controversial situation in Southport, Scheffler said: “The rules official said it landed just barely left of the grandstand thing.
“I don’t know what you call that, like a sponsor area or something. And Teddy had a beat right on where it was coming down.
“So when we get up there, it’s past the fence that marks the TIO, so he said anything that’s in there is it part of the TIO.
“So then we said… we tried to figure it out. I said, if I find it, does that help me; can I drop it… since that would be about 50 yards closer to the hole.
“He said, yes, you can then use that spot, but you might have to go to the other side of the TIO, which I didn’t know exactly where that would be, and that’s not a great angle coming across there.
“So decided to stop the search and go back and drop it doing point-of-entry TIO relief. Actually I did that once this year during the Byron as well. Not something I’m proud of but I was familiar with.”
It was then posed to him: “So you didn’t actually have to find the ball?”
He replied: “No.”
And Scheffler was then asked: “You didn’t find the ball, just to be clear?”
He responded: “I stopped them. They had guys pointing from up there, like it landed right here, and I just kind of hauled up there, and I was like, guys, get out of there, stop, do not find the ball.
“Fortunately it was my security guy that I’ve had for a few years here. His name is Brucey. And then Woody was up there as well.
“So both those guys are pretty… I know them quite well, so when I said, please don’t look for the ball, they got out of there.”
Scottie Scheffler struggles with his putter as he falls short at The Open
Scheffler claimed his fourth major championship win this time last year at The Open, winning it for the first time at Royal Portrush.
But it wasn’t meant to be this time around for the American, who finished three shots behind winner Fox on seven-under.
Posting scores of 68, 68, 70 and 67, the world number one carded 13 birdies, 53 pars and six bogeys at Royal Birkdale.
It was another very impressive major display from the American, but he did endure major struggles on the greens.
His putter went really cold in the Southport heat, which certainly wasn’t the case when he lifted the Claret Jug aloft in 2025.
And as per Justin Ray, putting has been crucial to success at The Open in recent years, with four out of the last five winners leading the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Read more:Ryan Fox’s first words immediately after winning The Open Championship