Scottie Scheffler is thrown off course at The Open by a giant TV screen playing out live commentary of his own shot during another poor round
- Scottie Scheffler was thrown off by television commentary at The Open
- The American has endured another miserable major on the Wirral
- Brian Harman leads Cameron Young by five shots as pursues his finest hour
Scottie Scheffler was just about to play his second shot at the fifth when he heard someone shout his name. The world No 1 stepped away from his ball. It was not his caddie or a spectator but from the big video screens along the fairway with the voice commentating on his upcoming shot.
‘Try not to mess with that bunker,’ came the advice from the big screen. Scheffler composed himself, re-approached his ball and stuck it straight into the greenside trap.
‘I’ve never heard a distraction like that before,’ said Scheffler. ‘The TV going full volume and commentating on my shot. Usually, it’s music or something. It was pretty funny, just hearing your own name on the coverage. I didn’t hear look out for the bunker, but it was so weird and definitely put me off for a minute.’
Scheffler still got up and down for birdie but it was a strange moment that embodied another strange round. Five bogeys, four birdies, four-over for the tournament and his chance of adding the Claret Jug to his Green Jacket all but gone.
‘I’ll need a hurricane — and then some,’ he added.
Scottie Scheffler, pictured teeing off at the fifth hole, was later put off by a TV’s commentary
The former Masters champion joked that he’d need a hurricane to win the 151st Open
Scheffler slid down the leaderboard on another disappointing day at Royal Liverpool
He did not get one. The rain cleared towards the end of his round and those who followed his 9.05am tee time made their hay.
At the end of his round, he ranked first for strokes gained off the tee but his putting had been so bad The Open’s website had him ranked 157th — out of a field of 156.
Scheffler drained a 16-foot putt for birdie on the 16th but failed to take advantage of plenty more chances from closer. He at least finished well with two birdies in the last three holes.
