Scottie Scheffler has pinpointed green speed as the biggest adjustment he must make to retain his Open Championship title at Royal Birkdale next week. The world No. 1 is currently playing the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club to prepare for links conditions. He won last year's Open at Royal Portrush, but his putting on British greens has often been a struggle.
What did Scottie Scheffler say about links greens?
Speaking before the Scottish Open, Scheffler explained the difference between putting surfaces in the U.S. and the U.K. "The greens are quite firm, but they are also a little bit slower than what we are used to at home," he said. He noted that getting used to how the ball runs — especially on pitch shots — takes time. "Just really ingraining that into your head, the speed of the greens."
Scheffler added that playing competitive golf the week before the major helps. "Everything always feels a little bit different when you get out there in competition," he said. He also pointed out that putting from off the green is easier in the States because the speed difference between fairway and green is less drastic. In the U.K., the ball slows down quickly on the green, so ground shots become more effective.
How has Scottie Scheffler putted on links courses historically?
The numbers tell a clear story. Before last year's Open, Scheffler had never gained strokes putting on a links course. At the 2025 Scottish Open, he lost strokes on the greens and looked visibly frustrated. His best putting performance in a Scottish Open or Open prior to Portrush was losing just 0.32 strokes at The Renaissance Club last year.
But at Royal Portrush, something clicked. Scheffler gained 2.16 strokes on the field with his putter — by far his best putting week in the U.K. That performance powered him to the Claret Jug. It was an incredible turnaround from the week before.
Why does this matter for Scheffler's title defense?
Royal Birkdale presents a different test than Portrush. The course is known for its firm, fast-running fairways and subtle greens. If Scheffler can replicate the putting form he found last July, he'll be tough to beat. But if his old struggles return, even his ball-striking might not save him.
He's using the Scottish Open as a tune-up. The Renaissance Club is a modern links, but it still demands the same low-running shots and patient putting that Birkdale will require. Scheffler knows that winning back-to-back Opens is rare. Only a handful of players have done it in the modern era.
What comes next for Scottie Scheffler?
After the Scottish Open, Scheffler heads to Royal Birkdale for The Open Championship, which starts on 16 July. He'll be the defending champion and the betting favorite. The key question: can he handle the greens again?
His own words suggest he's focused on exactly that. "It's more just getting used to the conditions," he said. If he can do that, a second straight Claret Jug is within reach.