Scottie Scheffler expressed frustration with Augusta National's changing conditions after finishing second in the Masters, just one shot behind Rory McIlroy. He highlighted the uneven playing field caused by differing green conditions during the tournament.
Scottie Scheffler shares frustrations with Augusta National for changing conditions after second-place Masters finish originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Despite a historic, bogey-free weekend that nearly erased a 12-stroke deficit, Scottie Scheffler left Augusta National with a bitter taste in his mouth on Sunday.
After finishing just one shot behind back-to-back champion Rory McIlroy, the world number one teed off at Augusta National's setup, suggesting that shifting course conditions on Thursday and Friday created an uneven playing field for the golfers who played in the afternoon.
Scheffler noticed a large contrast between how the greens played compared to his first and second rounds of play. Although he made the cut without a problem, his bogey-filled second round may have been what ultimately cost him his third Green Jacket.
Here's what the World No. 1 golfer said after finishing second at Augusta.
MORE:How does McIlroy's 2026 Masters win compare to 2025?
During Friday's second round, Scheffler shot a 74, which was his highest round of the championship. That round saw him shoot four bogeys and just two birdies for a finish of 2-over on the day. Scheffler sat 12 shots back of McIlroy, who at the time was six strokes above second place, and well in the lead. The American finished strong, with a 65-shot third round and 68-shot fourth to complete the first bogey-free weekend since Byron Nelson in 1942, but it just wasn't enough.
After the major concluded, Scheffler was interviewed about the event overall. He mentioned how there was a stark contrast in terms of green conditions from Thursday to Friday. According to the No. 1-ranked golfer, Thursday's firm greens were nowhere to be found on the following day. In fact, Scheffler was "surprised" at how soft the greens had gotten come Friday afternoon, while he was playing.
Here is the full interview from Scheffler after his second-place finish.
MORE:Who has the largest comeback in Masters history?
āIām not in charge of course setup,ā Scheffler said after his second-place finish. āI would have liked it to have been a little bit more equal in terms of the firmness on Thursday and Friday. I was a bit surprised at how soft things were on Friday afternoon, especially as it got late in the day.
"But the weather also changes and it was a bit windy on Thursday, so who knows. Thatās part of the game. We play an outdoor sport and you donāt know how conditions are going to change, especially course conditions.ā
MORE:How much money did McIlroy take home for this year's Masters win?
Scottie Scheffler criticized the changing conditions at Augusta National, stating they created an uneven playing field for golfers.
Scottie Scheffler finished just one shot behind Rory McIlroy, who won the Masters for the second consecutive year.
Scheffler's bogey-filled second round is believed to have cost him the chance to win his third Green Jacket.
LIV Golf's future appears uncertain as reports suggest Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund may withdraw funding after investing $5 billion. Despite assurances for the 2026 season, the tour faces challenges from low ratings and strong competition from the PGA Tour.
Mike Trout's 446-foot HR joins him with Aaron Judge in Yankee Stadium lore.
Detroit Tigers projected to take a risk on a 6'3" prep bat in the MLB draft.
Arshdeep Singh makes history as the first PBKS bowler to reach 100 IPL wickets!
California's top high school football prospects are on the move this weekend.
Viktor Hovland shines with a 64 at RBC Heritage, Gotterup scores 70.
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.