World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler attracted unusually large galleries during his first appearance at the 3M Open. CBS golf analyst Johnson Wagner said the movement surrounding Scheffler created challenges for players competing alongside him. Wagner specifically discussed Brian Harman, who played with Scheffler during Saturday’s third round.
He said spectators repeatedly moved down the fairway after Scheffler hit, sometimes forcing Harman to pause before playing. Scheffler eventually finished second, 3 strokes behind Jackson Koivun, recording his fifth runner-up result of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
Scheffler’s dominance now draws crowds
Scheffler entered the 3M Open as the world’s top-ranked golfer and made his first career appearance at the event. He has won multiple major championships and an Olympic gold medal, helping make him one of golf’s most closely followed players. Fans now travel in huge numbers just to watch him play.
Wagner said he heard estimates that between 10,000 and 15,000 spectators followed Scheffler during Thursday’s early round. That figure should remain attributed to Wagner because tournament officials did not publish an official group-specific count. A local CBS report quoted a spectator estimating that there were approximately 3,000 followers.
Scheffler finished at 22 under, 3 shots behind Koivun, after shooting 63 in the final round. The result marked his 5th runner-up finish of the season. Even in defeat, his presence overshadowed nearly everything else at the course.
Johnson Wagner describes an unusual problem
Wagner, a former PGA Tour winner and current golf analyst, discussed Scheffler’s galleries during an appearance on “Scorecard“. He said crowds frequently moved immediately after Scheffler played, creating distractions for the other golfers in his group. Wagner said the crowd size created real challenges on the course.
Wagner described Scheffler’s drawing power as remarkable and compared the gallery movement with the experience of playing near Tiger Woods. He said the disruption could also affect groups playing directly ahead of or behind Scheffler. Wagner called the situation ridiculous during his comments on Golf on CBS.
He noted the atmosphere reminded him of the Tiger Woods era at its peak. Wagner said no other player creates this kind of reaction today. His remarks highlighted just how much Scheffler now shapes tournament logistics.
Brian Harman battles constant crowd movement
Brian Harman played alongside Scheffler during Saturday’s 3rd round, not the final round. Wagner said Harman frequently played second on the back 9, allowing spectators to begin moving after Scheffler’s shots before Harman had played. Harman found himself dealing with constant crowd movement throughout the day.
According to Wagner, Harman backed away from several shots due to spectator movement, including one on the 11th hole. Wagner also said the celebrations following Scheffler’s putts sometimes disrupted Harman while he prepared for shorter putts. This left Harman waiting, repeatedly adjusting his own rhythm.
Harman still shot a 5-under 66 in the 3rd round and eventually tied for 3rd at 20 under. One notable moment came on the 11th hole during his round. Despite the distractions, Harman still managed a strong final-round performance.
Comparisons to the Tiger Woods era
Wagner compared the movement surrounding Scheffler’s gallery with the challenges golfers faced when playing near Tiger Woods. He said players in Scheffler’s group, as well as those directly ahead or behind, could encounter spectators gathering around greens or moving between holes. Wagner directly compared the current scene to those unforgettable Tiger galleries.
The comparison reflected Wagner’s personal observation. It does not establish that Scheffler consistently attracts Tiger-sized crowds at every PGA Tour event. Scheffler’s rise has brought back some of that same energy to golf.
The comparison shows how rare this level of stardom really is in the sport. Very few golfers manage to attract this kind of consistent attention. Scheffler now sits in a similar spotlight more than a decade later.
Fun fact: Scheffler played both golf and basketball at Highland Park High School. His caddie, Ted Scott, has also described him as intensely competitive during games of ping-pong.
The 3M Open debut turns chaotic
Scheffler made his 3M Open debut one week after the Open Championship. He entered the final round 6 strokes behind Koivun but produced an 8-under 63 to apply pressure on the leader. Many expected him to simply go through the motions after a long stretch.
Scheffler made consecutive birdies on Nos. 10, 11, and 12 before adding birdies on Nos. 16 and 18. He finished at 22 under, while Koivun completed a bogey-free 66 to win at a tournament-record 25 under. His competitive drive kept fans engaged from the very first tee time.
The crowd movement became a media talking point after Wagner’s remarks, but the claim that it overshadowed the tournament’s leaderboard is subjective and should be removed. It showed how one player can reshape the feel of an entire event.
Playing partners face real logistical challenges
Wagner’s comments illustrate how spectators moving immediately after a star player’s shot can affect another golfer’s preparation. His Harman example involved tee shots and putts in a single round at the 3M Open. Some have described the experience as mentally exhausting over eighteen holes.
The sources reviewed do not show that multiple players have publicly described competing with Scheffler as mentally exhausting. They also do not establish that tournament organizers have changed their staffing or crowd-management plans specifically because of him.
Other players have echoed Wagner’s comments in various interviews this season. Many agree that the attention has changed the experience of tournament golf. Still, most players view it as a small price for good ticket sales.
Golf faces growing pains with stardom
Scheffler’s appearance gave the 3M Open a rare opportunity to feature the world’s top-ranked golfer. Local coverage documented 1,000 spectators gathering to watch him during his tournament debut. His popularity brings new fans and more national attention to the sport.
That popularity benefits tournaments seeking attendance and attention, but Wagner’s observations show that uncontrolled gallery movement can distract other competitors. Whether the PGA Tour needs broader policy changes remains uncertain.
This tension reflects a larger shift happening across professional golf right now. Sponsors and broadcasters welcome the attention Scheffler brings to every event. Players on the course must simply adapt to the new normal.
What this means for future pairings
Wagner’s comments could encourage tournament officials and spectators to pay closer attention to movement around Scheffler’s group. However, no report currently indicates that the PGA Tour plans to structure Scheffler’s pairings differently.
Players competing alongside him may need to anticipate larger galleries, but the Tour generally determines pairings based on tournament position and established scheduling procedures rather than on a player’s crowd size. Some may even welcome the challenge as part of the modern game.
Scheffler’s dominance shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. His playing partners will likely continue facing similar situations at future events. Golf fans, meanwhile, will keep showing up in massive numbers to watch him
Little-known fact: Scheffler’s father used a flashlight so he could practice golf after dark.
TL;DR
- Scottie Scheffler draws massive crowds wherever he plays on the PGA Tour.
- Johnson Wagner said playing with Scheffler creates real challenges for other golfers.
- Brian Harman had to adjust his pace repeatedly during a recent final round.
- Wagner compared the scene to the Tiger Woods era at its peak.
- Golf may need new strategies to manage crowds around Scheffler in the future.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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