Scottie Scheffler is the golfer to beat. Whenever he is in a tournament, every other player knows they have to outdo the world's best, which makes some resort to mind games. Seemingly for that reason, Scheffler is happy to play alongside Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele at the U.S. Open this weekend.
Scheffler, Schauffele, and McIlroy are grouped together as a trio for Thursday and Friday's rounds at Pinehurst No. 2, which is a good thing, according to Scheffler.
“When I play with Xander and Rory here Thursday and Friday, they're not going to be saying weird stuff to me out on the golf course or trying to block my putt from going in the hole,” Scheffler told the media (via ESPN). “We all kind of got to go out there and play our game.”
Schauffele and McIlroy know the pressures of being some of the best golfers in the world — Schauffele is ranked second and McIlroy third — and have plenty of experience, which must make them think they do not need to try to play with Scheffler's head while grouped together.
Scottie Scheffler comments on playing with ‘target' on back at U.S. Open
Scottie Scheffler, much like Tiger Woods when he ascended to the world's best golfer, has the eyes of the sport upon him. Many fans have taken to following Scheffler throughout the weekend, and the players are always trying to take down the No. 1 ranked golfer.
Scheffler, for his part, said he doesn't really feel that way.
“Like I said, when we start the tournament week, we're all at even par and it's not like anybody is out there playing defense,” Scheffler said. “As far as a target on my back, even if there was, there's really not much we can do in the game of golf. Most of it is against the golf course and playing against yourself. Target on my back, I don't really feel it, and I don't really think about it much, no.”
The last time Scheffler was at a major, the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Course last month, he was arrested before the second round and charged with assaulting a police officer. The charges, while a major story, ended up being dropped, which Rory McIlroy commented on this week in a joke about what impressed him the most about Scheffler's play.
“The fact that the only thing that took him from winning a golf tournament was going into a jail cell for an hour,” McIlroy said before expanding on his thoughts on Scheffler.
“I think just the relentlessness,” McIlroy said. “Look, a lot of stuff went on in his life, as well. They've just had a new child. He's been through some struggles in his game, particularly the putter that he's been able to turn around. … It seems like every time he shows up, he is the guy to beat, and deservedly so.”
Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele also complimented Scheffler, remarking that he is undisputedly the best golfer. Scheffler will get another chance to prove that this weekend at the U.S. Open. He, Schauffele, and McIlroy are set to tee off for the first round on Thursday at 1:14 p.m. ET.
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