SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Scottie Scheffler may change into the seventh man to finish a profession Grand Slam if he wins his first U.S. Open title Sunday at Sinek Hills Golf Membership.
Scheffler may obtain the feat on his thirtieth birthday, however the world primary insists becoming a member of that elite membership is not going to be his motivation when he begins Thursday’s season opener.
“Is it a dream for me to win the U.S. Open? Completely,” Scheffler stated. “However on the finish of the day, Grand Slams had been by no means a motivating issue for me. I at all times wished to be the very best model of myself, and that is what obtained me this far.”
This might be Scheffler’s first try at a profession Grand Slam, having gained each the PGA Championship and British Open Championship final yr. He has already gained the Masters twice (2022, 2024).
Scheffler joins Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Participant, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as the one golfers to win a Grand Slam throughout the Masters period.
McIlroy gained the primary of back-to-back Masters titles in 2025, finishing the profession Grand Slam on his eleventh try, probably the most of any participant to finish a profession Grand Slam.
“That is type of humorous,” Scheffler stated. “Yeah, if we win this event, that might be nice. However then I present up the subsequent week and I am like, ‘Okay, Scotty gained the Grand Slam, he gained all of the golf tournaments. Now, the place can we go from right here?’
“So I feel it doesn’t matter what, you will by no means have the ability to dwell as much as individuals’s expectations as a participant, as knowledgeable athlete. … I feel the goalposts at all times simply transfer additional and additional away.”
Scheffler enters this week with out a win in his final 11 begins since scoring his twentieth PGA Tour victory in his first begin of the yr on the American Categorical on Jan. 25.
There have been three runner-up finishes, seven of which had been within the high 5. He completed inside the highest 25 in every of his 12 begins.
Scheffler has completed within the high 10 in 4 of his previous 5 U.S. Open appearances.
“Golf is a really fascinating recreation,” Scheffler stated. “A great instance is, if I end second this week, it is like, ‘Hey, I missed my first likelihood to win a profession Grand Slam.’ Is ending second a failure? You would possibly really feel that approach, however typically if you have a look at the game from a broader perspective and take into consideration the place your recreation is, being second is not essentially a nasty factor.
“Nevertheless it’s additionally very painful.”
That is the thirteenth consecutive yr that Scheffler has been ranked No. 1 on the earth in a serious. In response to the Elias Sports activities Bureau, solely Woods has achieved extra in a row, with 21 from 2005 to 2010 and 20 from 2000 to 2004. No different golfer had ever performed it greater than 10 instances in a row.
Scheffler’s gradual begin can also be one of many causes he hasn’t had many wins this season. Since American Categorical, he has completed within the high 15 after the primary spherical solely twice in 11 appearances. The common rating for the primary spherical (69.92) was greater than two strokes larger than the ultimate spherical (67.5).
“It looks like we’re shut a lot of the yr,” Scheffler stated. “I really feel like I have never been as sharp as I must be. I feel the margin on this recreation may be very small. For me to win lots of tournaments, I’ve to be actually, actually sharp. I really feel like possibly I used to be just a little sluggish.”
