Scottie Scheffler takes different approach into 2024 British Open with history on the line
Scheffler’s Rise: From First Links Experience to British Open Favorite
Scottie Scheffler, the current World No. 1, is having one of the most remarkable seasons since Tiger Woods, yet his first encounter with links golf only dates back to 2021. Despite his limited experience, Scheffler is now the favorite to clinch the 2024 British Open at Royal Troon, starting this Thursday in Scotland.
Reflecting on his early career, Scheffler said during his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday, “Our Walker Cup was in the States. I never made the Palmer Cup to come over here and play. Didn’t play any junior tournaments or anything like that over here.” This lack of exposure means Scheffler is still acclimatizing to the nuances of links golf, prompting a strategic shift in his preparation for this major championship.
Scheffler’s last tournament appearance was nearly a month ago at the Travelers Championship, where he triumphed over Tom Kim in a playoff. Since then, he has focused on resting and spending quality time with his wife, Meredith, and their daughter, Bennett, before embarking on a demanding schedule that includes the British Open, Olympics, and FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Unlike many top PGA Tour players who competed in last week’s Scottish Open, Scheffler opted for a different approach. He spent time exploring various courses in Scotland and arrived early at Royal Troon to acclimate to its unique conditions, setting his sights on his third major title. “I felt like it was more important for me to get over here to this golf course and prepare, getting used to the conditions of the grass, the bunkers over here,” he explained. “I just feel like you have to be more creative here. I love that part of it. I feel like, when I do come over here, this is really how golf was intended to be played.”
Scheffler’s creativity is evident in his play style, from his distinctive footwork during swings to his ability to master any golf course. At Troon, he faces challenges from the bunkers and wind, both familiar adversaries. “One of the things I liked that the R&A changed this year from last year was the bunkering. Last year I thought it was a bit silly how they flattened out each bunker,” Scheffler noted. “The bunkers are still a penalty enough when the ball isn’t up against the lip. It was a bit of luck whether or not your ball would bury into the face because you have a flat bunker and a wall that’s going to go right into it.”
Scheffler has dedicated time to refining his ability to control shot trajectory and spin in windy conditions, a skill he honed growing up in Texas. However, the Scottish turf presents an additional challenge. “The ball spins a touch more off this turf,” he observed. “It was getting used to how much the ball will actually fly into the wind because when it blows that hard at home, let’s say typically when it does it’s a bit warmer. But with the ball being spinnier off the turf, if I tried to hit the shot that I did at home, it would almost spin even more off the turf and then go even shorter. So I had to learn to adjust and shallow out a little bit and hit it low without as much spin.”
Scheffler’s six victories this season make him the first player since Woods to achieve this feat on the PGA Tour. A seventh win would cement his season as one of the greatest in PGA Tour history. Reflecting on the past, Scheffler mentioned, “In 1962, Arnold Palmer came to the Open Championship at Troon with six wins on the season. He left with seven and the Claret Jug. I love the history of the game, and there’s certain things that I know and certain things that I don’t. That was something that for some reason I just never stumbled across. So I had no idea that that was a thing.”
As Scheffler prepares for the British Open, another stellar performance could further engrave his name in the annals of golf history, marking yet another milestone in his extraordinary season.
