“Scottie Scheffler Drops Bombshell: Skips Scottish Open After US Open Meltdown!”

Scottie Scheffler Set to Skip Scottish Open After Disappointing US Open Performance

Following a lackluster showing at Pinehurst during the 124th US Open, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is reevaluating his schedule and likely to forgo the Scottish Open. Scheffler, who entered the tournament as the 3/1 favorite – the narrowest odds since Tiger Woods 15 years ago – struggled to find his form, barely making the cut and finishing the third round with a 71, placing him well out of contention.

Coming off a win at the Memorial Tournament just the previous Sunday, Scheffler was baffled by his sudden drop in performance. The 27-year-old Texan has consistently finished in the top 20 over the past 10 months, with only two finishes outside the top 10 in 16 events. Despite his usual consistency, Scheffler’s tie for eighth at last month’s US PGA Championship was below his expectations, although it followed a tumultuous incident where he was mistakenly arrested for assaulting a police officer.

Without any such distractions at Pinehurst, Scheffler’s struggles continued, prompting questions about potential fatigue. Scheffler acknowledged, “There’s definitely an aspect of [tiredness], and that’s something that I’ll look at in my preparations. I think going forward that’s something I’m really going to take a harder look at, the prep for the majors.” He mentioned that he may adopt a strategy of not playing the week before major tournaments, similar to his approach for Augusta.

This likely means the Renaissance Club, host of the Scottish Open, will miss out on having Scheffler as a competitor this year. Scheffler, who has played the Scottish Open for the past three years, was expected to be a major draw for the £7 million event. However, the tournament’s timing – immediately before the Open Championship at Royal Troon – combined with Scheffler’s desire to better prepare and acclimate to the links course, suggests he will skip the Scottish Open.

Additionally, with a packed summer schedule, including the Open Championship, the Olympic competition in Paris, and the PGA Tour FedEx play-offs, Scheffler’s time is limited. His use of the past tense when discussing his participation in the Scottish Open last week at Muirfield Village hinted at this decision.

The Scottish Open has not been designated a “Signature Event” by the PGA Tour, meaning Scheffler is not required to participate. This exclusion has been a point of contention for the DP World Tour amidst ongoing negotiations with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, which supports LIV Golf.

Scheffler’s only top 30 finish at the Open Championship is a tie for eighth, making it his weakest major in terms of results. All signs point to Scheffler, currently with the largest lead at the top of the rankings since Woods’ prime, opting out of the Renaissance Club event.

Despite his struggles, Scheffler managed a birdie on the eighth hole on Saturday, his first in 26 holes. His frustration was evident, notably throwing his putter on Friday after his fifth bogey of the day on the 15th. If his putting had been more reliable, Scheffler might have been in contention, as he missed several birdie opportunities on the back nine.

Meanwhile, other top players also struggled. England’s Matt Fitzpatrick shot a nine-over 79, taking him to 14-over for the tournament, and Francesco Molinari, who made a hole-in-one on Friday to make the cut, shot a 77, leaving him at 12-over.

As Scheffler reviews his preparation strategies and schedule, his decision to skip the Scottish Open underscores the importance he places on performing well at major championships.