Why Scottie Scheffler Isn’t Competing at the Rocket Mortgage Classic After His Travelers Win

Why Scottie Scheffler Isn’t Competing at the Rocket Mortgage Classic After His Travelers Win

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has opted out of this weekend’s Rocket Mortgage Classic despite the lure of another hefty paycheck. Fresh off his victory at the Travelers Championship, Scheffler has declined the chance to vie for the $1.3 million (£1m) jackpot in Detroit.

Scheffler’s victory at the Travelers marked his sixth signature PGA event win within a year, a feat previously achieved only by the legendary Tiger Woods in 2009. His latest triumph saw him edge out Tom Kim in a thrilling play-off, earning a whopping $3.6 million (£2.8m) in the process.

This season, Scheffler’s performance has been nothing short of spectacular, with victories at The Masters, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and several other prestigious tournaments. His winnings have already surpassed those of any other player in PGA history within a single year. Despite this, he has chosen to forgo the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Scheffler’s focus is now on capturing The Open next month and competing in the Paris Olympics. After his Travelers Championship win, he outlined his schedule for the rest of the year, stating, “I’m playing The Open, the Olympics, and the last three playoff events, and then I think I should be on the President’s Cup team. After that, I’ll take a break.”

By skipping the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Scheffler aims to conserve energy as he eyes his third major title and Olympic gold. He isn’t the only star to miss the Detroit event; his Olympic teammates Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark are also absent, along with Rory McIlroy, who is continuing his brief golf break following his US Open disappointment. McIlroy has not participated in the Rocket Mortgage Classic since its inception in 2019.

The absence of top players like Scheffler and McIlroy paves the way for others to make their mark. The Rocket Mortgage Classic tees off on Thursday, with favourites such as Tom Kim, Cameron Young, and Kim Si-woo, alongside Rickie Fowler, who aims to defend his title.