Scottie Scheffler admits he’s rethinking strategy after brutal US Open

Scottie Scheffler has been in fine form this season, winning three times – including the Masters in April – and finishing in a tie for second at the Charles Schwab Challenge

Scottie Scheffler might start skipping the tournament held the week beforea major championship following a challenging U.S. Open.

Scheffler has made a name for himself as a formidable player in 2024, seemingly playing in a league of his own and establishing a significant lead at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). In his last five starts, the American golfer has claimed three victories, including the prestigious Masters title in April.

His other two performances saw him tie for second place at the Charles Schwab Challenge earlier this month, as well as tying for eighth at the PGA Championship. However, this week didn’t go as planned for Scheffler, who barely made it into the weekend by missing the cut by just one shot on Friday. He then failed to improve 24 hours later, scoring a one-over-par 71 on moving day, marking his third consecutive round over par at Pinehurst No. 2.

Before heading into the tournament, Scheffler secured his third title of the season by winning the penultimate Signature Event of the PGA Tour season at the Memorial Tournament a week earlier. However, looking ahead, the world No. 1 admitted he might need to reconsider his schedule leading up to the majors.

“I think in terms of prep work for a week that I know is going to be as tough as this, I’m leaning, going forward, to maybe not playing the week before,” he said in North Carolina following the end of his third round. “I think especially going around Jack’s place (Muirfield Village), which is going to be pretty close.

“I did most of my damage under-par there at the beginning of the week, so… I think going into the major championships, especially the ones we know are going to be really challenging, it may be in my best interest not to play the week before. Like I said, that’s stuff for me to figure out later in the year. That’s some of my thoughts sitting around watching the cut.”

The long-standing event at Muirfield Village was moved from its usual spot on the schedule, having been placed the week before the third major event of the campaign by Jay Monahan and co this year. Despite his recent incredible form, Scheffler’s previous struggles with the putter have been well-documented.

And this kink in his game appeared to have returned at Pinehurst. “I’m having a lot of trouble reading these greens,” he said. “I had a lot of putts today where I felt like I hit it really good. I looked up and they were not going the way I thought they were going to go.

“Really my swing today felt a lot better than it did yesterday. I felt like the last 27 holes I’ve played, I’ve hit it really nice, but I just haven’t been able to hit it quite close enough, which is difficult around this course. I haven’t been able to hole the putts the last few today.”