Scottie Scheffler has arrived at Valhalla ahead of the PGA Championship and the two-time Masters Championship has given his honest view on the course after playing it for the first time.
The 27-year-old wasn’t in the field the last time the year’s second major was held at the Louisville venue as Rory McIlroy secured the title ten years ago.
Now, Scheffler is the overwhelming favourite to land his third major title and his fifth win in six outings in 2024.
There were doubts over his participation at Valhalla due to the arrival of his first child; however, after his wife Meredith gave birth, Scheffler will now feature in Thursday’s first round.
Scottie Scheffler drops ‘healthy’ verdict on the rough at Valhalla
Having not played competitively at Valhalla previously, Scheffler was asked to give his thoughts on the course after playing the back nine on Monday.
Typically, in majors, organisers look to grow thicker rough to heighten the difficulty level, and the 2024 Masters champion has admitted the rough already looks healthy without significant rainfall.
He said: “Golf course is in good shape. Fairways and greens are good. The rough seems pretty healthy, and with the rain coming in in the next couple of days, it should continue to get even healthier.
“Hopefully, I can get out there and see the front nine weather permitted, and we will see what I’m able to do the next couple of days.”
An all-time great PGA Championship in store at Valhalla
Scheffler, without a doubt, is the red-hot favourite this week. But, with McIlroy winning at the Wells Fargo Championship and Brooks Koepka playing his way into form at LIV Golf Singapore, there’s the potential for some of the elite players to feature at the top of the leaderboard.
16 LIV players are playing this week, and there are two or three stars who are more than capable of competing with Scheffler. Furthermore, PGA Tour players, such as Xander Schauffele and Max Homa, are in form heading into the second major of 2024.
Dubbed the ‘hardest field in golf’, the PGA Championship is certainly living up to its name.
Golf fans will be desperate for three or four big names to be pushing towards the top of the leaderboard come Sunday. The prospect of Scheffler, McIlroy and Koepka going head-to-head at Valhalla is fascinating and precisely what the game needs in these turbulent times.
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