Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer in the world and the favorite to win The Open Championship this week.
And perhaps what separates Scheffler from every other player is his relentless determination to improve at the game he loves.
This includes learning lessons from his competition, such as how to navigate the unique challenge of links golf courses.
The 29-year-old revealed in his press conference before The Open that he’s taken inspiration from two PGA Tour players in that regard.
Scottie Scheffler has learned links golf lessons from two players
American golfers, like Scheffler, are typically not as comfortable playing links courses as British players. The world number one is determined to ensure that it does not apply to him.
Scheffler played with Robert MacIntyre last week at the Scottish Open and “learned a lot” from the Scotsman’s game.
The pair were in the same group as Adam Scott in rounds one and two at The Renaissance Club, another excellent links player.
“I like to ask guys questions,” Scheffler said in his pre-Open press conference. “I feel like I can learn a lot from the players out here. There’s a lot of talent on Tour. I feel like we could always be learning.
“So I like to ask guys questions. Sometimes I try not to make it too obvious whether or not they’re going to give me an answer or not. I like to ask questions. I like to learn from guys. I learn a lot by watching, too.
“For instance, playing with Bob last week at the Scottish Open, I got to learn a lot. Playing with Adam Scott as well, he’s had a great career out here, and I feel like I can learn a lot from him.
“There’s a time and place to compete, but at the end of the day, we’re spending 5, 5-1/2 hours out there, and sometimes we can have a little bit of time to chat. I had some good chats with Bob last week about links golf, and I feel like I learned a little bit from him as well.”
Scottie Scheffler explains why putting on links golf courses is different
When people speak about the difficulty of links golf, they often mention the weather conditions and the uneven terrain, but not the greens.
Putting can also be more challenging on links courses because of the slopes and speed, but Scheffler feels pretty confident in that area.
“I think getting adjusted to speed is always kind of the most important over here,” he added. “It’s a little bit of a slower green speed, and that’s just based on necessity because you get much more… the elements are much more of a factor.
“So the green speeds can’t get that fast because we could get one day with wind, and all of a sudden the golf course becomes unplayable. Getting used to the speed, I would say, is the most important. Outside of that, putting is putting. Golf is still golf, no matter where you’re playing.
“Growing up in the States, I feel like we’re used to playing a lot of different styles of golf. Especially when you’re young, you grow up on so many different golf courses.
“When you get to the PGA Tour, everything is so perfectly manicured, but when you’re growing up in Texas, we were not playing the best golf courses week in and week out. We were playing on everyday golf courses that everyday golfers play.
“You learn to play in a lot of different conditions. If it’s summertime, you’re playing on hard pan, cracks in the earth, playing in cold weather, warm weather. Growing up in Texas, you see a lot of different stuff.”
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