Scottie Scheffler is going to be the overwhelming favourite heading into the third major of the year at the US Open after securing his third victory of the season at The Memorial Tournament.
Scottie Scheffler has found a completely different gear since The Masters. It was scarcely-believable that the world number one had not won in the opening months of the season, even with the hand injury which required surgery.
But he has put that talking point to bed in emphatic fashion. The 28-year-old has won three times in his last four starts, including at the PGA Championship. With that, it is hard to look past Scheffler for the US Open later this month.
The US Open returns to Oakmont for the first time since 2016 this year. And it was at that year’s major that Scheffler made his debut in the event.
Scottie Scheffler suggests where Oakmont ranks among the toughest courses he has played ahead of the US Open
In fact, Scheffler found himself inside the top 10 after the opening round, with the then amateur posting a one under par round of 69.
He would actually miss the cut that week after shooting a 78 in the second round. And speaking to Dan on Golf, he explained where he would rank Oakmont amongst the toughest courses he has played.
“I played Oakmont in ’16 for the US Open, and I know it’s really hard. I know Gil Hanse made some changes to the course, but overall I think it’s pretty similar to the way it was in 2016,” he said.
“It’s going to be another golf course where you’ve got to hit a lot of fairways, you’ve got to hit a lot of greens. From what I remember in 2016, it was the most difficult course that I played, and I assume that didn’t change very much with some reservations.”
How Scottie Scheffler reacted to breaking par in the opening round of the 2016 US Open
Scheffler has missed just three cuts in 23 major championship appearances, with two of those coming at the US Open.
While he may not have been shocked to not make the weekend in 2016, he may have been a little more disappointed given that he started so well. And after his opening round, he explained some of the biggest challenges during a day which was interrupted by bad weather on several occasions.
“For me, it was coming into the greens and trying to control the spin on the wedges. All three days before, when we were playing, we were bouncing, trying to put as much spin as possible on the ball to keep it on the green,” he said.
“For instance, I get on hole 11 today, second hole of the day, and I spin one back like 50 feet off the front of the green. I thought I hit a pretty good shot, and all of a sudden, I’m left with a really hard two-putt. That’s just one example of an adjustment.”
Something suggests Scheffler will not have to worry about making the cut this time around. In fact, many will be expecting him to lift major number four upon his return to Oakmont.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
