Scottie Scheffler enters the Memorial Event because the defending champion, however that does not make him really feel overconfident as he prepares for Thursday’s opening spherical in Dublin, Ohio.
“If you present as much as an occasion, all people’s at even par,” Scheffler informed reporters Wednesday. “Individuals ask, I really feel like lots, ‘What’s it like defending this week?’ I am like, ‘Effectively, what does that do for me? Nothing’. I’ve some expertise the on the golf course that may be useful, however on the finish of the day, you begin even par, and I wish to be in competition on Sunday, and also you positively do not present up too excessive or too low.”
Scheffler, 28, is within the midst of one other unimaginable season. In 11 tournaments, he is received two and completed within the High 10 eight occasions.
In his previous six tournaments, he has received The CJ Cup Byron Nelson and PGA Championship, completed T2 on the Texas Youngsters’s Houston Open, positioned fourth on the Masters Event, was T4 final week on the Charles Schwab Problem, and T8 on the RBC Heritage final month.
The Memorial, based by Jack Nicklaus at his Muirfield Village Golf Membership, is Scheffler’s third consecutive weekly event. He mentioned he’s “rested sufficient.”
“My third week in a row, however I bought some good relaxation to begin — final week, after the PGA, I bought some good relaxation Monday and Tuesday and had a great begin at Colonial. Took my time without work, got here right here, performed 9 holes yesterday, performed 9 holes this morning, so feeling prepared for the week.”
And he mentioned as with all occasions, he isn’t getting into with a predetermined notion that he’ll win. Final 12 months, he topped Collin Morikawa by one stroke, ending at 8-under par to win the Memorial.
“In case you present up with too low of expectations, not feeling like your recreation’s in a great spot, you are most likely not going to hit quite a lot of good photographs,” he mentioned. “And in the event you present up feeling approach too good about your self, I believe it could possibly impact your focus. Like, in the event you simply present up and be, like, ‘Oh, I am greatest. I am simply going to point out up and win this week,’ I believe nearly typically you may get a bit lazy at occasions out on the course. … It’s a must to be very targeted on what you are doing.”
At the same time as the sphere heads right into a $20 million signature occasion, Scheffler was requested to look forward to the Tour Championship in September. The PGA Tour introduced Tuesday it’s casting off the staggered scoring begin that rewarded leaders in FedEx Cup factors with a extra favorable beginning rating — a change Scheffler had advocated for.
“I believe while you’re a golf event, I believe the easiest way to establish one of the best participant over the course of a event is 72-hole stroke play on a extremely good golf course. I believe while you have a look at a great check of golf and you bought to compete over 4 days, I believe that is the easiest way to crown one of the best winner for that week.
“And searching on the Tour Championship, I did not love the earlier format of beginning strokes, and I actually just like the course the place we’re going. I believe the Tour Championship’s going to be tough to qualify for. Making the Tour Championship is really going to be the outcomes from a terrific physique of labor over the course of a season, after which you could have a possibility to win the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup.”
Scheffler received his first Tour Championship final season.
