Jack Nicklaus’ personal Memorial Event had barely come to its conclusion Sunday when the host himself turned his consideration ahead two weeks.
“You’re going to search out the identical tough at Oakmont,” Nicklaus stated, exhibiting that even at age 85, he nonetheless has his thoughts educated towards the U.S. Open.
Nicklaus’ professional tip was supplied within the firm of Scottie Scheffler, who has proven these days that unsolicited recommendation isn’t essentially wanted.
Scheffler is on a run that’s bringing the historical past of the sport into view. A victory on the Memorial was his third in 4 tournaments and his seventh consecutive top-10. He turned the primary participant to repeat at Muirfield Village since Tiger Woods (1999–2001). They’re the one two to go back-to-back within the occasion.
Maybe not since Woods’ heyday has the sphere been so targeted on a single opponent when sizing up an opportunity to win a match. The a number of qualifiers for fulfillment now appear common: play in addition to you’ll be able to and hope Scheffler underperforms.
“ he’s going to hit fairways, you already know he’s going to hit greens, he’s not likely going to make errors,” Memorial runner-up Ben Griffin stated of Scheffler.
“Yeah, you already know Scottie’s in all probability going to play an excellent spherical of golf. The man’s relentless,” third-place finisher Sepp Straka stated.
Jon Rahm of Spain threatened to be the man that Scheffler is now, however he took the LIV cash and ran, together with his exploits barely resonating now. Northern Eire’s Rory McIlroy has reemerged of late with 5 match wins up to now two years, together with the completion of the profession Grand Slam on the Masters this yr. However Scheffler simply received the PGA Championship and is the present man of the second.
Scheffler has been the world’s No. 1 participant for 142 weeks over 4 separate stretches since March 2022, together with every of the previous 107 weeks.
The final participant to take a seat on golf’s lofty throne that lengthy consecutively? Woods, together with his report 281 consecutive weeks from June 2005 to October 2010.
The place Woods was all thunder, although, Scheffler is ice — with fairways, greens and all the restoration photographs on the few events he wants them.
Scheffler’s technique at Muirfield Village this previous weekend? Keep away from the juicy tough in any respect value and don’t attempt to overpower it when the second arrives. Which brings all of it again to Nicklaus and his warning for Oakmont Nation Membership close to Pittsburgh, the place the U.S. Open will happen June 13–16.
If the tough on the Memorial appeared unprecedented, the sphere higher be prepared for what it is going to face some 200 miles to the east when the U.S. Open begins.
“I imply, it’s the identical grass,” Nicklaus stated. “Will probably be the identical factor all by way of the entire Midwest.”
McIlroy, the No. 2 participant on this planet, elected to skip the Memorial to comply with his conventional preparation for main tournaments by taking part in within the occasion one week prior. Meaning he’ll play on this week’s Canadian Open, which Scheffler will skip.
World No. 3 Xander Schauffele completed in a lackluster tie for twenty fifth on the Memorial by going 6 over par within the last two rounds and 4 over for 72 holes. No. 4 Collin Morikawa completed tied for twentieth and has not completed higher than seventeenth in his final 5 occasions, whereas lacking the reduce in a type of.
One thing should change among the many world’s finest as a way to gang up on Scheffler, who has the whole backing of one of many sport’s all-time greats.
“(Scheffler) has the power to carry his stage to no matter stage it must be,” Nicklaus stated. “That’s what good gamers do. And, you already know, he’s not an excellent participant — he’s an important participant. I imply, have a look at the report that he has had the previous few years. It’s unbelievable.”
Whereas Scheffler’s most intimidating attribute may be his exceptional consistency, the stat to concern as the subsequent main match attracts close to is that this: six PGA Tour victories by no less than 4 photographs over the past two seasons.
And the latest four-shot win Sunday would possibly simply enable him to mow down the sphere at Oakmont.
“That’s what I feel is nice about this golf course — there’s alternative and there’s good problem,” Scheffler stated after strolling the Muirfield monitor 4 consecutive days. “So far as prep work for the U.S. Open, I imply, the tough’s going to be fairly related, and I feel it’s nice prep.”
