Scottie Scheffler is set to begin his 2026 PGA Tour campaign this Thursday at the American Express.
Scheffler has been the dominant figure in golf over the past few years, racking up 19 PGA Tour wins since February 2022.
It is fair to say that he looks poised to keep that run going in the years ahead.
The Dallas native could achieve the career Grand Slam this year at Shinnecock Hills when the US Open takes place.
If Scheffler manages to stay at number one through mid-October 2028, he will break Tiger Woods’ record for most consecutive weeks spent atop the world rankings.
For now, though, all his attention is on trying to pick up a win in La Quinta.
His ‘A’ game virtually guarantees a win, but what is the status of his form as he approaches his 2026 season opener?
Scottie Scheffler’s nine-hole practice round score at American Express
The current world number one continues to make golf look easy.
There is a calmness to his rounds, nothing flashy, but more often than not, he finishes well under par. That was the case again on Tuesday afternoon in La Quinta.
Scheffler went out for a nine-hole practice round and posted an impressive score without much fuss. His ball-striking was sharp as ever, and he seemed dialled in with the putter.
The Texan picked up four birdies and an eagle alongside four pars, even dropping a club after one of his shots on the par-five eighth before rolling in another birdie.
He would gladly accept a nine-hole score of six-under-par 30 at La Quinta on Thursday. That is a very impressive performance.
Scottie Scheffler putting the Qi4D in play at the American Express
The Texan is one of the best drivers in golf, but he is always looking for small ways to improve.
During preseason testing, he picked up an extra 3.3 mph of ball speed with TaylorMade’s new Qi4D driver.
That should translate into about six more yards of carry distance.
Any improvement, even a small one, would be a worry for those hoping to close the gap on him this year.
If he finds even a tiny edge with his long game, keeping pace with him will become an even bigger challenge for the rest of the field.
It will be interesting to see if it helps him get over that final hurdle and reach 20 career wins on Tour.
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