Scottie Scheffler’s coach Randy Smith has indicated that the world number one is happy with where his game is heading into the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
Scheffler is the overwhelming favourite to win the third major of the year. While the 29-year-old has only won once this season, he has still been hugely impressive. He has finished inside the top five on seven occasions this year.
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Shinnecock Hills is going to be a brutal test!
Nevertheless, there have been signs that Scheffler is not entirely content with his game. Scheffler has been nowhere near as ruthless with his iron play this year.
That culminated in an incident on Thursday at the Memorial Tournament when Scheffler let his frustration get the better of him after finding the water on the 16th hole.
What Randy Smith said about Scottie Scheffler’s practice ahead of the US Open
While Scheffler has been fairly adamant that he is not experiencing a slump, he certainly appears to have produced a number of uncharacteristic shots this year.
But perhaps there is good reason to be optimistic about Scheffler’s chances this week.
Speaking on the Son of a Butch podcast, Claude Harmon revealed that Scheffler decided against returning to the range after one of his practice rounds at Shinnecock Hills.
And there was a very good reason for his decision.
“I love the idea that going back a few years he was pretty clear what happened at Pinehurst at that US Open. He felt he was not prepared and that was not what Scottie Scheffler wants,” he said.
“It must have made him so uncomfortable. He might as well have come down with a case of the hives, that probably drives him crazy because it was such a different, unique kind of test. He just was not ready for it. He had not spent the time going around the golf course making sure.
“He has done that this time. He was taking a scouting trip. He has been there since Sunday. I have spoken to Randy Smith a couple of times this week about what has been the theme, what have you been trying to accomplish, and they have covered every inch of this golf course.
“He will be prepared. I am not guaranteeing him anything, there is a lot on the line this week. A win and he is the seventh player to win the Career Grand Slam.
“But it goes beyond that, this golf course is a unique test. He seems to be in such a good frame on mind. We know his game is there when he is playing well and he is clear of mind and has been prepared.
“I will say that the thing that stood out when talking to Randy Smith is that on Monday after the practice round, Scottie did not go and hit golf balls after it.
“I asked Randy when is the last time that happened? He smiled and goes ‘he’s happy’.”
How Scottie Scheffler has performed in the US Open over the last five years should worry everyone else in the field
It should come as no surprise that Scheffler has an outstanding record in the US Open, particularly in recent years. He has finished inside the top 10 in four of his last five starts at the event.
Across those five starts, he has lost strokes to the field in just three categories. According to Data Golf, he lost shots around the green at both Torrey Pines in 2021 and Brookline in 2022.
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Scottie Scheffler is going for the career Grand Slam! 🏌️
Meanwhile, he really struggled on the putting surfaces at Pinehurst in 2024. It did appear that the toll of playing, and winning, the Memorial Tournament the week before did have an impact on Scheffler that year.
He has also improved his putting significantly since that season. So he is well-placed to shine at Shinnecock and win his fifth major title.
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