Scottie Scheffler missed the cut for the first time since August 2022 this week at the Genesis Scottish Open.
His run of 78 consecutive cuts came to an end after rounds of 68 and 2 at The Renaissance Club on Scotland’s east coast.
If the 30-year-old is honest with himself, that missed cut has been coming for quite some time.
Scottie Scheffler has been nowhere near his best on the PGA Tour this season, and his performance at the Scottish Open was emblematic of his season as a whole.
Despite his missed cut, Scheffler confirmed that he will return to the Scottish Open next year.
In some ways, the world number one might just be keen to get this season over and done with.
It is worth noting that he is still sitting at the top of the FedEx Cup points list and he does have one win and nine top-5 finishes to his name in 15 events so far.
However, there is no doubt that he will be slightly concerned about his recent form.
Scottie Scheffler’s missed cut at the Scottish Open was just what he needed
While Scheffler obviously wouldn’t have wanted to miss the cut in Scotland, it may end up being a blessing in disguise for him.
Firstly, he will now have more preparation time at Royal Birkdale ahead of The Open Championship – a course he has never played before.
That could prove to be absolutely crucial for Scheffler.
Links courses are notoriously difficult to become familiar with and an extra two days of prep work could be just what the Texan needs ahead of his title defence.
Secondly, Scheffler missing the cut means he will now be under no illusions that he needs to change something.
His swing is nowhere near as in sync as it was over the past three or four seasons, but his superb results this year have masked that.
Scheffler will now be fully aware that he needs to work on the mechanics of his golf swing ahead of The Open.
He has been telling everyone how close he is to his best over the past few months, but that simply hasn’t been the case.
His missed cut at the Scottish Open could well be the wake-up call that he desperately needed.
Scottie Scheffler’s cut streak burden lifted
Finally, Scheffler now doesn’t have the weight of the cut streak on his shoulders.
Heading into the Scottish Open, the world number one was 64 short of Tiger Woods’ consecutive cuts record.
He would never admit it, but that must have been weighing heavily on him.
Now Scottie Scheffler is completely free of that burden and he can go about his business with only one thing in mind – winning golf tournaments.
Perhaps the 20-time PGA Tour winner became too wrapped up in playing conservative golf during the first two rounds of tournaments in order to ensure that he made the weekend.
His missed cut in Scotland may well have released the shackles, and it should surprise nobody if he goes on to win a couple of tournaments before the end of the season.
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