Scheffler Looks to Defend Title at the Memorial Tournament
Scottie Scheffler enters the Memorial Tournament as the defending champion, but remains humble as he prepares for Thursday’s opening round in Dublin, Ohio.
Scheffler, 28, is in the midst of another impressive season. In 11 tournaments, he has achieved two victories and has finished in the top ten on eight occasions.“When you show up at an event, everyone is at par,” Scheffler told reporters on Wednesday. “I get asked a lot, ‘What’s it like defending this week?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, what does that get me? Nothing.’ I have some experience on the course, which can be helpful, but at the end of the day, you start at par, and I want to be in contention on Sunday. You definitely shouldn’t come in too confident or discouraged.”
Scottie Scheffler
- Won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and the PGA Championship
- Finished T2 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Finished fourth at the Masters Tournament
- Was T4 last week at the Charles Schwab Challenge
- T8 at the RBC Heritage last month
The Memorial, founded by Jack Nicklaus at his Muirfield Village Golf Club, is Scheffler’s third consecutive tournament. The golfer claims to feel “sufficiently rested.”
Scheffler emphasizes that he doesn’t arrive at any event with the predetermined idea of winning. Last year, he edged out Collin Morikawa by one stroke, finishing at 8 under par to win the Memorial.“It’s my third week in a row, but I rested well at the beginning. Last week, after the PGA, I rested well on Monday and Tuesday, and I got off to a good start at the Colonial. I had my day off, came here, played nine holes yesterday, played nine holes this morning, so I feel ready for the week.”
Scottie Scheffler
“If you show up with expectations that are too low, without feeling that your game is in a good moment, you probably won’t make many good shots. And if you show up feeling too good about yourself, I think it can affect your concentration. You have to be very focused on what you are doing.”
Scottie Scheffler
Even though the players are preparing for an event with a $20 million prize, Scheffler also talked about the Tour Championship in September. The PGA Tour announced on Tuesday that it will eliminate the staggered scoring start that rewarded the leaders in FedEx Cup points with a more favorable starting score, a change that Scheffler had defended.
Scheffler won his first Tour Championship last season.“I think when you analyze a golf tournament, the best way to identify the best player throughout the tournament is through a 72-hole stroke play on a really good golf course. I think when you see a good test of golf and you have to compete for four days, that’s the best way to crown the best winner of that week.”
Scottie Scheffler
