Scottie Scheffler targets Open title defence after 78-cut streak ends
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is aiming to bounce back at the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale after experiencing his first missed cut in almost four years.
The 30-year-old failed to make the weekend at the Genesis Scottish Open, ending an astonishing streak of 78 consecutive PGA Tour events in which he advanced.
However, the four-time major winner remains philosophical about the rare setback ahead of his title defence on the English coast.
Focusing on the positives
An early exit in Scotland allowed the American to arrive in Southport two days ahead of his original schedule.
He completed 18 holes at Royal Birkdale on Sunday before playing a further nine holes on both Monday and Tuesday to familiarise himself with the challenging links.
“You never want to have a weekend off, but going into a tournament when you’re defending, there’s always a bit more stuff to do,” Scheffler said.
“Getting some extra rest in a week where there’s some more demands on your time isn’t the worst thing, even though it’s quite frustrating.”
Perspective on failure
Despite his phenomenal recent dominance, the world’s most consistent golfer admitted that narrowly missing out on trophies causes him more distress than an early exit.
“I would say missing a cut is probably the hardest thing, but I don’t think it hurts as much as coming close to winning and finishing second,” he explained.
The reigning champion highlighted his runner-up finish at the Travelers Championship as a significantly more painful experience than a missed weekend.
He is now attempting to become the first player to win back-to-back Open titles since Padraig Harrington achieved the prestigious feat across 2008 and 2009.
Teeing off with LIV rivals
The defending champion will begin his campaign on Thursday alongside LIV Golf League stars Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton.
When questioned about his long-term legacy in the sport, the normally intensely competitive athlete offered a remarkably grounded assessment.
“Legacy and all that stuff was never really something that motivated me,” he admitted.
“At the end of the day, I’m going to live my life, and it’s going to end.”