The old joke continues to be told by the players at this weekend’s U.S. Open, which begins Thursday morning at Pinehurst No. 2.
What’s the best way to stop Scottie Scheffler (pictured practicing at No. 2) from winning?
The much-repeated answer: have him arrested by the sheriff, or any other law enforcement officer lining the last dozen or so miles N.C. 211 from U.S. 74 to the Pinehurst Resort.
After getting arrested outside Valhalla before the first round, Scheffler didn’t win the PGA Championship, though he did shoot 67 an hour or so after the police took his mug shot and went on to tie for eighth. But he’s won five times already in 2024, including the Masters.
Or maybe the law of averages can stop him? Though he dominated golf for much of two decades, Tiger Woods has won only 15 pro majors.
Scheffler won last weekend’s Memorial despite making triple-bogey Saturday on the ninth hole and shooting 74 on Sunday.
“The fact that the only thing that took him from winning a golf tournament was going into a jail cell for an hour,” said Rory McIlroy, drawing laughter from a media room gathering.
Scheffler, the game’s undeniable top player, is again the player to beat — this week on the slick, turtleback greens at No. 2.
“I think just the relentlessness. Look, a lot of stuff went on in his life, as well. They’ve just had a new child. He’s been through some struggles in his game, particularly the putter that he’s been able to turn around, as well.”
Bryson DeChambeau, known for his tinkering with his golf swing using his knowledge of physics, finds no obvious flaws in Scheffler’s game.
“From my perspective, he’s got full control of his golf swing,” said DeChambeau, who finished second in the PGA Championship. “He’s figured out a lot of his putting. He plays some incredibly strategic golf from what I can tell. He doesn’t go too crazy. He just hits the right shots at the right time.
“He’s really in control of the environment, not only his environment but the conditions on the golf course. He knows what the golf ball is going to do. He knows how to react accordingly. When things go right, he’s able to right the ship pretty quickly. That’s just a recipe for success, and he’s been able to do it longer than anyone has for a long time.”
Pinehurst No. 2, host of the Open for the fourth time in the past 25 years, has drawn praise from the dozen or so players interviewed in the media center prior to the tournament.
“Looking forward to a tough test of golf out here,” said DeChambeau. “Pinehurst is no joke. This is a ball striker’s paradise. You have to hit it in the middle of the greens. And this is a Boo Weekley quote, but the center of the green never moves, so I’ll try to focus on that this week.
Your putting and wedging has to be pristine in order to compete at this major championship and at this venue. If I get my irons in a place where I’m hitting it in the middle of the greens and just playing boring golf, that’s the goal forme this week is try to play as boring a golf as possible.”
Viktor Hovland, who had been to Pinehurst No. 2 only once prior to arriving Monday, also praised Scheffler and the course. But he also mentioned the unpredictability that the wire grass-filled waste areas bring into play.
“There is some luck involved in missing the fairways here,” said Hovland, who has top 10 finished in each of the four major championships since turning pro in 2019. ” Sometimes you might have a good lie, and sometimes it’s just a hack-out.
But I think just visually it looks really cool off the tee. I’m just a big fan of greens that are raised up and rolls off on the sides. I think that’s kind of how golf courses should be designed. I just think it’s just the best way possible to design greens.”
Scheffler, who has won 11 PGA Tour events, including two Masters, in the past 28 months, said he’s trying to stay grounded and enjoy the current success. Each of Scheffler’s five 2024 victories — Masters, Arnold Palmer, Heritage and Players Championship and Memorial — were in premier events filled with the game’s top players.
In 13 events in 2024, he has 12 top 10 finishes. His worst was a tie for 17th in January.
“I try not to overthink things, I try to live one moment at a time and soak it all up because you never know how long it’s going to last,” he said. “Just try and soak up the good times when you can and fight through the bad.”
Former Wake Forest star Webb Simpson has fought through recent struggles to earn a berth in the tournament through qualifying. The Raleigh native, whose family has a home at Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst, will be a sentimental favorite with locals.
Simpson said Scheffler’s dominance has become the norm on the PGA Tour.
“Yeah, it’s probably what happened the early days with Tiger,” Simpson said. “You kind of get used to it, so it becomes less of a big deal. It’s almost like an afterthought — ‘Scottie won again this week.’
“I think what people don’t talk about enough is, like, his attitude, the way he thinks. He makes less mistakes than everyone else.”
Winner of the 2012 U.S. Open, Simpson has lost his full exemption into PGA Tour events. He advanced from final qualifying for the Open at Duke University Golf Club. Spencer Oxendine of N.C. State lost a playoff for one of the two last spots at Duke, but as a top alternate, played a practice round Wednesday at No. 2.
“I think having not been in the majors, the last few majors, I’m definitely more appreciative to be here,” Simpson told reporters. “Kind of more excited to be here, compete against the best players. I think all of us golfers would agree, all we want is to play against the best players in the world in the same week. I have a chance this week.”
Play begins Thursday at 6:45 a.m. from the No. 1 and No. 10 tees. Former Wake Forest star Will Zalatoris will begin with Tiger Woods and Matthew Fitzpatrick on No. 10 at 7:29 in a high-profile threesome destined for extensive airtime on USA Network.
