Scottie Scheffler prepares to defend PGA Championship title amid near-miss criticism
Scottie Scheffler has revealed that even his wife has started teasing him about his unusual run of near-misses as he prepares to defend his PGA Championship title this week, reports BritPanorama.
The 29-year-old star arrives at Aronimink Golf Club as the world’s top-ranked player and one of the leading contenders for the second major of the year. Yet despite producing some of the most consistent golf on the planet, Scheffler heads into the tournament after finishing runner-up in three consecutive PGA Tour events.
This remarkable streak became such a talking point that his wife, Meredith Scheffler, could not resist making a pointed observation. “I think it was last week my wife was like, ‘Hey, Scottie, you’re like the first guy in PGA Tour history to have three solo runner-ups in a row,'” Scheffler told reporters.
The American golfer then responded with a brutally honest assessment of his own form. “I’m like, yeah, it’s probably because the guy that was playing that good figured out a way to win one of those. He didn’t come second in all three.”
Scheffler’s run of second-place finishes came at the Masters Tournament, the RBC Heritage, and the Cadillac Championship. At Augusta, he mounted a strong weekend charge with rounds of 65 and 68 but ultimately finished one shot behind Rory McIlroy. He then lost in a playoff to Matt Fitzpatrick at Hilton Head before finishing second again behind Cameron Young.
For most players, such consistency would be cause for celebration. Scheffler has earned more than $10.5 million this season and recorded six top-10 finishes in just nine starts. Even so, the American admitted the run has left him with mixed emotions. “A little bit of it is bittersweet,” he said. “Finishing second in a golf tournament is not bad. You know you’re playing good golf, and you’d love to get some wins.”
Scheffler also pointed out that there are far fewer technical issues to address when finishing near the top of the leaderboard. “There’s a lot less to clean up when you’re finishing second than there is when you’re finishing 30th,” he added.
The defending champion will begin his title defense as one of the bookmakers’ favourites, alongside McIlroy, who arrives fresh from another Masters triumph. McIlroy suffered an injury scare earlier this week after aggravating a blister on his right little toe but has insisted he expects to be fit for the opening round.
With the world’s two best players both in strong form, anticipation is building for another major showdown. And if Scheffler can turn his recent second places into victory, his wife may soon have to find a new joke.
