By Neil Squires
Birkdale, ENGLAND, July 14 – Scottie Scheffler is banking on the extra down time afforded by missing his first cut in nearly four years at last week’s Scottish Open paying dividends in his Open title defence at Royal Birkdale.
The world number one, who won by four strokes at Royal Portrush last year, hopes the unscheduled weekend off will refresh him for the final major of the season which begins on Thursday.
“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 so it wasn’t the worst thing in the world – albeit it was quite frustrating,” said the 30-year-old American.
“I got down here a bit earlier, played 18 on Sunday and played nine holes yesterday and today, so I’m getting used to the golf course – and getting some extra rest in a week where there’s some more demands on your time.
“I feel like I’m at a point in the season where we’ve played a lot of golf and I’ve played a lot of high-level golf for a few years now. I think just towards the end of the season, you get a little tired. I got a couple of days off, reset the mind, reset the body and just kind of got back to feeling even and at peace.
“Going into this tournament, I feel like I know what my ‘Why’ is — why I’m out here playing — and I’m excited to try and defend my title this week.”
Scheffler is bidding to emulate Padraig Harrington — who defended his title at Birkdale in 2008 — as the last man to win back-to-back Opens.
“To be returning the Claret Jug this week is a very, very cool feeling,” he said.
“I’m not the best at reflecting, but I think sometimes when you show up to an event and you’re the defending champ, you’re forced to reflect a little bit just because there’s pictures of you holding the trophy, there’s pictures of my family and I celebrating and everything.
“Those are some really great experiences, and I’m proud of the accomplishments that we’ve been able to make in the game. But the heart’s never satisfied, and we’re always looking for more. That’s also kind of the fun part — the chase.”
(Reporting by Neil Squires; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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