Scottie Scheffler

Almost two decades have passed since the player ranked the world’s best lifted the Claret Jug, so perhaps it is little wonder Scottie Scheffler is not paying too much attention to his status heading into The 153rd Open.

Scheffler is approaching 150 weeks at the summit, testament to his incredible consistency in recent years, but that is no guarantee of success amid the ever-changing conditions of links golf.

Tiger Woods’ victory at Royal Liverpool in 2006 was the last time a world No.1 triumphed at The Open and his compatriot is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead as he bids to land his second major of the year.

His PGA Championship victory in May was an exhibition of his class, three consecutive sub-70 rounds setting him on his way to a five-stroke victory.

Scheffler has also won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and the Memorial Tournament in 2025 and arrives in Royal Portrush, in theory at least, as the man to beat.

But that is firmly at the back of the American’s mind as he bids to build on his career-best Open performance last year, when he finished tied for seventh.

“I could not care any less about being the favourite or not being the favourite,” he said.

“We all start even par and the tournament starts on Thursday. That's pretty much all that matters.

“In terms of links golf, I love the style of golf. It’s really fun and you have to be creative. You have to hit a lot of really good shots. There's a challenge to it, but it's a lot of fun.

“I think it fits my strengths because I like to do things very creatively, and I think out here you kind of have to. I think each year we come over, I start learning a bit more and more.

“We'll see how the weather turns out this week. Weather has a pretty dramatic effect on how the golf course is going to play.

“You can play your practice rounds and prepare, but ultimately when you step on the tee on Thursday, whatever the weather presents is going to be probably the strongest part of the test.”

Scheffler’s first experience of links golf did not come until he had already turned professional and he is constantly figuring out methods to tackle a challenge so different to what he grew up accustomed to in the USA.

And even the world’s best is not above picking the brains of his competitors with a touch more local knowledge as he bids to acclimatise.

“I like to ask guys questions, I feel like I can learn a lot from the players out here,” he said.

“There's a lot of talent on Tour. For instance, playing with Bob (MacIntyre) last week at the Scottish Open, I got to learn a lot.

"Playing with Adam Scott as well, he's had a great career out here, and I feel like I can learn a lot from him.

“There's a time and place to compete, but at the end of the day, we're spending 5, 5-1/2 hours out there, and sometimes we can have a little bit of time to chat.

“I had some good chats with Bob last week about links golf, and I feel like I learned a little bit from him as well.”

The relentless nature of professional golf means Scheffler never has too long to dwell on his successes or relative failures.

He even admitted that, on occasions, ‘the feeling of winning only lasts a few seconds’ before ‘the show goes on’.

But victory here, in a Championship he grew up watching, would be one to savour.

“I always liked being able to wake up early in the mornings and turn on the TV before my parents would get up," he said.

“My dad really didn't like us watching TV first thing in the morning, but Open week at home, if I was up early, I would just sneak downstairs and turn on the TV.

“If I was 10, 12 years old going downstairs and turning on cartoons, he'd probably make me turn it off, but The Open was something we could watch together, and he was an early riser as well.

“It was always really nice, relaxing time getting to watch The Open and just being curious and hoping one day I could make it over and play.”