Paul McGinley Questions Scottie Scheffler’s Preparation for The Open

Sky Sports Golf’s Paul McGinley has expressed doubts about Scottie Scheffler’s decision to skip the Genesis Scottish Open ahead of this week’s 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon, despite considering him the favorite to win. Speaking to GolfMagic and other reporters, McGinley emphasized the significance of playing in the Scottish Open to acclimate to links conditions.

Scheffler, the World No.1, opted out of the Scottish Open for the first time since it became part of the PGA Tour in 2021. His previous performances in the event included a T12 finish in 2021, a missed cut in 2022, and a T3 finish in 2023 behind Rory McIlroy. Notably, Scheffler’s appearances at The Open following the Scottish Open have seen him finish T8 in 2021, T21 in 2022, and T23 in 2023.

Skipping the Scottish Open this year, Scheffler cited mental exhaustion following a T41 finish at the US Open, having won the Memorial Tournament the previous week—his sixth PGA Tour victory of the season. Scheffler’s impressive season places him within three wins of the record set by Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh.

After a brief hiatus to recharge, including a family holiday and some practice at Turnberry, Scheffler is now preparing at Royal Troon. However, McGinley voiced concerns about his preparation, noting that nine of the last 13 Open winners played in the Scottish Open the preceding week.

McGinley compared the situation to tennis players preparing for Wimbledon by playing on grass courts, stressing the importance of acclimatizing to links golf. He remarked that even if players don’t win the Scottish Open, participating helps adjust to the unique conditions, such as slower greens and challenging bunkers.

“Is Scottie good enough to win The Open? Absolutely,” McGinley stated. “But if he doesn’t play well this week, he may have to reconsider his preparation. His short game, course management, and ability to handle crosswinds are crucial, but competing at the Scottish Open could have been beneficial.”

McGinley also shared his thoughts on Jon Rahm, mentioning Rahm’s hopes for a resolution between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.