Scottie Scheffler insists he will be ‘fighting like heck’ to defend this title at The Open after being left ‘frustrated’ by his multiple near-misses on the PGA Tour this season.
Scheffler headlines the Genesis Scottish Open this week at The Renaissance Club ahead of the final men's major of the year, where the world No 1 will look to become the first back-to-back winner of The Open since Padraig Harrington.
The four-time major champion made a winning start to his PGA Tour season at The American Express but hasn't reached the winner's circle since, posting four runner-up finishes and three further top-fours since January.
Scheffler fell short in his first attempt to complete the career Grand Slam last month at the US Open, with the 30-year-old finishing second a week later at the Travelers Championship and insisting he is close to finding another victory.
"I feel like I get that question every single week - I haven't had a good answer yet," Scheffler admitted in his pre-tournament press conference. "I think I've been really close to winning some tournaments and that can be frustrating.
"At the same time, I've had some good results - a fourth and a second are not bad results by any means. Margins in golf are really small and I just keep trying to do my best.
"I feel like no matter how the season goes, there's always shots I wish I could have back. There's always tournaments I feel like I should have won and I didn't. That's just part of the game.
"You've got to ride with it, the highs and lows. Like I said last year at The Open: It's not a satisfying venture playing professional golf, so try to take the good with the bad."
Scheffler claimed a four-shot win over Harris English last year in The Open at Royal Portrush - his second major of the season, a fourth in as many years and the third leg of the career Grand Slam.
The American will have to hand the Claret Jug back next Tuesday ahead of playing in the Heroes Classic, a new team scramble event, with Scheffler already looking ahead to challenging for more major success rather than dwell on past success.
"I don't really sit around too much and think about the past, to be honest with you," Scheffler added. "I feel like I'm in the middle of my career and probably the end of my career is more a time to reflect.
"Right now, I'm just focused on what I need to do. Maybe I should sit and enjoy things more, but that's just not my nature - my wife is better at that than me.
"One thing I will say is that I was surprised how much I enjoyed the Claret Jug. I always understood the history and the significance, you see the names on there and how far is goes back. It's the perfect size trophy - not too big, not too small - and you get to drink out of it, that's an added bonus.
"It was something that is very special to me. It will be very tough to hand it back on Tuesday next week, but I'll be fighting like heck to get it back on Sunday."
Who will win the Genesis Scottish Open? Watch throughout the week live on Your Site. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 8.30am on Your Site Golf. or .
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