SOUTHAMPTON, NY – Golf is a funny game. We all know it. You don’t need a reminder from this writer. But like when it does he say
“Golf is such a funny game. A good example this week, if I finish second this week, it’s almost like, Hey, you failed in your first chance to win the career Grand Slam. It’s kind of, is it a failure of the second ending?”
That was Scottie Scheffler, of course. He said this four days ago, sitting inside a white tent in Shinnecock Hills, in front of a camera, broadcasting a specific brand of Scottie perspective to the world. But does he feel the same way now?
Maybe not. We’re in the throes of battle now, made clear by that scream and fist-pump he unleashed on the 14th hole. He thought the tournament was slipping away, but it turned out to be a great birdie. You can bet he’s cooking for the 4-footer he missed on 18 — that would have made him the man — that would have put him one shot closer to the top of the leaderboard. Instead, he is six shots back. Some guys have a punch, but he has the longest arms.
The point of this exercise is that the mood changes as the context changes. It was 336 days ago when he was first asked about the career Grand Slam, just hours after winning the open championship. He laughed it off and reminded us—the people who really care about these things—that he’s one of the few who doesn’t care.
On Tuesday, it felt much the same when he delivered that line about second place and failure — quintessential Scheffler, reminding us to embrace the journey, stop and smell the roses. But he followed it up in a curious way, saying that the second one isn’t always so bad… “But man, does it really hurt at the same time.”
The point where it can hurt is officially here, rising from a low heat to a freaking boil. From the 49th Thursday night to the 11th Friday night to the 2nd Saturday. He may seem destined for the Grand Slam, but a number of people have come so close to it and it seems to be a coin flip if that fate comes true. Technically, Scheffler is new to it. This is his first test in the final match. He knows there will be more. But he also knows how many runner-up finishes Phil Mickelson has at the US Open. He may not know that 13 players have three of four legs, but he does know that one of them is his friend in Dallas. Jordan Spieth, who has been chasing that for almost a decade. Every year research takes on different meanings. Scheffler had the honor of handing Rory McIlroy the green jacket at the 2025 Masters, tears of relief ensued. McIlroy’s ten-year pursuit still drying on his freckled cheeks.
“I think it’s appropriate to understand what’s at stake,” Scheffler said, admitting in the most embarrassing way that he’s finally thought about what could be an epic Scottie Day. The best golfer in the world will wake up on Sunday morning with the new reality that his 20s are officially behind him. Sunday is his 30th birthday. He will spend a few hours with his young children because it is also father’s day and there are many hours before the final mating.
Once the emotions of everything settle into something less fluid, it will take a moment. It could come on the front nine, the 7th hole, the par-3 11th or the closing stretch. It can take 30 seconds, 30 minutes or maybe even longer. He will have a reason to think what everyone else is thinking right now: the crash is possible.
The reason why?
Golf is a funny game.
