NAPPA, Calif. – World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said Wednesday that things have been different this year after he was preparing to enter the 2023 Ryder Cup, with the United States losing to host Europe, “not as good as it should have been.”
“When I looked back at the ’23 Cup, I thought I was half and half, lost two games, so I thought I got out of there and didn’t win a game, which was hurt,” Scheffler said. “I think I might be more sharp in that game. It was a learning experience for me.”
“It’s sucking,” American teammate Collin Morikawa said of Roma’s loss. “It sat with you a little bit.”
This time, Scheftler includes the Procore Championship (he will play with Morikawa and play with eight other members of the U.S. team here), part of his preparation for the Ryder Cup, which will take place from September 26-28. The four-time major champion said that even though some team members had a scout trip ahead of the 2023 game, there was nothing like staying sharper by playing competitive golf.
“It’s unusual for me to take four to five weeks off before the Masters or the U.S. Open,” Schaffler said. “So there’s no reason I should go into the Ryder Cup.”
Schaffler said once the open championship ended in July, he began to think about and prepare for the Bethpage Black game, praising Captain Keegan Bradley for the work he did to organize and inspire the team’s work.
“You can practice and do everything you can at home, but it’s different to be able to play and prepare for the game,” Scheffler said. “Everyone is happy to be here. …I feel like going to this year’s Ryder Cup, I’m going to be as prepared as possible and then go out and play.”
While Scheffler may be the best player in the world right now, his role in the team is not as big as people expect. He said he did not consider his special status, except to be prepared and offer points for his team.
Bradley praised Scheffler’s selfless approach and the fact that he did not shy away from the big moments.
“I think he hoped it came down to singles,” Bradley said of Schefler. “I bet he liked it. The kind of thing that separates Scotty from the rest of the people.”
