US Open 2026: Scottie Scheffler plays down Grand Slam motivation ahead of bid for missing major at Shinnecock Hills

Scottie Scheffler insists completing the career Grand Slam has never been a motivating factor and that he will not consider it a failure if he does not win the US Open this week.

Scheffler is already a four-time major champion after capturing both the PGA Championship and The Open last season, and this week's event at Shinnecock Hills presents his first opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam

The world No 1 is pre-tournament favourite and has top-three finishes in half of his 12 worldwide starts this season, including a runner-up to Rory McIlroy at The Masters, although is refusing to put pressure on himself to complete the Grand Slam this week.

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"Would it be a dream to win the U.S. Open? Of course, but at the end of the day, the Grand Slam has never been a motivating factor for me," Scheffler said in his pre-tournament press conference. "I always just wanted to be the best version of myself and that got me this far.

"When it comes to this golf tournament, I'm going to step on the first tee and remind myself I've done everything I possibly could to play well. Now it's just a matter of going out there and trying to execute and going back to enjoying the competition, versus feeling like you have to win for some reason."

Scheffler has top-10 finishes in 11 of his last 14 major starts - since the start of 2023 - and has three runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour this year, but remains unconcerned about the expectation to close out the Grand Slam.

"If I finish second this week, it's almost like 'hey, you failed in your first chance to win the career Grand Slam'. Is finishing second a failure?" Scheffler explained.

"Yeah, it can feel that way, but sometimes when you look at a wider view of the sport and where your game's at, second is not always that bad - but man, does it frickin' hurt at the same time.

"If I win this tournament that would be amazing, but then I show up the next week and it's like 'OK, now Scottie's won the Grand Slam, he's won all these golf tournaments. Now where do we go from here?'.

"So no matter what, as a player and as a professional athlete, you're never going to live up to the expectations of people.

"A little bit of the fallacy in our sport is like, if I win the US Open then I'm going to be satisfied. I've won all the tournaments, and my career is essentially over, and I've accomplished everything I could want to accomplish. But I think the goal posts are always just moved further and further."

Scheffler 'close' to best golf despite winless run?

Victory would see Scheffler become just the seventh player in history to win all four majors, following on Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and McIlroy, with the final round in New York also coinciding with his 30th birthday.

Scheffler claimed six worldwide wins last season and made a winning start to 2026 at the American Express, his 20th PGA Tour victory, although has seen his dominant form questioned after being unable to reach the winner's circle since.

"I feel like I've been close most of the year," Scheffler added. "I feel like I just haven't been as sharp as I needed to be. I think the margins in this game are so small. For me to be winning a lot of tournaments, you've got to just be really, really sharp.

"I think statistically I think I'm maybe leading the FedExCup, I think I'm leading the strokes gained statistics, so by no means is it a bad year. Is it up to the play I've had the previous couple of years? Probably not, but it's not far off."

Who will win the US Open? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage from the opening round begins on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: US Open 2026: Scottie Scheffler plays down Grand Slam motivation ahead of bid for missing major at Shinnecock Hills