Golf waited 25 years for another career grand slam winner but the US Open will be the second-successive major at which a new member has a chance to be inaugurated.
Jordan Spieth’s shot at joining Rory McIlroy in the elite group of six golfers to have achieved the feat at last month’s US PGA Championship was an outside bet considering his form.
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But Scottie Scheffler stepping up at Shinnecock Hills seems far more likely.
The world number one has the knack of bringing his best to the big events as his joint-14th at Aronimink last month was the first time he had not registered at least a top 10 in his last seven majors.
Golf’s Mr Consistent has four top-seven US Open finishes in his last five outings at an event regarded as the toughest test in golf.
In 12 tour starts this season he has only twice finished worse than 14th and even then he was still no lower than 24th.
Those results, however, mask the fact Scheffler’s game is short of his best form and he knows he has some work to do before Thursday’s start.
After finishing joint-12th at the Memorial Tournament, the American was asked what the issues were.
“Just little things, little mistakes that I don’t typically make, I felt like I was making,” said Scheffler, who could become the third-fastest to the career grand slam behind the game’s two greatest players Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
“So a few things to clean up in the off week, but overall, I feel pretty comfortable with where my game’s at.”
McIlroy also has some fine-tuning to do with his driving, which has been an issue all year even though he still managed to successfully defend his Masters title in April.
The Northern Irishman has spent the week at his new Wentworth home but will fly back to the States on Saturday to ramp up preparations after a Shinnecock scouting trip last week.
“My iron play was better, wedge play was good. Off the tee still wasn’t where I want it to be,” he said after his joint-12th finish at the Memorial.
“Thankfully the fairways at Shinnecock are a little wider but I still need to work on that. I need to work on how I’m hitting it off the tee.”
McIlroy’s major performances – two Masters victories and a couple of joint-seventh places – in his last six events point to him peaking at the right time as his six regular tour events have been underwhelming.
But in terms of consistency, even he cannot match Adam Scott, who is set to feature in his 100th consecutive major. Nicklaus – 146 in a row – is the only other to reach three figures.
“I would rather win some stuff, so let’s celebrate winning the US Open than just playing in it,” said the Australian.
“I can give myself a pat on the back for hanging in there and playing all these events. I think there’s some luck in it.”
Last year he was in the final group at Oakmont, having finished the third round one off the lead, but played his last 11 holes on a near-waterlogged course in seven over and wished he had lodged an objection.
“I feel in the moment I was like, ‘I’m not going to be the guy complaining’, but looking back on it, of course, I think I should have,” said the mild-mannered 45-year-old.
“Maybe not complain but spoken up after my shot at 11 (when hitting through casual water his wedge flew well over the green from where he made double bogey).”