Paul McGinley calls into question Scottie Scheffler's preparation ahead of The Open
But Sky Sports Golf's Paul McGinley still thinks runaway World No.1 Scottie Scheffler will capture his first Open title at Royal Troon.
Sky Sports Golf's Paul McGinley has questioned Scottie Scheffler's decision to skip last week's Genesis Scottish Open despite the runaway World No.1 being his clear pick to etch his name on the famous Claret Jug for a first time this week.
McGinley made his feelings be known to GolfMagic and a number of other reporters following Sky Sports Golf's new partnership with adidas Golf at this week's 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.
Scheffler, 28, chose to last week bypass the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick for the first time in his PGA Tour career.
He had played in the tournament the last three seasons since the DP World Tour's Scottish Open merged with the PGA Tour in 2021.
Scheffler finished T12 on his debut, missed the cut in 2022 and then finished T3 behind winner Rory McIlroy in 2023.
All of those appearances in the Scottish Open came the week before he competed in The Open.
He finished T8 at The Open in 2021, before adding a T21 in 2022 and T23 in 2023.
But there was no place for the Scottish Open on Scheffler's schedule in 2024.
Related: Why did Scottie Scheffler shun the Scottish Open?
Scheffler admitted to being mentally exhausted en route to a T41 at the US Open last month having played - and won - the week before at Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament.
That marked his sixth win of the PGA Tour season, putting him within three more wins of the record set by Tiger Woods (2000) and Vijay Singh (2004).
He also recently smashed one of Woods' all-time OWGR records, which many deemed was unbreakable.
Scheffler has taken some time out of competitive action this month to get himself fresh for The Open.
He went on holiday with his family and friends and then headed over to Turnberry to play some links golf on Sunday before moving on to Troon.
But McGinley admits he would have preferred to have seen Scheffler get the competitive juices flowing early on the links at The Renaissance Club.
Especially in the knowledge that nine of the last 13 Open winners all played in the Scottish Open the week before.
Scroll below for McGinley's comments about Scheffler on the eve of The Open...
"If I was going to pick anyone this week, Scottie Scheffler is the one I would pick," McGinley told GolfMagic, before delivering a huge question mark over his preparation leading into Royal Troon.
"But he's not really got a great Open record, and has he come over here early enough to practice enough?
"He didn't play the Scottish Open last week. You know, 70% of the players who have won The Open the last 13 years played in the Scottish Open. Nine of the last 13 winners played the Scottish.
"Even if you don't win the Scottish Open, just playing it or even playing well there, is key. You get over the jet lag, you get used to the speed of the greens because they're really slow. That's what happened to Rory last week, he putted terribly. Adjusting to the slopes, the moisture, the pot bunkers, getting used to all those sorts of things is vital.
"So, it really surprises me when players don't come over and play the Scottish Open. It's a very, very different discipline than playing PGA Tour golf.
"Look at tennis players when they prepare for Wimbledon. None of them think of starting Wimbledon having just played on hard courts. They all practice on grass, and vice versa, when they play in the US Open, they prepare by competing on hard court surfaces.
"I am really surprised guys don't take the opportunity to play the Scottish Open. Back in the day, Tiger used to spend a week in Ireland playing golf courses before the Scottish Open was staged on links courses."
He added: "Is Scottie good enough to win The Open and is he the best player in the game? Absolutely. But if he doesn't play well this week, he will have to look back at his preparation.
"Can he get it done? Yes of course. Great short game, great course management, avoiding the bunkers is key around here. It's not going to be easy though in these crosswinds, getting up to 25mph. He's good at managing his golf ball, better than anyone else."
McGinley also told GolfMagic that he thinks Jon Rahm is 'really hoping for a deal' between PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
Watch The 152nd Open at Royal Troon from 18th – 21st July, exclusively live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf, and via a NOW subscription
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
