Scottie Scheffler arrived at Shinnecock Hills one major short of the career Grand Slam, and he made it clear it is not what is driving him. Asked about completing the set at the 2026 U.S. Open, the world number one said the Grand Slam has never been a motivating factor for him, framing this week as another chance to play his best rather than a date with history.
The U.S. Open is the only major Scheffler has not won. He owns the Masters from 2022 and 2024, the 2025 PGA Championship, and the 2025 Open Championship. A win this week at Shinnecock would make him the seventh man to complete the career Grand Slam, joining Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen. We broke down Scheffler’s career Grand Slam bid and 30th birthday timing earlier this week.
May 18, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Scottie Scheffler poses for a photo withJohnny Harris, founder of the Quail Hollow Country Club and the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn ImagesWhat Scottie Scheffler said about the Grand Slam at Shinnecock
In his pre-tournament press conference ahead of Thursday’s first round, Scheffler waved off the idea that the milestone changes his approach. “At the end of the day, the Grand Slam has never been a motivating factor for me,” he said. “I always just wanted to be the best version of myself, and that got me this far.”Sep 29, 2024; Ile Bizard, Quebec, CAN; Scottie Scheffler of Team USA celebrates with the trophy during the ceremony after the final round of The Presidents Cup golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
He went further into how the result will be judged, pushing back on the all-or-nothing framing. “If I finish second this week, it’s almost like, hey, you failed in your first chance to win the career Grand Slam,” Scheffler said. “Is finishing second a failure?”
He also described the moving target that comes with winning so much. The goal posts, in his words, keep getting pushed further and further, so even a U.S. Open title would not be a finish line. It is a familiar message from a player who has spent two years insisting that the process matters more than the trophy count.
Scottie Scheffler ahead of his first attempt at achieving the career grand slam this week:“The grand slam has never been a motivating factor for me. I always just wanted to be the best version of myself, and that got me this far."pic.twitter.com/JRZGbsKUyh
— Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) June 16, 2026Is Scottie Scheffler in form for the 2026 U.S. Open?
Scheffler enters as the clear favorite, around +450 at DraftKings and out near +550 to +560 at FanDuel and Kalshi. Our full Scheffler odds, form, and DFS outlook has the deeper read on Shinnecock. The one soft spot in his profile is the putter. He tied for 12th at the Memorial, a result that reads as a mild disappointment by his standard, and his own self-assessment was blunt. May 3, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Scottie Scheffler plays his tee shot on the 11th hole and Cameron Young watches during the final round of the Cadillac Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images
“I feel like I’ve been close most of the year,” he said. “I feel like I just haven’t been as sharp as I needed to be.” Even so, he was runner-up at the 2022 U.S. Open and has been a fixture near the top of the leaderboard in the championship over the last several years, exactly the kind of ball-striking and patience profile that travels to a firm, windy Shinnecock.
What Scheffler’s stance means for bettors and DFS
The betting takeaway is that nothing about his comments should move a card. Scheffler is the outright favorite and the chalk first-round leader, and he projects as the top daily-fantasy anchor on a course that rewards elite total driving and approach play.
The live variable is wind, not motivation. Thursday is shaping up to be the windiest day of the week, with gusts topping 30 mph and a brutal fescue rough that punishes any drive that leaks off the line. That is a setup that favors precise ball-strikers, which is squarely Scheffler’s strength even with a cooler putter.
For DFS, the soft fairways reported on site early in the week make distance a real edge, so pairing a driving-and-approach anchor like Scheffler with high-floor accuracy plays is the safer build. The wind also widens the range of outcomes, which is the argument for some leverage away from the favorite in larger tournaments.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 U.S. Open and where is it played?
The 2026 U.S. Open runs Thursday, June 18 through Sunday, June 21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. The final round on Sunday falls on Father’s Day, and it is also Scheffler’s 30th birthday.
What are Scottie Scheffler‘s first-round leader odds at the 2026 U.S. Open?
Scheffler is the first-round leader favorite at around +1350, ahead of Rory McIlroy near +1600 to +1900. First-round leader prices move quickly with the weather waves, so confirm a live number before betting.
Who are the six players who have already won the career Grand Slam?
The six men to complete the career Grand Slam are Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy. Scheffler would become the seventh with a U.S. Open win this week.
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