The 12 months’s second main match tees off Thursday at Southern Hills with Scheffler making an attempt to turn into the primary man to get midway to a calendar-year Grand Slam since fellow Texan Jordan Spieth in 2015.

“It’s good to be on a great run,” stated Scheffler. “I actually simply attempt to keep within the second. Targets, expectations, nothing like that modifications for me. I identical to being out right here taking part in golf.”

Scheffler started an astonishing two-month run by successful his first US PGA title in February on the Phoenix Open, then captured his second in March at Bay Hill within the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

After a disappointing share of fifty fifth at The Gamers Championship, Scheffler gained the WGC Match Play Championship and adopted that along with his first main title, taking the inexperienced jacket and the highest rating along with his victory at Augusta Nationwide.

“He’s setting the bar fairly excessive proper now and clearly he’s the man to chase for all of us,” stated US PGA Tour veteran Will Zalatoris. “What he’s doing is borderline Tigeresque. It’s fairly cool to see.”

Tiger Woods, the 15-time main winner who returned final month on the Masters from extreme leg accidents in a February 2021 automobile crash, will play at Southern Hills, the place he gained the 2007 PGA Championship. He examined his stamina for strolling the course in a apply spherical final month.

However Phil Mickelson, who final 12 months gained the PGA at age 50 to turn into the oldest main winner in golf historical past, won’t defend his crown, the PGA of America introduced Friday.

The US left-hander has not performed since his controversial feedback in help of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf sequence had been revealed in February. He apologized for the remarks and stated he wanted a break from golf. He has missed two majors in a 12 months for the primary time since 1993.

Mickelson was certain to face questions on his future on the US PGA Tour, which refused to grant members releases to compete within the LIV Golf opener subsequent month in London.

Scheffler performed a apply spherical earlier this month at Southern Hills.

“It’s a very good check,” Scheffler stated. “It appeared fairly much like what it did earlier than. A variety of sight traces off the tee had been nonetheless very acquainted to me.

“Positively cleared out a variety of timber, however aside from that a lot of the inexperienced complexes are fairly comparable.”

Spieth was the latest winner of the primary two majors in a season on the 2015 Masters and US Open. Earlier than that it was Woods in 2002 with the identical mixture.

A schedule change has the PGA after the Masters now, a double solely three gamers have managed — Sam Snead in 1949, Jack Burke Jr. in 1956 and Jack Nicklaus in 1963 and 1975.

Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele warns that Scheffler might be part of his fellow People.

“He’s very playful, practices actually laborious. You’re all the time going to see Scottie on the market chipping or placing fairly late within the day,” Schauffele stated.

“I’m not stunned he has been successful a lot and taking part in nice. I think about him being very comfy, which is a harmful place for the world primary.”

Spieth eyes profession Slam

4-time main winner Rory McIlroy, whose late Masters cost left him second to Scheffler, threatens for a 3rd PGA crown.

“I received a variety of confidence from that spherical on Sunday. It’s one thing to undoubtedly construct on,” McIlroy stated.

“Every thing feels fairly stable. I really feel like the sport’s in fine condition. It’s a pleasant time to reboot and prepare for the summer season run.”

Spieth, a three-time main champion who gained final month’s PGA Heritage, would full a profession Grand Slam by taking his first main because the 2017 British Open.

“It’s going to be a very agency and quick PGA and I believe it’s going to be one of many greater scoring PGAs we’ve seen,” Spieth stated.

Justin Thomas, the 2017 PGA winner, says Southern Hills will check all sides.

“It’s tough to get the ball across the gap,” he stated. “The individual that does that the very best goes to have the very best probability of successful.”