CROMWELL, Conn. — Scottie Scheffler will be relying heavily on caddie Ted Scott this week at TPC River Highlands, site of the Travelers Championship.
Scheffler doesn’t need much help, having already won five times this season, but after a “disappointing” U.S. Open in which he finished tied for 41st, he comes to New England looking to bounce back in the season-ending signature event.
“This golf course is [Scott] “He’s had a lot of success, so if there was a difference of opinion, I’d probably lean a little more to him than to myself, because I haven’t had any particular success on this golf course,” Scheffler said Wednesday.
“In other tournaments, it might be about what you feel and what you think, but here, he’s really in control on this golf course.”
Scott played for Bubba Watson before helping Scheffler win two green jackets at Augusta National. Watson, like current world No. 1 Scheffler, has won two Masters tournaments in three years. In addition, Scott has helped Watson win three times at TPC River Highlands, site of this week’s Travelers Championship. Watson’s first victory on the course came in 2010, when the left-hander defeated Scott Verplank and Corey Pavin in a playoff.
Five years later, Watson won again, beating Paul Casey in a two-hole playoff, and then in 2018 he won by three strokes in a much easier victory than his previous two wins.
Scheffler’s best result at TPC River Highlands was a tie for fourth a year ago. He shot 7-under 63 on Thursday and Saturday, but an even-par 70 on Friday wasn’t enough to threaten Keegan Bradley, who won at 23 under.
Prior to that, Scheffler tied for 13th in 2022 and tied for 47th in 2021 after missing the cut in his debut in 2020. He’s clearly had success on this golf course and knows how to play it, but he’s been “mentally fatigued” the past few weeks and is relying on loop shots to hit certain targets and shots.
“Whatever he says, it makes sense in my mind because he’s had success, he’s got a track record, he knows where to throw the ball and where not to throw it,” Scheffler further explained.
“Especially when it comes to a lot of the course management stuff, like what club to pick off the tee and what area to play in, he’s seen Bubba win here so many times so he knows exactly how to get there.”
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
