Magnificent seven? Scheffler plays down career slam
Yet after his magisterial British Open win at Royal Portrush earned him the third leg of the slam on Sunday, the American superstar was quick to brush aside all the talk of a potential date with destiny at the Shinnecock Hills course on Long Island, New York next June.
In April, there was much hoopla as Rory McIlroy became the sixth member of the career slam club when he joined Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods with his emotional Augusta triumph as the only men in the modern era to complete the Masters, US Open, British Open and PGA set.
The greatest walk in golf. pic.twitter.com/u1tlgmHC6F— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2025
The Northern Irishman was the first new member of that club for 25 years, but just a year later, Scheffler is widely fancied to be the next, such is his current pre-eminence in the game.
Asked how he'd feel about a career slam before turning 30, though, Scheffler didn't really want to address the thought on Sunday.
"I mean, it would obviously be very cool, but that's not what motivates me. I'm just trying to get the most out of myself, looking forward to the challenge of continuing to play professional golf, and every week is different," he shrugged.
"This week, I was the best player, but the beauty is, we gotta tee up in Memphis again in a couple weeks (in a PGA event), and we start all over back at even par.
"It's one of those funny things that since Rory accomplished that this year, it's on the front of everybody's mind, just because it is such an historic accomplishment in the game of golf.
"What a tremendous thing for Rory to be able to accomplish. To win all four major championships is pretty dang special, it's for sure a career achievement.
"But I don't focus too much on that stuff. When this season ends after the Ryder Cup for me, I'll get home, assess where my game's at and things I can improve on and then kind of go from there.
"I don't think about winning tournaments. I just look at the body of work I have and just think about ways to improve."
Once again, the most striking thing after Scheffler's four-stroke win at Portrush was his keenness to play down the magnitude of what he's achieving when his main priorities, as he once again reminded everyone, are "my faith, my family and golf is third in that order."
COULD SCHEFFLER JOIN THE CAREER GRAND SLAM CLUB?
Gene Sarazen (14 years to complete the 'slam' between 1922-35)
Ben Hogan (8 years - 1946 to 1953)
Gary Player (7 years - 1959-1965)
Jack Nicklaus (5 years - 1962-1966)
Tiger Woods (4 years - 1997-2000)
Rory McIlroy (15 years - 2011-2025)
Scottie Scheffler (5 years? 2022-2026?)
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