Scottie Scheffler Shifts Open Championship Strategy with Scottish Open Return After Trump Turnberry Plan Falls Short

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler has announced a pivotal change in his preparation for the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, confirming his return to the Genesis Scottish Open from July 10-13 at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. The decision comes after his 2024 strategy of skipping the event for a relaxed practice week, including rounds at Donald Trump’s Turnberry course, failed to deliver, leaving him eight shots behind champion Xander Schauffele at Royal Troon. Scheffler’s recommitment to the Scottish Open signals a renewed focus on mastering links golf, a challenge that has so far eluded the three-time major champion as he chases a career Grand Slam.

Last year, Scheffler opted for a low-key approach, joining friend Sam Burns to play various Scottish links courses, including Trump’s Ailsa Course at Turnberry, ranked among the world’s elite. Despite the course’s pristine condition, praised by Scheffler and Burns as ideal for Open preparation, the strategy backfired. Scheffler’s T7 finish at the 2024 Open was respectable but fell short of his lofty standards, marking his best result in four appearances at the championship. “I’m looking forward to getting back to the Genesis Scottish Open next month,” Scheffler said in a statement. “It’s an event and a course I enjoy playing, given we only get to play links golf a couple of times a year.” His decision reflects a determination to tackle the unique demands of links golf—firm fairways, unpredictable winds, and fast greens—that have yet to yield a victory on UK soil.

The Scottish Open, co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, is a critical warm-up for The Open, offering a competitive field and authentic links conditions. Scheffler’s history at the event is mixed: a missed cut in 2022 but a strong T3 in 2023. This year’s field is stacked, with seven of the top-10 ranked players, including Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Ludvig Åberg, and Sepp Straka, setting the stage for a fierce test. Scheffler’s return is strategic, leveraging the tournament’s proximity to Royal Portrush, where Shane Lowry claimed the Claret Jug in 2019, to fine-tune his game. His recent dominance—winning the PGA Championship and Memorial Tournament in 2025—makes him a favorite, but links golf remains his “final frontier.”

Scheffler’s 2024 Turnberry visit, hosted by Trump, stirred buzz due to the course’s controversial absence from The Open rotation since Trump’s 2014 purchase. The R&A, citing security and protest concerns, has no plans to return, despite endorsements from Scheffler, Burns, John Daly, and Gary Player, who called Turnberry a “paradise of links golf.” Fans on X echoed the sentiment, with comments like “Best course in the rota, easily,” but the R&A’s stance remains firm. Scheffler’s choice to pivot to a competitive setting like the Scottish Open suggests a pragmatic shift, prioritizing performance over sentiment after last year’s preparation fell flat.

The move comes amid a stellar 2025 for Scheffler, who secured his third major at the PGA Championship and defended his Memorial title, joining Tiger Woods as a back-to-back winner at Muirfield Village. Yet, his U.S. Open performance at Pinehurst (T41) exposed vulnerabilities, prompting reflection on major prep. “I’ll take a harder look at my prep for the majors,” he noted after Pinehurst, a lesson now evident in his Scottish Open commitment. With the U.S. Open at Oakmont looming (June 12-15), where he’s favored at +350 odds, Scheffler’s focus on links preparation could also bolster his Grand Slam bid.

The golf world is abuzz with anticipation. Scheffler’s rivals, including McIlroy, who seeks to end his major drought, and defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, will test his mettle in Scotland. Fans on X are hyping the showdown, with one post stating, “Scheffler’s all-in for the Claret Jug—Scottish Open is the perfect stage.” As Scheffler aims to conquer links golf, his strategic shift could redefine his legacy, proving whether diligence over a relaxed Trump-backed plan will finally unlock his first Open Championship triumph.