Scottie Scheffler will be out there at Royal Birkdale to defend his Open title. But ahead of the year's final major, the World No. 1 admitted that being golf's biggest star comes with a cost.

For Scheffler, that burden has little to do with competition. Instead, it's something he encounters every time he steps onto a golf course.

“There’s just a lot of noise all the time at golf tournaments,” Scheffler said. “I think, just being in the spotlight all the time puts a burden on a player in this day and age. Everything is being recorded. When [someone] says hello to you, they’ve got their cell phone out. Like, you’re walking on eggshells a little bit, and that can drain people.”

The World No. 1 explained that the rise of social media means every move of a pro golfer is under scrutiny, creating added pressure for players who find themselves constantly in the spotlight.

On top of that, Scheffler is a fan favorite because of his calm and humble disposition, which draws a lot of attention. However, the 20-time PGA Tour winner believes he is nowhere near perfection.

“I’m very far from a perfect person, and you know — I’m trying to find the right words, but I think just sometimes it can be hard when you’re being recorded all the time,” he added in a video shared by the PGA Tour.

By Scheffler’s standards, this has been a disappointing season. Just one win and a series of runner-up finishes sum up his year.

As questions about his form continued to follow him throughout the season, Scheffler took a far more measured approach than he did after last year's Open Championship victory.

Scottie Scheffler on the media’s repetitive questions

The contrast was noticeable from last year. After winning the Open, Scheffler went into a lengthy discussion about legacy and the meaning of success.

This time, however, the World No. 1 revealed that fatigue played a role in those comments and chose to keep his answers brief rather than risk going "off the rails" again.

“I’ve played some good golf. So, like, what’s the point? If I win this week and I don’t win the next week, you’re going to be asking the same questions. I don’t want to start rambling again because that’s what I did last year, and we got a little bit off the rails. So I might stop it there,” said Scheffler at the Open, as reported by GolfMagic.

Referencing the widely discussed comments he made after last year's Open triumph, Scheffler noted that questions about his form have continued to dominate press conferences since his last victory at The American Express in January.

It’s all about competition and not legacy for the World No. 1, who will look to turn his season around with a win at Royal Birkdale.

What are your thoughts on Scheffler’s comments about the mental toll of golf? Share them in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav