NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Quietly, there’s a significant milestone taking place at this week’s PGA Championship.
Adam Scott is playing in his 99th consecutive major championship. He’s qualified to play in next month’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock, which would be his 100th.
The only player to compete in 100 or more consecutive major championships is Jack Nicklaus, who made a 36-year run of 146 consecutive starts.
“I don’t know what to make of it,” the 45-year-old Scott said. “I mean, part of me doesn’t want to be the guy yet who just has all these other things that aren’t based around winning events. I would rather win some stuff, and let’s celebrate winning the U.S. Open than just playing in it.
“I feel like that, but I can give myself a pat on the back for hanging in there and playing all these events. I think there’s some luck in it, but I think I’ve had generally great advice around me from a physical and training standpoint that’s kept me healthy and pretty much injury free.’’
Scott has won one major, the 2013 Masters, which has him exempt into the field for life. But because his exemption to the other majors for winning the Masters expired after five years, Scott has needed to qualify for them — usually meaning staying inside the top 50 in the world rankings.
His impressive streak began at the 2001 British Open, which was won by David Duval, who’s been retired for years. Scott tied for 47th that week, hardly knowing where the rest of his career was going from there.
For context, Tiger Woods hasn’t even played in 100 majors. Phil Mickelson has played in more than 100, but never played more than 52 in a row. Sergio Garcia played in 82 majors in a row before missing the 2020 Masters due to COVID-19.
“It’s not only maintaining your health but maintaining that level of play,” Jordan Spieth, who’s played 51 in a row, said of Scott’s streak. “What a testament to being healthy, doing things the right way, and then being that good for that long.”
Scottie Scheffler, despite his No. 1 world ranking, is tired of being a bridesmaid. He enters this week’s PGA having finished runner-up in his last three starts — the Masters, RBC Heritage and Cadillac Championship.
“I think it was last week my wife [Meredith] was like, ‘Hey, Scottie, you’re like the first guy in PGA Tour history to have three solo runner-ups in a row,’ ” Scheffler said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s probably because the guy that was playing that good figured out a way to win one of those. He didn’t come second in all three.’ ”
“A little bit of it is bittersweet,’’ Scheffler went on. “Finishing second in a golf tournament is not bad — especially in the way I did it in a couple of them [where] I was spotting guys so many strokes going into the weekend, mainly the Masters.”
Scheffler has had an issue with slow starts in opening rounds this season, which is something to keep an eye out for Thursday.
“Finishing second hurts, but I think when you reflect and you’re looking at things to work on, there’s a lot less to clean up when you’re finishing second than there is when you’re finishing 30th,” he said.
Rory McIlroy, who ended his nine-hole practice round after three holes Tuesday because of a blister on the pinky toe of his right foot, played a full nine Wednesday, alongside good friend Shane Lowry.
McIlroy’s plan was to wear a shoe that’s a half-size larger than his usual size to relieve the pressure from the blister.
Each of the past 10 PGA Championship winners was American, dating back to Jimmy Walker’s win in 2016 at Baltusrol. … The winners of 11 of the past 12 PGA Championships were ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the world at some point before or after their PGA title. … Each of the past nine PGA Championships was won by a player who has multiple majors on his résumé.
The players with the most cumulative strokes under par for the past four majors entering the week are Scheffler at 35 under par, Xander Schauffele at 13 under and McIlroy at 12 under.