Scottie Scheffler Is Playing From Behind and the PGA Tour Noticed

Okay, here we go. We're staring down the final signature event of the PGA Tour season, folks, and I don't know about you, but I'm absolutely buzzing. Players are fresh off a major and heading straight to Cromwell, Connecticut, for the 2026 Travelers Championship. Get this: the Tour has seen a wild run of 15 unique winners in a row in these signature events, stretching all the way back to the start of the 2025 season. Think about that for a second! And while defending champ Keegan Bradley has two wins at this very event, our guy Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, is looking to bounce back in a big way. This tournament has a history of rewarding guys who've conquered it before, so Scheffler's got his work cut out for him if he wants to add his name to that list.

Scheffler's Struggle: Just One Win in 2026?

Seriously, can you believe Scottie Scheffler, a four-time major champion, has just one victory so far in 2026? It's wild, right? He picked up that lone win at The American Express, and since then, it’s been close but no cigar. Last week at Shinnecock Hills, he was eyeing that career grand slam. He had a look at it, but he just couldn't apply the pressure needed on eventual champion Wyndham Clark. And Scottie himself is feeling it. He pointed out the razor-thin margins in his game, saying he feels like he's playing from behind a lot more this season. And frankly, the numbers back him up! But don't you dare write him off. This isn't Scheffler's first rodeo bouncing back after a major. Remember how he went out and won at Hilton Head the week after taking home the 2024 Masters? Major

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championship hangover? Not for this guy, not typically. He’s got that 9/2 odds on DraftKings, and I wouldn't be surprised if he comes out absolutely firing on Thursday.

Who's Stepping Up When Rory Sits Out?

While Scottie is fighting for another win, there's some other serious drama unfolding. Wyndham Clark, after some well-deserved celebrations, is in the field after winning his second U.S. Open trophy. Talk about a stressful week for him! Sam Burns, who really put the heat on Clark on Sunday, is also here, ready to brush off that close call. We're also talking about other U.S. Open contenders like Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Thomas, and Xander Schauffele all in the mix. Schauffele's on a heater with a top-15 finish streak at the U.S. Open, even though he fell off the pace a bit over the weekend. He’s a two-time major champion who just needs that one missing piece to complete a 72-hole tournament, and he's a prior winner here at Travelers. Now, for the kicker: Rory McIlroy, the world No. 2, decided to skip out on another signature event. Again! It’s wild that he's missing the festivities. But his Ryder Cup buddies, like Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Åberg, and Viktor Hovland, are here, ready to pick up the pieces and make their mark at one of the longest-running events on the schedule. So, what are we watching for as the Travelers Championship kicks off June 25-28? Can Scottie shake off the "playing from behind" feeling and bag his second win of 2026? Will Keegan Bradley defend his title or will one of the 15 unique winners from this signature event streak claim another one? Get ready, golf fans, because TPC River Highlands is about to deliver some serious action.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.