Scottie Scheffler brushes off being 'target' at U.S. Open - ESPN

PINEHURST, N.C. — Even though Scottie Scheffler won in five of his past eight starts and is an overwhelming betting favorite to capture his third major championship victory at this week's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, the world No. 1 golfer insists that he doesn't feel like there's a target on his back.

«Like I said, when we start the tournament week, we're all at even par and it's not like anybody is out there playing defense,» Scheffler said Tuesday.

With his 1-stroke victory at last week's Memorial Tournament, Scheffler became only the fourth PGA Tour player in the past 60 seasons to pile up five victories before the end of June. Tiger Woods (2000), Tom Watson (1980) and Johnny Miller (1974) were the others.

Scheffler is the first golfer on tour since Justin Thomas in 2016-17 to win five times, and he doesn't seem ready to slow down anytime soon.

Woods was the last player to win six times on tour in 2009.

Scheffler will tee off with PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele and four-time major champion Rory McIlroy in Thursday's first round on the No. 1 hole at 1:14 p.m. ET. The trio will start the second round on No. 10 at 7:29 a.m. Friday.

«When I play with Xander and Rory here Thursday and Friday, they're not going to be saying weird stuff to me out on the golf course or trying to block my putt from going in the hole,» Scheffler said. «We all kind of got to go out there and play our game.

»As far as a target on my back, even if there was, there's really not much we can do in the game of golf. Most of it is against the golf course and playing against yourself. Target on my back, I don't really feel it, and I don't really think about it much, no."

Scheffler's competitors know he's the golfer to beat every week. LIV