Scottie Scheffler explains "off the rails" comments ahead of The Open

Scottie Scheffler believes fatigue may have contributed to the philosophical comments that overshadowed his Open Championship build-up last year.

The world number one caused a stir 12 months ago at Royal Portrush when he questioned why he even bothers playing golf.

His comments became one of the defining sporting moments of the year because they were so unexpected.

"This is not a fulfilling life," Scheffler said, adding that he did not know why he wanted to win The Open so badly.

Asked on Tuesday ahead of his defence of the Claret Jug whether he has any more crises of the soul he wished to share, Scheffler joked he would keep his thoughts to himself this week.

And he believes fatigue may have played a part in his original comments.

"I've played a lot of high-level golf for a few years now," he said. "Later in the season, I think sometimes you get a little bit more tired.

"I think that's almost probably why I started going off the rails last year in the press conference.

"I'm like, come on, guys, I've just been answering the same questions week in and week out. I don't know what else to do."

He added: "I think I'll try to keep that stuff to myself this week. It's weird I said that stuff last year."

Again, Scheffler encouraged people to watch the whole five-minute segment to truly understand the point he was trying to make.

"That's kind of what I was describing to you guys because I felt like I'm sitting here at the end of another season, I've played some good golf," he said.

"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."

Scheffler arrives at the final men's major of the year having had a rare weekend off.

He missed the cut at the Scottish Open, snapping a streak of 78 consecutive events in which he had made it to the weekend.

Scheffler told reporters that finishing second at a PGA Tour event in June hurt more than missing the cut at the halfway stage for the first time since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship.

"You never want to have a weekend off, but going into a tournament when you're defending, there's always a bit more stuff to do," he said.

"So it wasn't the worst thing in the world, albeit it was quite frustrating."

Scheffler will play the first two rounds of the 2026 Open in a marquee group alongside his compatriot Bryson DeChambeau and England's Tyrrell Hatton.

He enjoyed a remarkable run last season but has only entered the winner's circle once in 2026.

Still, Scheffler has racked up eight top-five finishes on the PGA Tour, including four runner-up results.

"I've had a very solid year, but like I said, frustrating at times because I've been close and I haven't been able to get it done like I have been in years past," he said.

"Overall, I feel like I know what my why is, why I'm out here playing, and I'm excited to try and defend my title this week.

"I'm looking forward to getting out here on a really firm golf course. I think it's going to be very fun and interesting to play.

"St Andrews [in 2022] was really firm, but outside of that, I haven't played an extremely firm Open Championship yet, so I'm excited to get out there and see what it's like under competition as well."

Victory this week would see Scheffler become the first player since Padraig Harrington in 2008 to successfully defend The Open Championship.

It would also represent his fifth major win since his breakout 2022 season.

Scheffler, though, said he is not playing for a place in the history books.

"This is going to sound a little morbid," he said. "At the end of the day, I'm going to live my life, and it's going to end. When it ends, I'm going somewhere else, and I'm not going to be here anymore.

"Legacy and all that stuff was never really something that motivated me. For me, it was always competition. I loved playing golf.

"I loved waking up with butterflies because I'm going out to play a tournament and I get a chance to compete today. I love those feelings, and when I retire, I'm going to miss them.

"For me, I was always trying to get out, play, get the most out of myself, and I love the challenge of trying to play golf.

"I love trying to get the most out of myself, trying to manage not only my body but my mind as well, and trying to control this little golf ball and to get it to do the things that I want to do with it.

"Those are the things that motivate me and try to get the most out of myself.

"I've never been one to play for history or legacy or anything like that."