By Field Level Media
Scottie Scheffler’s famed singular focus is trained on one thing this week: the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md.
Perhaps that’s why the world’s No. 1 golfer had his patience run thin after fielding a half dozen questions from reporters Wednesday about next month’s Ryder Cup competition.
“I love answering questions about the Ryder Cup, but this is ridiculous,” Scheffler said. “We’re at the BMW Championship. The Ryder Cup is over a month away. If you want to talk about this week, let’s talk about this week. If not, I’ve got practice to do. I’m getting ready for a golf tournament.”
Scheffler has already earned an automatic qualification for the U.S. Ryder Cup team competing against Team Europe at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y., from Sept. 26-28.
This week’s tournament is the final chance for PGA Tour players to earn Ryder Cup rankings points, with three automatic spots left to join Scheffler, J.J. Spaun and Xander Schauffele in the top six. Captain Keegan Bradley will also have six additional captain’s picks.
Wednesday’s press conference began with several questions about Scheffler’s caddie situation. Regular caddie Ted Scott left last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis — where Scheffler finished in a tie for third — due to a family emergency in Louisiana.
“Ted’s where he needs to be right now, and I think caddying is probably the last thing on his mind, as it should be,” Scheffler said. “I’ve been able to talk to him a few times. The family is in good spirits. Everybody seems to be doing well. I’m not going to comment any further on anything going on with his family.”
Tour chaplain Brad Payne filled in for Scott on an emergency basis Sunday. This week, Scheffler will have Michael Cromie on the bag. Cromie normally works with Chris Kirk, who was 51st in FedExCup points after St. Jude, with only the top 50 advancing to the BMW Championship.
“Ted’s good buddies with (Cromie). I always liked him. He’s a young guy, works hard,” Scheffler said. “Chris was very nice to let Cromie come work with me this week. He had a good finish to the season. He was a little bit on the outside looking in, but played really good and was close at the end.”
Questions then turned to the Ryder Cup, with Scheffler responding “ask the captain” when asked whether Bradley should also play for the U.S team while also assuming his captain responsibilities next month.
“I think if it’s something that Keegan wants to be part of the team and wants to play, I think he’s a guy we’d all love to have on the team,” Scheffler said. “The intensity that he’s brought as a captain — I mean, he has definitely exceeded my expectations as far as a captain. He’s done a great job.”
Asked for an example of how Bradley has gone above and beyond, Scheffler said Bradley has left notes in players’ lockers, sent a lot of text messages and asked for feedback about potential team members.
“I think we all have a little bit of back and forth, but ultimately Keegan is the one doing all the research,” he said. “He’s got great assistant captains that are doing a great job of supporting him in that role. They’ll do most of the decision-making when it comes to rounding out the team.”
Scheffler, 29, is looking to put the finishing touches on another remarkable season that includes his third and fourth major wins at the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. He finished T33 at the BMW Championship last year in Colorado before winning the season-ending Tour Championship.
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