The “one truth and a lie” reference surrounding Scottie Scheffler ahead of the 2026 U.S. Open is tied to his comments about chasing the career Grand Slam.
The truth: Scheffler genuinely has a historic opportunity in front of him. A victory at Shinnecock Hills would give him the U.S. Open title he needs to complete the career Grand Slam. It would also happen on Father’s Day and his 30th birthday, making the achievement even more remarkable. Only six men in golf history have completed the Grand Slam.
The lie (at least according to many observers): Scheffler insists that the possibility of completing the Grand Slam is not motivating him and that he is not focused on the history at stake. He has repeatedly said he is concentrating only on playing good golf and executing shots rather than thinking about legacy.
The article’s point is that while Scheffler is telling the truth about trying to stay focused on the present, it’s difficult to believe that a competitor of his caliber isn’t at least somewhat motivated by the chance to join legends such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player in golf’s most exclusive club.
The stakes are enormous. Shinnecock Hills is widely regarded as one of the toughest venues in championship golf, and Scheffler enters the week as the world No. 1 and tournament favorite. If he wins, he would become just the seventh player ever to complete the career Grand Slam and one of the very few to do it at his first opportunity.