Scottie Scheffler has rejected claims of a 2026 form slump as he prepares for The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. The world No 1 finished tied-24th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his worst PGA Tour result in 13 months, ranking 44th in strokes gained approach.

Speaking ahead of the tournament where he partners Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas, Scheffler defended his season's performance. He won The American Express to start 2026 and has recorded three top-four finishes in four starts. The 2022 and 2023 champion could join Jack Nicklaus as the only three-time winner if successful this week.

Critics have noted Scheffler's irritability on course, with Wayne 'Radar' Riley suggesting the 27-year-old has been 'whinging' despite earning over $100 million in the past three years. Scheffler maintains he's his 'own biggest critic' and trusts his feel over statistics, emphasizing commitment to each shot rather than week-to-week expectations.