Scottie Scheffler in British Open mix at 1-under, seeking 2nd major of 2024

TROON, Scotland — Scottie Scheffler has won six times already this year, including a Masters and Players Championship.

Don’t rule him out for a seventh win and a second major.

Scheffler is lurking at 1-under par after shooting 70 in the British Open first round Thursday at Royal Troon.

This after he took three weeks off following his last victory, at the Travelers last month.

“I felt like I got settled in pretty quick,’’ he said. “After Travelers it was obviously a nice win, so it was nice to go home and relax and celebrate a little bit. I tried to practice some that week, and then we went on vacation. So, I obviously wasn’t doing too much work there. I got some good work in last week before heading over.’’

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Defending Open champion Brian Harman shot a 2-over-par 72 Thursday.

“It’s really tough,’’ Harman said. “It’s kind of like I found it how I left it last year. It’s brutal. Hard golf course.’’

Harman said he believes his win last year helped him cope with the difficult conditions on Thursday.

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“It certainly gave me a lot of confidence,’’ he said. “It certainly helped with some of the nerves, not getting quite as nervous and being in contention. Just having the knowledge that you can win a big one if it all goes your way and you play really well.’’

Henrik Stenson, who won the Open the last time it was played at Troon in 2016, shot 76.

Phil Mickelson, who Stenson beat out in an epic duel that year, birdied 18 to close with a 73.

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Tom Hoge shot a 3-over-par 74 despite taking a 9 on the par-4 11th hole.

Robert McIntyre, the pride of Scotland , having won the Scottish Open on Sunday, shot a 1-over-par 71 and came away happy with it after a couple days of partying to celebrate winning his national championship.

“I thought it was almost perfect,’’ he said. “The putter didn’t turn up today, but I thought tee to green was absolutely superb.’’

McIntyre played just 18 holes at Troon before the tournament, conserving his energy after the big week last week.

“Obviously the prep wasn’t great, but that’s by the by,’’ he said. “But I just thought the way I’m swinging the golf club and moving the ball in the air and fighting the winds was close to perfect today.

“It’s just getting me a chance going into Sunday. It’s not, ‘Can he win it today, can he win it Friday, can he win it Saturday?’ But you can play yourself out of it. I thought a 1-over-par score today was a good round of golf, and we’re still in it.’’

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