However, many nations are still sweating over major concerns to top players. England have been dealing with a defensive injury crisis for much of the tournament and while that appeared to easing with Reece James making a return, Declan Rice‘s fitness is now up in the air after being struck down with illness ahead of the quarter-final clash with Norway. He was deemed fit enough to start the clash but looked out of sorts and was replaced at half-time.
Spain have seen their winger options limited since the end of the group stage, with Yeremy Pino and Victor Munoz still out, but that hasn’t stopped them as they stormed to the final. France, the team they beat in the semi-finals, will hope to go home on the minor high of victory in the third-place play-off, but will likely have to do it without William Saliba after he was forced off injured against La Roja.
See below for a full list of key injuries at this year’s World Cup.
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Declan Rice (England)
Rice’s tournament has been hampered by injuries with neural back pain forcing England to manage his workload. This saw him miss England’s group-stage finale against Panama, but he has started both knockout games since.
He was then struck down by illness ahead of the quarter-final with Norway, and despite recovering enough to make the starting line-up after missing two days of training, he looked out of sorts and was replaced at half-time.
Rice did train on the eve of the Argentina clash to boost hopes of the midfielder starting in the semis, with Thomas Tuchel confident of his availability.
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Declan Rice missed training due before the Norway clash due to a sickness bug (Getty)
Reece James (England)
James has been out of action for England for their last three World Cup outings, once again unable to feature in their stunning round of 16 win over Mexico as he recovers from a hamstring problem.
His absence has been compounded by injuries to right-back alternatives in the England squad though he was finally able to return to fitness against Norway in the quarter-finals, coming off the bench.
Reece James of England in the group stage (PA Wire)
William Saliba (France)
Everything went wrong for France in their semi-final defeat to Spain, not least the loss of influential defender William Saliba to injury.
Saliba went down untouched on the ball and immediately looked dejected, with it quickly becoming apparent the Arsenal man would not be able to continue.
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He faces a race against time to be fit for France’s third-place play-off on Saturday but Arsenal will fear their star centre-back has suffered a longer-term injury, whose 2025/26 season was maligned by numerous fitness setbacks which saw him miss a combined 12 matches for club and country.
William Saliba suffered a setback against Spain (Reuters)
Yeremy Pino (Spain)
The Crystal Palace winger suffered a collarbone injury against Uruguay and there were fears he could miss the rest of the tournament.
Those were allayed when Spain said X-rays showed Pino had not sustained a fractured collar bone but an acromioclavicular sprain.
However, he is yet to play any minutes for Spain since the group-stage injury.
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Yeremy Pino suffered a collarbone injury against Uruguay (Reuters)
Jordan Henderson (England)
Brentford midfielder Henderson was thought to be ruled out for the World Cup after sustaining a freak injury in the aftermath of England’s win over Mexico – but that may not be the case.
Henderson leaped over the advertising hoarding but fell awkwardly and snapped his arm. He underwent surgery before returning to England’s Kansas City base, opting to remain with the squad until the end of the campaign rather than go home.
However, in a stunning development, Henderson was included among the substitutes to face Norway in the last-eight and says he will “cross the bridge” of potentially featuring in the semi-finals “when we come to it”.
Jordan Henderson sporting his cast ahead of England’s quarter-final (PA)
Facundo Medina (Argentina)
Argentina are dealing with another defensive injury blow after Medina hobbled off with a calf problem in their last-32 clash win over Cape Verde.
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That match saw the return of Cristian Romero after the Tottenham centre-back suffered a knee injury in the group stage, but Lionel Scaloni has another headache to deal with after Medina’s withdrawal, with the defender then missing their controversial last-16 victory with Egypt. He was once again absent for their quarter-final win over Switzerland.
Facundo Medina of Argentina (AP)
Victor Munoz (Spain)
New Liverpool signing Munoz has been absent for the entirety of the World Cup so far after sustaining a calf injury in the build-up to the tournament. He then suffered a further setback when he was diagnosed with another muscular injury.
New Liverpool signing Victor Munoz has not featured for Spain so far this World Cup (Getty)
Clayton Douglas, based in Mornington, is embracing the increased demands of his role after recently taking over the reins at the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable.
The Freedman father-and-son training team were sidelined for 28 days last month following the conclusion of an inquiry into an accidental race-day treatment.
Douglas has stepped into the role of ‘caretaker’ trainer and has seen his stable numbers double, humorously remarking, ‘I was born for this’.
While he manages the Freedman horses, his own have not been neglected. His Everest winner, Giga Kick, is in training and is being prepared for a first-up tilt at the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown in September.
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With Giga Kick taking pride of place in the Douglas stable, the focus shifts to Mr Waterville as the jumps season draws to a close.
Douglas, who has previously won the Grand National Hurdle as a jockey, has the prestigious race on the agenda for Mr Waterville at Sandown next month. A part of the jumper’s program includes the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington this Saturday.
Mr Waterville, a winner of the Australian Hurdle at Sandown in May, has been a standout performer over the jumps this campaign, and Douglas believes the gelding can perform well on the flat this Saturday.
In his most recent flat race, Mr Waterville finished eighth over 2540m at Flemington on June 20. When previously trained by Chris Waller, who retains a share in the gelding’s ownership, he secured a second-place finish in a 2800m contest on Melbourne Cup Day.
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“He’ll have a little tick over run on Saturday before he runs in the National,” Douglas said.
“The 2800 (metres) at Flemington will suit him. He ran really well there over the 2500 (metres) last time and he’s been a good performer over the 2800 at Flemington before.
“He ran second at that distance on Cup Day, so we know the trip will be no problem, and for what we’ve seen on the flat recently, I’m sure he might be one of the chances, especially with no weight on his back.”
With two significant prize money races on offer to conclude the jumps season in Victoria, Douglas is considering his options for Mr Waterville.
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The $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) appears to be a strong target, while the $350,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on August 16 is also being contemplated.
“He’s had a long preparation, but the jumping has been the trick to getting him going,” Douglas explained.
“He’s been able to get some good prize money in the last eight weeks and hopefully he can keep going towards some of the bigger jump’s races.
“There’s the Grand National Hurdle on August 2 and then we’ll just sum things up, but there is a chance he may switch into the Grand National Steeplechase a fortnight later.
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“I am mindful it is his first jumping campaign, and I’d love to get him back down to Warrnambool to win a Brierly or the Grand Annual next year with him.
“I think we took the sting out of him in the Lafferty (over jumps most recently when second) by backing him up seven days after his Flemington run, so he might go into the National Hurdle a little bit fresher.”
Betting markets for the Grand National Hurdle are available at betting sites.
France star Rayan Cherki has refused to blame the officiating for his side’s defeat in the FIFA World Cup semi-final against Spain. Les Bleus failed in their bid to reach a third successive final, losing 2-0 against the Spanish side in Dallas.
Cherki spoke to reporters after the game, turning away from blaming the referee for his side’s disappointing performance. He pointed out that the problem was that his team failed to play to their full potential, while their opponents had no such problems.
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“It’s a big disappointment. It’s not about the ref. We didn’t play the football we’re used to play; while Spain did”, he said (via @FabrizioRomano on X).
Rayan Cherki was a second half substitute for France as he made his sixth appearance of the FIFA World Cup, all of which have come off the bench. He replaced Michael Olise after 72 minutes as Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps sought to spark a response from his team.
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Cherki was asked about the referee because Deschamps, in his own post-match media engagement, had questioned the qualifications of the referee to officiate a match of this magnitude. The midfielder disagreed with his coach, preferring to admit that the team itself did not perform at the level that was required to win.
France were favourites heading into the clash due to their impressive record in the first six games of the tournament, as they had won all six. They came undone against Spain, who beat them in a third successive semi-final, having done so in Euro 2024 and the UEFA Nations League last summer.
France lose in bid to reach third successive FIFA World Cup final
France have failed in their attempt to reach the final of the FIFA World Cup for a third successive edition. Les Bleus fell to a 2-0 defeat against Spain, who have now extended their unbeaten run to 37 games.
La Roja took the lead after 22 minutes, when Lamine Yamal won a penalty off Lucas Digne. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and dispatched the penalty, scoring his fifth goal of the tournament for Spain.
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France tried but failed to match the quality on show from Luis de la Fuente’s side, and they doubled their advantage in the 58th minute. A well-worked passing move saw them go from back to front with precision, and Pedro Porro slid a finish beyond Mike Maignan for his second goal of the tournament.
Les Bleus largely failed to trouble their opponents, succumbing to a demoralizing defeat in Dallas.
Spain is back in the FIFA World Cup final for the first time in 16 years. A composed and clinical display saw La Roja defeat defending champions France 2-0 in the first semifinal at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, setting up a showdown with either Argentina or England.
Luis de la Fuente’s side controlled the contest for long spells and made its superiority count through Mikel Oyarzabal’s first-half penalty and Pedro Porro’s superbly crafted strike after the break. France, despite enjoying periods of pressure and creating a handful of chances, lacked the cutting edge to breach Spain’s disciplined defence.
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Oyarzabal breaks the deadlock
Spain’s breakthrough came in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal was brought down by Lucas Digne inside the penalty area. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and powered his spot-kick beyond Mike Maignan, who guessed the right way but could not keep the effort out.
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The goal rewarded Spain’s dominance in possession, although France remained a threat on the counter through Kylian Mbappe, who squandered the visitors’ best opportunity after delaying his shot when sent through by Ousmane Dembele.
France also suffered a setback before half-time when William Saliba limped off injured, forcing Didier Deschamps into an early defensive reshuffle.
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Porro puts Spain in command
France emerged with greater intent after the restart, but Spain delivered the decisive blow in the 58th minute.
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Pedro Porro initiated a slick passing move before exchanging passes with Dani Olmo and calmly slotting past Maignan to double Spain’s advantage.
Spain nearly made it three moments later when Lamine Yamal found the net, only for the offside flag to deny the teenager.
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Simon stands tall as France falters
France threw everything forward in the closing stages, introducing Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Theo Hernandez in search of a comeback.
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However, Unai Simon produced another outstanding performance, denying Mbappe and Doue, while Spain’s backline, marshalled by Rodri, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella, dealt comfortably with France’s late pressure.
Mbappe’s frustrations summed up France’s evening. The captain was booked late on, before blazing a dangerous free-kick over the crossbar with time running out.
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Spain ends France’s remarkable run
The victory sends Spain into its first FIFA World Cup final since 2010, when it defeated the Netherlands to lift its maiden—and so far only—World Cup title.
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For France, the defeat ends its bid to become the first men’s team since West Germany (1982, 1986 and 1990) to reach three consecutive World Cup finals. It is also Les Bleus’ first two-goal defeat at a World Cup since a 2-0 loss to Mexico in the 2010 group stage.
Spain will now await the winner of the second semifinal between Argentina and England, while France will feature in the third-place playoff.
England take on Lionel Messi and co in Atlanta on Wednesday seeking to seal a place in Sunday’s MetLife Stadium showpiece.
The Three Lions secured their place in the semi-finals with a narrow 2-1 extra-time victory against Norway in Miami, where the unusually ineffective Rice was withdrawn at half-time.
Tuchel revealed after the quarter-final that the Arsenal star had been bedbound for three days in the build-up to the tie having fallen unwell after the last-16 trip to Mexico.
Declan Rice trained with the squad ahead of England’s semi-final against Argentina (Getty)
Rice has also been dealing with nagging hamstring pain since Christmas but he trained with his team-mates at their Kansas City base before flying to Georgia on Tuesday.
However, Tuchel is confirmed that Rice is well in contention to start the seismic semi-final after making a successful recovery.
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“Everyone is fit to start, except Jarell [Quansah] and Jordan [Henderson]. Declan [Rice] is ready to start and [had] as good a recovery as possible,” he said.
Fellow midfielder Jordan Henderson was the only member of the 26-man squad not to train on Tuesday having undergone arm surgery following his nasty fall in Mexico.
Versatile defender Jarell Quansah took part but his red card at the Estadio Azteca means he will sit out Wednesday’s semi-final as he completes a two-match ban.
Right-back Reece James is pushing to start having returned from a three-game absence with a hamstring issue as a second half substitute against Norway.
Spain produced an absolute masterclass in control to secure their place in just their second World Cup final – leaving the rest of the world stunned at how France were blown away.
Les Bleus went into Tuesday’s eagerly anticipated semi-final as overwhelming favourites having cruised through the tournament, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise making them an attacking force to be feared.
But while many were questioning how France could be beaten, Spain reminded everyone why they are European champions and unbeaten in a record-equalling 37 matches by running out 2-0 winners.
Luis de la Fuente’s men have rather flown under the radar at this World Cup – even failing to beat debutants Cape Verde in their opening match – and teenage superstar Lamine Yamal has scored just one goal.
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But they appear to have hit peak form at the right time and, having kept a clean sheet in six of their seven games, can expect to be favourites for Sunday’s World Cup final, where they will face either Argentina or England.
France, meanwhile, must prepare for the third-place play-off after being frustrated by a midfield masterclass and managing just three attempts on target.
“Spain scalped France – they flattened France,” said former Premier League champion Chris Sutton, who was at the game for BBC Radio 5 Live.
“We have given France so much praise in this tournament, but they were swatted aside by silky Spain. In the main, Spain have outfought and outplayed this French team.”
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Roy Keane – another Premier League winner – said on ITV: “France were not playing as a team. Brilliant individuals not playing as a team.
“Spain have been absolutely brilliant – an absolute joy to watch.”
When De la Fuente was appointed Spain boss in December 2022, some referred to him as: “Luis de la Who?”
Spain – world champions under Vicente del Bosque in 2010 – are used to being led by high-profile personalities, and de la Fuente was viewed as a low-key federation appointment after his time in charge of the nation’s under-19s, under-21s and under-23s.
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But the 65-year-old has given an emphatic response to the doubters.
Having led Spain to a Nations League triumph in 2023 and Euro 2024 glory, he has now guided them to the World Cup final.
If England win in Atlanta on Wednesday, they will set up a repeat of the European Championship final of two years ago.
Deschamps is one of only three people to win the World Cup as a player and manager – alongside Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and West Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.
His longevity as manager is also rare in the current era – having led the national team for 14 years.
He won 20 of his 26 World Cup games as France boss, only losing three times – including this defeat by Spain in Texas.
As a player or manager he was involved in over half of the games France have ever won at World Cups – and the only two times they have lifted the trophy.
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Only three teams before now have reached the quarter-finals at least in four successive tournaments.
More might have been expected from this side with joint tournament top scorer Kylian Mbappe, plus Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and rising star Michael Olise of Bayern Munich, in front of an established defence and midfield.
“There was extra motivation for all the players at this World Cup to give Didier the ending he wanted, and deserved,” said former France striker and BBC pundit Olivier Giroud.
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“He deserved to exit by the big door. He did not quite manage that but he is still a great, for what he has already done in his 14 years.
“His record does the talking for him.”
Giroud, who won the 2018 World Cup under Deschamps, added: “I think he is like a second father for some players, like a second dad.
“For me it was not quite like that, but he gave me so many times his confidence, and I tried to repay him on the pitch.
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“This makes us very close and because we won that World Cup, we are linked forever.
“I always call him coach.
“When you are in the national team, you don’t have much time to work on tactics and each manager has their philosophy.
“For Didier, his was more like ‘you are big players, I leave you some freedom on the pitch’. He gave some instructions too of course, to keep the balance, so you always knew where each player would be.
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“The biggest thing he taught us was his desire, and his drive and ambition to be the absolute best and to win every single game. His competitive mindset was so clear.”
Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup final after producing a disciplined and impressive performance to beat tournament favourites France 2-0 at Dallas Stadium.
Luis de la Fuente’s side combined solid defending with excellent control of possession to end France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.
Mikel Oyarzabal gave Spain the lead in the first half from the penalty spot after France left-back Lucas Digne brought down Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. The striker calmly converted the spot-kick to put Spain ahead.
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Instead of sitting back, Spain continued to dominate the game. Their midfield controlled possession, while their defence gave France’s dangerous attack very little space to create chances.
Pedro Porro doubled Spain’s lead in the second half after playing a neat one-two with Dani Olmo before finishing confidently at the near post.
France, who had been one of the most exciting attacking teams at the tournament, struggled to break down Spain’s organised defence. Their first shot on target did not come until the 81st minute, showing how well Spain frustrated Kylian Mbappe and his teammates.
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Rodri was outstanding in midfield, breaking up France’s attacks and controlling the tempo of the game. Fabian Ruiz also impressed alongside him, while Spain’s backline remained compact throughout the match.
Spain have now conceded just one goal in the tournament, highlighting the defensive strength that has taken them to the final.
For France, the defeat ends their dream of lifting the World Cup. A mistake by Digne for the opening goal and an injury to defender William Saliba made life even more difficult for Didier Deschamps’ side, who failed to produce the attacking football they had shown earlier in the competition.
Spain will now face the winners of the second semi-final between England and Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final as they chase their second world title. France will play in the third-place play-off, which will also mark the end of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year reign as head coach.
Playes of Spain celebrate defeating France in a World Cup semifinal match on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo)
A clinical and disciplined Spain advanced to their first FIFA World Cup final in 16 years after brushing aside neighbours France 2-0 in a high-octane semifinal clash at the AT&T Stadium on Tuesday. A first-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and a brilliant second-half strike by Pedro Porro sealed a memorable victory for La Roja, crushing French dreams of reaching a third consecutive final.The victory marked the third consecutive summer that Spain has eliminated France in the final stages of a major tournament, following their triumphs in the Euro 2024 semifinals and last year’s Nations League. Teen sensation Lamine Yamal, who celebrated his 19th birthday just a day prior, proved to be the architect of destruction once again, validating his pre-match warning that France should fear this Spanish side.Spain opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Yamal’s sharpness caught the French defense off guard. French veteran defender Lucas Digne misjudged a header in his own box, allowing a sprinting Yamal to steal in from behind. In a desperate attempt to clear the danger, Digne kicked the teenager, prompting the referee to point straight to the penalty spot.Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up calmly and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to net his fifth goal of the tournament. The strike marked the first time either heavyweight nation had trailed at any point in this entire World Cup campaign.France, the top-ranked team in the world, struggled to find their usual rhythm as Kylian Mbappé was kept quiet by a resolute Spanish backline. Spain completely took the game away from Les Bleus in the 58th minute. Pedro Porro initiated a beautiful give-and-go passing sequence with Dani Olmo before driving a powerful shot into the net to make it 2-0.Yamal almost added a third just moments later, but his close-range finish was ruled out by a tight offside call. France threw bodies forward late in the game but failed to breach the organized Spanish defense.Spain will now travel to East Rutherford, New Jersey, for Sunday’s grand finale at MetLife Stadium, where they will face either defending champions Argentina or England. Meanwhile, a disappointed French team will head to Miami Gardens on Saturday to compete in the third-place playoff match.
Shawn Porter believes Devin Haney could force Shakur Stevenson to adapt his style, mainly by setting a pace that his more technically-gifted opponent finds uncomfortable.
The two Americans have repeatedly been going back and forth over social media, outlining their demands for a potential clash at 144lbs.
For context, Haney has verbally agreed to travel 3lbs below his preferred fighting weight, accommodating a catchweight that was initially proposed by Stevenson.
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In terms of the finer details, though, it remains to be seen whether they can actually negotiate a deal, especially with Haney having been ordered to defend his title against Keyshawn Davis.
But with the ‘Dream’ having missed out on the opportunity to make a voluntary title defence, he must now face mandatory challenger Davis or risk being stripped of his belt.
Alternatively, he could vacate the title and jump straight into a clash with Stevenson, who currently holds the WBO strap at 140lbs.
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Either way, Porter will be anticipating a compelling chess match if they eventually lock horns, with the former two-time world champion offering a measured take on his podcast.
“I think Devin Haney is someone who can push Shakur into [being more aggressive].
“Dev is going to fight at a fast pace; Dev is going to try to control that range – the same way that Shakur does.
“It’s going to be a chess match, but Devin’s offence is going to force Shakur to be more offensive.”
With Stevenson having signed to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, and demanding the “big fights”, Haney is certainly the type of opponent that fits his criteria.
Scottie Scheffler made it clear early on in this year’s pre-Open press conference: He did not want a repeat performance from last year.
“I think I’ll try to keep that stuff to myself this week,” he said with a smile.
Brace yourself — this whole topic is a bit meta. It’s about Scottie Scheffler talking about Scottie Scheffler talking. It’s the exact sort of thing Scottie Scheffler rolls his eyes at. It’s also the sort of thing that Scottie Scheffler thinks a lot about. Which brings us back to the beginning.
Anyway, by “that stuff” Scheffler was referencing his existential reflections at last year’s pre-Open press conference at Portrush, where he thought out loud about the fleeting nature of winning in a lengthy answer that spread like wildfire and, he feels, lost some context as it went viral.
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He won that event, his first Open Championship and fourth major title, further cementing his status as World No. 1. He still holds that position. And his search for purpose remains compelling.
“I guess the gist of it was, what’s the point?” he said on Tuesday with a smile. “I don’t recommend anyone [rewatching] the clip. But if you’re going to write about it, please watch the whole 5 minutes. I’ll recommend it to you guys [media] but not anybody else.”
So what was Scheffler trying to say last year? He couldn’t resist the urge to clarify, again.
“I guess the point for me was like always figuring out your why,” Scheffler said. “Like, why am I doing this? Why do I want to win this tournament so badly? Why do I choose to play this sport for a living? Always figuring out your why. I think when I have a really good understanding of what my why is when I’m playing, I think that’s when I’m at peace the most.”
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Some people seemed to take Scheffler’s comments as ungrateful or dismissive of his success. I don’t think that’s right. Scheffler never said this is meaningless or that none of it matters; he knows it does and he knows how much he cares. He knows there is a why. But he doesn’t always know what it is; it can be as elusive as a swing thought. Good news for this Open, though:
“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,” he said.
So what is his why? He didn’t spell it out exactly. But he did offer this:
“When I retire and I sit back, I’m going to miss the feeling of waking up in the morning and not being able to eat breakfast because your stomach hurts because you’re anticipating the day.”
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In other words, he loves the arena, the competition, the stakes, the chase. There’s plenty of why there. Not caring has never been the issue. Figuring out what to do with how much he does care? That’s a constant work in progress.
Scheffler mentioned dealing with his frustrations, learning to “take off your hat and shake hands” regardless of outcome. He also reflected on pre-round butterflies at the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, when he was still in college.
“I almost couldn’t eat for like a week before it,” he said. “My stomach hurt; I was burping up chunks of food. They were giving me stuff so I could digest things. Over time I feel like I’ve gotten better at figuring out how to manage those nerves. You have to be able to eat in order to go out and play. I can’t just be starving the whole time.”
The caring remains, though the challenges — and expectations — have shifted. Take this season, which Scheffler called “solid” but “frustrating at times” given he’s been around the lead a lot but has won just once. In one three-tournament stretch he finished runner-up to the second-, third- and fourth-ranked golfers in the world (Rory McIlroy at the Masters, Matthew Fitzpatrick at the RBC Heritage, Cameron Young at the Cadillac, respectively) and two weeks ago lost to Viktor Hovland in a playoff at the Travelers. At the Scottish Open last week, he missed his first cut in four years. He’s still the best golfer in the world, but he’s gotten plenty of reminders just how hard it is to stay here.
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This is perhaps where Scheffler was most insightful: on the specific pressures and demands that come with being World No. 1 in the modern era.
“There’s just a lot of noise all the time at golf tournaments,” he said. “For instance, this week, I show up on Sunday [at Birkdale] thinking there’s not going to be any fans out there. We get out there on the 1st hole, and there’s fans out there. I love being able to play in front of fans; that’s a tremendous amount of fun. But like I get to the bunker on the 1st hole, and I turn around, and within six feet of me there’s literally like two cameras right in my face. I kind of turn around and look at the guys, like ‘hey, y’all, are you going to be this close all day, or could we get a little bit of room?’
“I think, just being in the spotlight all the time puts a burden on a player in this day and age. Everything is being recorded. When [someone] says hello to you, they’ve got their cell phone out. Like, you’re walking on eggshells a little bit, and that can drain people … being recorded all the time, I’m very far from a perfect person, and you know — I’m trying to find the right words, but I think just sometimes it can be hard when you’re being recorded all the time.”
Everything is content, all the time. Sport is growing. Interest is growing. It’s no wonder that why can get a little confusing when you’re at the center of it all.
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But Scheffler sounded excited to get back in the arena. He was energized by this week’s firm, fast, fiery links test at Birkdale.
“I’m looking forward to getting out here on a really firm golf course,” he said. “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.”
Good news: He says he has an answer to that very important question at the moment.
“Like I said last year, what’s the point because we just continue to want more and more. The heart’s never satisfied, and we’re always looking for more.
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“But that’s also kind of the fun part: The chase.”
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