The comparisons with Tiger Woods began a few years ago when Scottie Scheffler started to separate himself by miles over the rest of golf with alarming control of his shots from tee-to-green, resulting in big wins and a No.1 ranking for more than three-straight years.

The next comparison could come this week.

Not since Woods has anyone completed the career grand slam at his first attempt; at least not in the modern era, which dates to 1960 when it became a thing in professional golf.

Woods took only 35 days between his epic 15-shot victory in the 2000 U.S Open at Pebble Beach and his eight-shot British Open victory at St. Andrews.

Scheffler reached the cusp of the career slam when he overwhelmed yet another field at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Now comes the U.S Open, the major he has played more than any other, and a Shinnecock Hills test which will be new to him.

Does he want to win? Without question. Does he need to? That goes a little deeper with Scheffler, who cares more about the process than the result.

"For me, would it be a dream to win the U.S Open? Of course," the American said ahead of Thursday's first round.

"But at the end of the day, the grand slam has never been a motivating factor for me. I always just wanted to be the best version of myself, and that got me this far."

It brought him two Masters titles in 2022 and 2024, the PGA Championship and Open Championship last year; all of them without drama when he walked up to the 18th green.

"So when it comes to this golf tournament, I'm going to step on the first tee and remind myself I've done everything I possibly could in order to play well, and now it's just a matter of going out there and trying to execute and going back to enjoying the competition, versus feeling like you have to win for some reason," he said.

He didn't go as deep as he did at Portrush last year, when he delivered a remarkable soliloquy, asking why he wants to win so badly when the joy lasts only a few minutes.

However, it's clear he relishes the challenge, and Shinnecock figures to be every bit of that.

"I think it's the best championship test in the country," said Rory McIlroy, who last year at the Masters became only the sixth player to win the career grand slam.

"It tests all aspects of the game - driving, iron play; you need to have your wits about you on the greens. It's a lot of strategy, thoughtfulness."

This is the ninth U.S Open for Scheffler - two of them as an amateur - with his closest call in 2022 at The Country Club, where he finished one shot behind Matt Fitzpatrick.

However, he is the favourite, as is the case at every tournament he plays, even though this year has been one in which he has similar numbers, except for the trophies he has accumulated. His only victory was his first start of the year, The American Express in the California desert.

There were three straight runner-up finishes, including the Masters. He had an astonishing run of 18 consecutive top 10s end at Riviera in February. His worst result was a tie for 24th at Bay Hill.