Scottie Scheffler’s choice to skip the Truist Championship, the final PGA Tour event before the PGA Championship at Valhalla, introduces an explicit strategic variable into his preparation for the season’s second major. As the world No. 1, Scheffler typically uses top-tier tune-ups to sharpen timing and course management; his absence from the Truist field—confirmed by tournament organizers—removes a calibrated benchmark for his form. The decision carries inherent risk: without competitive rounds in the preceding week, Scheffler must rely entirely on practice sessions and simulated pressure. Meanwhile, rivals who contest the Truist gain live data on Valhalla’s conditions and the chance to build momentum. The calculation, whether deliberate or imposed by fatigue, leaves an unresolved tension around how fully Scheffler will arrive in Louisville.