PITTSBURGH — No offense, Oakmont. You're incredible. But you might need to shove over and make some room.

Until this past weekend, much of the fuss surrounding the U.S. Open has focused on the golf course — the diabolical rough, the ridiculous pin placements, the sadistic challenge it presents.

There hasn't been enough talk about the players — and Scottie Scheffler has thankfully entered the chat — not only with his four-shot win at the Memorial but the rarified air where Scheffler's game resides as the Open arrives.

Scheffler at Oakmont might be a match made in heaven.

The best player in the world challenged by the toughest tournament on the calendar, in one of the most difficult venues golf can proffer. Not bad for the entertainment dollar or those of us charged with chronicling the entire thing.

Scheffler has won three of his past four starts. He's been closing tournaments like Mariano Rivera, with nine consecutive victories after amassing the 54-hole lead. At Muirfield Village, he bogeyed just one of his final 40 holes. The soft-spoken 28-year-old has held the No. 1 ranking now for 107 weeks, a run not seen since Tiger Woods.

And the show arrives at the historic venue along Hulton Road next week.

"I never think about dominating," Scheffler told reporters at the Memorial. "It's a waste of time for me. I'm just trying to be the best I can be, work hard and use the gifts that I have for good. That's pretty much it."

Scheffler might not want to think about his dominance, but we sure can.

And should as a way to unpack what might be the best player-driven storyline for the 10th time the U.S. Open will take place at Oakmont.

When Scheffler won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow by five strokes, it made him a three-time major winner. His other two came at the Masters in 2022 and '24. A win next week would put him a leg away from the career Grand Slam, which is nuts when you consider Scheffler's age.

Just as important, however: Don't look past the current version of Scheffler because it's incredible.

His victory at the Memorial marked No. 16 in his past 70 PGA Tour starts. Since May 2, Scheffler has amassed the same number of wins as the Colorado Rockies. He was the only player this past weekend to break par on all four days and he's placed 11th or better nine times in his past 10 starts, seven of those top-fives.

Despite unseasonably cool temperatures around here lately, we'll get the best golfer on the planet, the sport's most dominant figure since Woods, blistering hot in our backyard.

"He's a great player," Jack Nicklaus said. "I mean, look at the record that he has had the last few years. It's unbelievable."

Now, the second part: The lone weakness, the lone blemish for Scheffler, came in the U.S. Open last summer. That's when Scheffler's game weirdly betrayed him and he looked human.

Playing at Pinehurst No. 2, Scheffler finished all four rounds over par for the first time in a major. He shot 8-over 288 to finish in a tie for 41st, his worst finish in a major and his lowest overall since coming in 45th at the 2022 CJ Cup.

He might not say it. But you think Scheffler doesn't feel like he has something to prove?

This season, Scheffler has done his similar dance by dusting the field with his approach game, sprinkling in plenty of putting improvement, as well. The combination has been untouchable.

Prior to the PGA Championship, Scheffler matched the PGA Tour record for 72 holes with an 8-under 253 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. His past three wins have been by a combined 17 shots. Not since Woods and Nicklaus has a golfer won so much so soon.

The exception has been the U.S. Open, especially after Scheffler's flop last year.

"It was a long week," he said. "I couldn't hole anything."

It'll be fascinating to see the next chapter of this story unfold.

Oakmont, of course, was the site of Nicklaus' first professional win, the first of his four U.S. Open titles and record 18 majors. Johnny Miller shot a final-round 63 in 1973, complete with just 29 putts.

(During media day, many of us needed that many on three or four holes.)

Ernie Els survived a 20-hole playoff in 1994, Angel Cabrera edged out Woods and Jim Furyk in 2007, on and on.

My point: We haven't seen a golfer this dominant since Woods, who obviously has his own U.S. Open memories: the Rocco Mediate battle in 2008, Woods' 15-stroke obliteration of the field in 2000.

Scheffler, the only other golfer besides Woods to win PGA Tour Player of the Year in three consecutive years, could have his next defining moment here. I can't wait.

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