
via Imago
Scottie Scheffler (L) and Tiger Woods (R). Image Courtesy: IMAGO

via Imago
Scottie Scheffler (L) and Tiger Woods (R). Image Courtesy: IMAGO
Boring? Some golf enthusiasts often label Scottie Scheffler just that due to his consistent and measured game, and he frequently faces criticism for being “too nice.” However, it was this style of play that helped him achieve his personal best in the 2024 season. At the time, he had nine wins, including two major victories at The Masters and THE PLAYERS Championship. Add to that an Olympic gold medal. Additionally, he has claimed the FedExCup trophy and the PGA Tour Player of the Year Award. Sublime!
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What’s your perspective on:
Can Scottie Scheffler bounce back and join the ranks of Woods and Nicklaus with another major win?
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Then, the 2025 season rolled in, and suddenly, the World No. 1 was no longer in peak form. Fans and critics alike hope for a turnaround, but nothing seems to change. The burden of a winless streak weighs heavily on the golfer, as evident from his action last month. What action? At WM Phoenix Open, Scheffler finished 2 under par for the third round. After a frustrating moment on the 15th hole, he approached his bag and struck it with his club, toppling it over. Fans reacted, and suddenly, they didn’t appreciate the absence of his “too nice” personality.
But those same fans are still hoping for his revival. Recently, Damon Hack, host of Golf Today and Golf Central, sat down for a conversation with Gary Williams on the 5 Clubs podcast. The two discussed Scheffler’s previous season, with Williams noting that Scheffler has achieved something that “no one has.” He was referring to Scheffler’s consecutive wins at The PLAYERS Championship, a feat that no one has ever accomplished.
Damon Hack continued the conversation “I mean this is bumping against Tiger Woods’s accomplishments, Jack Nicklaus’s accomplishments. We’re already trying to figure out kind of where Scottie Scheffler stands.” Why did he say that?
By the time Scottie Scheffler won The Masters and The Players Championship in the 2024 season, he had already set a record that no one had touched since Tiger Woods’s 2001 win. When he secured a win at the Travelers Championship, he had achieved six wins before July, making him the first to do so since Tiger Woods. Scheffler also had 17 top 10s compared to Tiger Woods’s 12! Add to that his 2000 FedEx points by the time July 2024 rolled around. It was the best since 2009. This and more started comparisons between the two. Why was Jack Nicklaus mentioned? Besides Nicklaus, Scheffler is the only golfer to have won The PLAYERS Championship twice and the only one to register consecutive wins at the event. If he wins again, he will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Nicklaus, who has three victories.
According to Hack, Tiger Woods stands alone when it comes to skill sets and transcendence. The same goes for Jack Nicklaus. “If you’re talking about something that was already unprecedented in what Scottie Scheffler did. To be able to go three in a row… it’s not going to be Tiger Slam from 2000 – 2001, but it’s in a similar neighborhood.” However, he agrees that if Scheffler manages to win this season’s The PLAYERS Championship after recovering from his injury, it would “only add to the gravitas of the achievements.” Undoubtedly, there’s a lot at stake this year, and Hack isn’t alone in his concerns.
The conversations surrounding Scottie Scheffler’s performance are old
Last week, Andy Johnson sat down with Joseph LaMagna for an episode of Fried Egg Golf. Discussing the same issue, he said, “If we are talking about Scottie Scheffler right now… I think, like, the one thing I would be worried about, if I were Scottie, is expectation management.
“If I go six events without winning at the start of 2025, and I’m heading into Augusta, maybe that’s not where I want to be. He started the year without winning in the first five events, but then he won the API. So, we are basically in the same spot.”
This comment is essential and tied to a very important career move for Scottie Scheffler, and we will explain why. Scheffler secured his first Masters win in 2022. By the time 2024 rolled around, he had reclaimed his title with swagger. This double win elevated his status to the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Nick Faldo. But if Scheffler works his magic with his clubs again, he has the chance to achieve something that even Woods and Faldo couldn’t! Winning the Masters Tournament three times in four attempts, just like Nicklaus. This is why fans are eager to see the star golfer return to his form.
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NBC analyst Johnson Wagner had a similar reaction when he recently sat down on the 5 Clubs. “So at Bay Hill, what I’m looking for is that Scotty had two weeks off to get rid of the pulls and put the ball in play like we’re used to seeing. His good is still good; he just needs to tighten up those misses.” Needless to say, fans are waiting.
We can’t predict what the future holds for Scottie Scheffler, as the young golfer prepares to give a solid competition after last year’s hand injury. However, we hope to see World No. 1 return to his peak form. Here’s to wishing him good luck!
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Debate
Can Scottie Scheffler bounce back and join the ranks of Woods and Nicklaus with another major win?