Scottie Scheffler, the world’s #1 golfer, has been a bit of a mystery this season. After a dominant year in 2024, including an Olympic gold medal and Player of the Year honors, Scheffler seems to have hit a bump in the road. So, what’s going on with Scheffler in 2025? Well, it’s not the same dominant force we’ve all come to know. The man who looked unstoppable last season has been struggling to find his groove, even though he’s back on the course after a wrist injury. On top of that, he’s got some frustration.

Call it the “Christmas Curse” or just bad luck, but something is off. With only two top-10 finishes in four events and a couple of top-25s thrown in for good measure, it’s safe to say that Scottie’s usual swagger just isn’t showing up. For most golfers, a few top-25 finishes would be a dream. But Scheffler is the guy. He’s used to dominating, so these results? Definitely not his style. Maybe he’s just waiting for the next major to remind everyone who’s boss. But until then, we’ll keep watching as this mystery unfolds.

At times, Scottie Scheffler looked visibly frustrated during his weekend at THE PLAYERS Championship. His usually sharp ball striking remained solid, but it wasn’t up to the sky-high standards we’ve come to expect from the World No. 1. His putter wasn’t quite as cooperative, and the testing conditions at TPC Sawgrass only highlighted those small errors in his game. This all led to an unexpected result: Scheffler, who has been a dominant force in recent years, failed to secure a victory at THE PLAYERS. He closed his Sunday round with a 1-over 73, finishing T20—a far cry from the winning performances he’s known for. However, despite his struggle on the course, the frustration wasn’t as overwhelming as one might think. When Scheffler walked off the 18th hole on Saturday evening, he wasn’t entirely disappointed. He felt a sense of encouragement.

“Saturday was absolutely insane,” remarked Charlie Hulme on the Smylie Kauffman Show, reflecting on Scheffler’s attitude throughout the weekend. “I just wonder what you know, coming out of this week, the next marquee event we’re going to see him play is the Masters. Where are you now with him?” In terms of his game, the one stat that stood out was his “Strokes Gained Attitude,” which was noticeably down. Scheffler seemed frustrated on the course, a feeling that reminded many of his struggles from 2023. Hulme pointed out that it felt a lot like the mental frustrations that plagued him last year, “Where the little things were kind of bothering him… nothing really seemed to bother him quite as much [last year]. Clearly, he’s getting more frustrated this year.”

It’s understandable, considering Scheffler had such an extraordinary 2022, where he won eight times. That kind of success raises expectations, and perhaps, it’s those very expectations that are weighing on him now. “Expectations [being] a little bit too high,” Hulme speculated. “He just won eight times the prior year, so I get that. But also, you kind of look for a little bit more… maturity is the right word, but just the sense of like, ‘Hey, been there, I’m the top player in the world, this is how I should play and handle myself.’”

In light of these challenges, the upcoming Masters could be just the event Scheffler needs to regain his footing. The frustration he’s feeling now might be a sign of just how much he wants to rise above, and we all know that Scheffler’s game has the potential to shine when it matters most. But with his recent behavior, there has been one question, is Scottie Scheffler, who benched his name as calm and composed back to being his initial self?

The Furious Scottie Scheffler at the PLAYERS

Scottie Scheffler’s 2025 season has had a somewhat slow start, a stark contrast to the remarkable performance he delivered the previous year. After a hand injury in late December delayed his season debut, Scheffler has had to take extra time to get back into his rhythm. While his results have been solid—three top-15 finishes in five starts—they haven’t quite lived up to the high expectations set by his nine-win season. Scheffler, undeniably, is capable of more.

His performance at TPC Sawgrass was a reflection of that balance between progress and frustration. While his driving stats showed improvement, there were still some areas that needed attention. He struggled with the putter, losing strokes in three of four rounds. Still, Scheffler was able to find some positives as the week went on. “I definitely started hitting some better shots. Starting to feel more comfortable with my irons. The last two weeks, I feel like I’ve definitely driven the ball better,” he said. “Definitely some positives from this week.”

The frustration Scheffler displayed on the course didn’t go unnoticed. On Saturday, his emotions were hard to miss as he struggled with missed putts and an errant approach on the seventh hole. He even slammed his club against his bag, a moment that spoke volumes about his competitive nature. “I’m a competitive guy, and I felt like I could have played a lot better this week,” Scheffler admitted. “Like I said, I’m really close. I may finish the week 4-under par. I felt like I played some better golf than that. Looking forward to fine-tuning things next week and then getting ready for Houston.”

Houston is a place Scheffler knows well, having finished as the runner-up in last year’s Texas Children’s Houston Open to Stephan Jaeger. This week could provide Scheffler with the perfect opportunity to regain his momentum and prepare for another great season. As he looks forward to next week, it’s clear that he’s focused on fine-tuning his game to unlock the kind of form that made him a dominant force in 2024.

Let’s see how he rebounds in Houston. What are your thoughts on Scheffler’s season so far? Let us know in the comments!