If you wish to catch a glimpse at Scottie Scheffler the golfer, look no additional than final 12 months’s Hero World Problem. Sure, the Tiger Woods-hosted hit-and-giggle within the Bahamas the place solely 20 gamers tee it up and more-or-less use the occasion as an excuse for a tropical trip amid the vacation season.
After a 2024 marketing campaign that noticed Scheffler declare 9 titles worldwide, together with his second inexperienced jacket, the primary profitable protection of The Gamers Championship, an Olympic gold medal and his first FedEx Cup crown, Scheffler assessed the state of his recreation and felt he may get higher.
“I am at all times searching for methods to enhance,” he mentioned on the time.
He was proper.
Making the swap from a standard placing grip to a saw-style grip, the world No. 1 received that event by six strokes. Scheffler has since turned an enhancing weak point on the greens right into a certifiable energy. It helped him win his first main championship away from Augusta Nationwide this spring on the PGA Championship, and it has now taken him to the doorstep of the career grand slam after he boat-raced the field in Northern Ireland at the 2025 Open Championship in what can solely be described as his most full efficiency so far.
Scheffler made mincemeat of the his friends and Royal Portrush en path to elevating the Claret Jug and incomes the esteemed title Champion Golfer of the 12 months. Whereas his prior main championship wins got here with a window of hope for his rivals within the last spherical, this one was curtains when his strategy shot on the first gap settled 16 inches from the pin.
The dialog shifted from whether or not Scheffler would win to what number of majors he’ll win in his profession. This as his lead ballooned (briefly) to as many as eight strokes and historic implications turned the objects racing beside him.
In the long run, Scheffler achieved a four-stroke victory making him simply the third participant because the first taking part in of the Masters in 1934 to win 4 main championships by three strokes or extra (Woods, Jack Nicklaus). He is the primary since John Henry Taylor in 1909 to take action throughout his first 4 main victories as nicely.
It is this unwavering want to squeeze out the fullest of his {golfing} potential — together with, nicely, each different a part of his recreation — that makes Schefler so dominant contained in the ropes. It is why his counterparts journey over their phrases when requested to explain Scheffler and journey over the strain of being excellent when requested to compete in opposition to him.
“How do you beat this man?” Harris English posited after ending runner as much as Scheffler at a second main this season.
“He is actually a full shot most likely higher than the next-best participant on the earth, not to mention myself, who’s not the second greatest participant on the earth,” Matt Fitzpatrick mentioned.
“If Scottie’s ft stayed secure and his swing regarded like Adam Scott’s, we would be speaking about him in the identical phrases as Tiger Woods,” Shane Lowry contended.
“You may’t even say he is on a run. He is simply been killing it for over two years now,” Xander Schauffele mentioned. “He is a troublesome man to beat, and whenever you see his title up on the leaderboard, it sucks for us.”
“I believe all you are able to do is admire what he does and the way he does it,” Rory McIlroy mentioned. “I believe what he does is one factor, however how he does it’s one other.”
“I do not assume anyone is like him,” Jordan Spieth echoed.
It is why the one time Scheffler confirmed true emotion whereas within the 18-hole ring Sunday afternoon — in enemy territory, a course just over an hour from McIlroy’s hometown — was not when he was throwing haymaker after haymaker on the opening bell. It was solely after he misjudged his tee shot into the par-3 sixth leaving him a difficult up-and-down from beneath the placing floor in entrance.
With Northern Eire’s most interesting looking for a approach to conjure up some power for his or her countryman to make a run, Scheffler’s shot was met with oohs and aahs as a uncommon slip up felt imminent. His subsequent pitch left him simply outdoors 16 ft for par, and when Scheffler related, he delivered not one however two pumps of the fist as in the event that they had been meant from these lining the skin of the inexperienced.
“The group, I believe, wished someone else to win this week,” Scheffler mentioned. “And I sort of acquired to play spoiler a bit bit, which was enjoyable as nicely.”
The remainder of Scheffler’s stroll went as deliberate. Pictures had been executed and jokes had been exchanged with taking part in accomplice Haotong Li over the course of what was described as a “tremendous calm” spherical. A tepid ovation met Scheffler when he walked up the 18th gap because the engraver started working on the Claret Jug.
Lower than a minute after the ultimate putt dropped and Scheffler’s supremacy was secured, onlookers acquired a peek at Scottie Scheffler the person. Following a tame celebration and embrace with caddie Ted Scott, Scheffler noticed what mattered most within the crowd. Solely then did actual jubilation start to clean over his face.
“Each time I will win a event, the primary individual I at all times search for is my spouse,” Scheffler mentioned. “The place we stroll off every day is often on the fitting aspect, and I did not see her at first. So I used to be like, ‘Oh, my gosh, the place’s Meredith? What occurred? She’s not there.’
“As I sort of circled across the inexperienced, I noticed my dad standing there. I used to be like, ‘OK, excellent, my household have to be down there’, so I noticed Meredith. She’s at all times the primary individual I need to rejoice with. She is aware of me higher than anyone. That is my greatest buddy. It takes plenty of work to have the ability to change into good at this recreation, and I would not be capable of do it with out her help.”
Securing his most prized possessions, Scheffler walked off the 72nd inexperienced of The Open a winner in additional methods than one — his youngster in a single arm and his spouse within the different — the Claret Jug nonetheless nowhere to be seen.
“I’d say my best priorities are my religion and my household. These come first for me,” Scheffler mentioned. “Golf is third in that order.”
The trophy ceremony adopted. A speech during which he needed to test his notes — to make sure he thanked everybody on his workforce — got here subsequent earlier than Scheffler’s first increase of one of many most-famed trophies in sport. The theatrics, pageantry and pictures had come and gone with Scheffler standing tall because the Champion Golfer of the 12 months.
He is already way more than that to those that matter essentially the most.
“It is a enjoyable life for us, and having the ability to rejoice successful tournaments like this, I really feel like my entire workforce … their title must be on the trophy with me as a result of it actually does, it takes a village,” Scheffler mentioned.