Scottie Scheffler’s three major wins and Maja Stark’s first major victory are prompting comparisons to golfing legends, highlighting both the exceptional quality of their performances and their historical significance.
Scheffler and Stark’s remarkable achievements evoke memories of golfing greats.
Stark’s US Women’s Open triumph marks the first victory by a European in this prestigious tournament since Annika Sorenstam’s third win in 2006.
Scheffler’s successful Memorial Tournament title defense, achieved under the watchful eye of Jack Nicklaus, further solidifies his status as a rising star, drawing comparisons to Tiger Woods.
This victory, his 16th on the PGA Tour, comes swiftly after his third major win at the US PGA Championship. Remarkably, Scheffler reached this milestone in just three years and three months.
Nicklaus achieved the same feat slightly faster, while Tiger Woods took three years, three months, and three days. Sam Snead remains the quickest, accomplishing it in two-and-a-half years.
Scheffler’s consistent performance places him among golfing giants. “He’s a great player,” Nicklaus commented, praising Scheffler’s “unbelievable” recent record.
Having converted nine consecutive 54-hole leads into wins, Scheffler becomes the first to win consecutive Memorial titles since Woods’ three consecutive victories at the turn of the millennium.
His impressive 2024 season included nine wins, culminating in Masters and Olympic gold. A hand injury briefly hampered his 2025 start, but he has since returned to peak form.
His recent victories include an eight-shot win at the Byron Nelson, a dominant performance at the US PGA Championship, and now a successful Memorial Tournament title defense.
“He reminds me so much of the way I liked to play,” Nicklaus noted, adding that Scheffler’s consistency and skill surpass his own.
Data Golf analytics reveal Scheffler’s all-around excellence, particularly his exceptional approach play.
While the official rankings exclude LIV Golf, Data Golf’s inclusive rankings place Scheffler and Rory McIlroy ahead of LIV stars Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.
This is the only caveat to Scheffler’s PGA Tour dominance, as head-to-head competition with DeChambeau and Rahm is primarily limited to major championships.
However, at last month’s US PGA, he decisively outperformed both players.
Nicklaus astutely observed the disparity in skill between Scheffler and his competitors at the Memorial Tournament, highlighting Scheffler’s superior ability to elevate his game when necessary.
Sweden’s Stark Triumphs at US Women’s Open
Scheffler’s Dominant Memorial Victory
Stark celebrated her maiden major victory and first American title with a composed two-shot win over Nelly Korda and Rio Takeda at Erin Hills.
Her win boosted European golf, showcasing her composure under pressure during the final round.
“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought,” Stark shared, attributing her success to maintaining control of her game.
Her short-game prowess proved crucial, securing her victory and adding to her six Ladies European Tour wins, joining fellow Swedes Sorenstam and Neumann as US Open champions.
Stark expressed her excitement, acknowledging the support of her fellow Swedes.
Erin Hills presented a challenging US Open test, particularly on the weekend, exceeding the difficulty level of the 2017 men’s championship.
The course demanded precision, mirroring the strategic challenges of St Andrews. However, the remote location resulted in sparse galleries, detracting from the overall spectacle.
Slow play further impacted the viewing experience.
Despite these shortcomings, Stark’s victory is a significant achievement, potentially inspiring other European golfers.
Lottie Woad’s strong performance, including securing amateur honors, highlighted emerging talent.
Comments can not be loaded
To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser