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‘Special moment’ – Scheffler wins The Open
As Scottie Scheffler dominated the field en route to claiming the Claret Jug, the name of another golfing icon consistently surfaced in discussions surrounding his impending Open victory.
Tiger Woods. The name evokes memories, doesn’t it?
Scheffler’s fellow competitors frequently invoked Woods’ name upon exiting the Royal Portrush course last Sunday, a sentiment echoed by television and radio commentators analyzing the day’s events.
The comparisons between the current world number one and Woods, the 15-time major champion whose pre-eminence elevated golf to unprecedented heights in the late 1990s and early 2000s, persisted following Scheffler’s triumph at the Open.
A notable statistic further amplified the comparisons: the elapsed time between each player’s first and fourth major victories was precisely 1,197 days.
Scheffler’s response to the comparisons being drawn? “I still think they’re a bit silly,” he said.
“I just got one-fourth of the way there. I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf.”
Nevertheless, it’s undeniable that Scheffler is currently dominating men’s golf to a degree unseen since Woods at his peak.
BBC Sport examines the factors contributing to the 29-year-old American’s success.
The first glimpse of Scheffler’s exceptional talent emerged at the 2021 Ryder Cup.
While some questioned his selection as a Whistling Straits wildcard, his commanding victory over European stalwart Jon Rahm in the Sunday singles – setting the stage for a decisive home victory – hinted at his future potential.
In the subsequent four seasons, Scheffler has secured four major titles – the 2022 and 2023 Masters, along with this year’s US PGA Championship and Open – and achieved an additional eight top-10 finishes.
Coupled with 12 PGA Tour victories and the Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024, his status as the undisputed world number one is firmly established.
“Scottie is the bar that we’re all trying to get to,” remarked world number two Rory McIlroy.
“You could argue there’s only maybe two or three players in the history of the game that have been on a run like the one that Scottie’s been for the past 24 to 36 months.”
One of those players is – undeniably – Woods.
By securing victory at Portrush, Scheffler became only the second player to win The Open while holding the world number one ranking, a feat previously accomplished by Woods on three occasions (2000, 2005, and 2006).
Scheffler’s machine-like consistency, evident even when he appears to be playing below his best, draws parallels with his fellow American.
It is little wonder that several of his peers have described Scheffler this week as being “Tiger-like.”
“I don’t think we thought the golfing world would see someone as dominant as Tiger come through so soon and here’s Scottie taking that throne,” said 2024 Open champion Xander Schauffele.
“He’s a tough man to beat, and when you see his name up on the leaderboard, it sucks for us.”
To some, the comparisons between Scheffler and Woods, who shares the record for 82 PGA Tour victories, may seem premature.
Scheffler has a considerable distance to traverse to match the longevity of his compatriot, whose major triumphs spanned from 1997 to 2019.
However, the comparisons persist due to Scheffler’s imperious command of the field, reminiscent of Woods at his zenith.
At Portrush, an air of inevitability surrounded the outcome once Scheffler established a four-shot lead after Saturday’s third round.
His unwavering consistency and ruthless ability to close out victories distinguish him from his competitors.
This marks the 10th consecutive tournament in which Scheffler has converted a 54-hole lead into victory, although he still has a considerable way to go to match Woods’ record of 37 consecutive such conversions.
“Back in the day that’s what separated Tiger,” noted former world number one Justin Rose of England.
“You get a lot of guys leading tournaments and typically it is hard to close out, but Scottie and Tiger are able to put these tournaments away better than most.
“That’s how you are judged at the end of the day.”
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Scheffler ‘masterclass’ seals Open title
Scheffler’s stoic demeanor as he patiently and precisely navigated the Dunluce Links contrasted sharply with the often-demonstrative energy of Woods.
On a final Sunday largely devoid of suspense, one of the most memorable moments occurred on the sixth green, where Scheffler displayed a rare flash of emotion.
A vigorous fist pump conveyed his satisfaction at sinking one of several par-saving putts en route to victory.
While some who crave high-octane emotion from their sporting heroes may have been disappointed, Scheffler’s composed demeanor is integral to his success.
“He doesn’t care to be a superstar. He’s not transcending the game like Tiger did,” observed Jordan Spieth, who a decade ago drew Woods comparisons himself after winning three majors and finishing runner-up in two others between 2015-17.
“I think it’s more so the difference in personality from any other superstar that you’ve seen in the modern era and maybe in any sport.
“I don’t think anybody is like him.”
While Scheffler’s mentality is analytical, his technique is unconventional.
His idiosyncratic footwork appears awkward at times, and is another reason, according to Ireland’s Shane Lowry, why many do not consider him in the same vein as Woods.
“If Scottie’s feet stayed stable and his swing looked like Adam Scott’s, we’d be talking about him in the same words as Tiger,” said Lowry, who secured his sole major title at Royal Portrush in 2019.
“I think because it doesn’t look so perfect, we don’t talk about him like that.
“I think he’s just incredible to watch, and his bad shots are really good. That’s when you know he’s really good.”
From the moment Scheffler’s long-time coach Randy Smith first observed the youngster at their Dallas practice range, he recognized something exceptional.
Smith, then working with PGA Tour professional Joel Edwards, noticed 10-year-old Scheffler, sitting cross-legged nearby, intently absorbing every detail.
“He’s not comparing himself to other eight-year-olds or other 10-year-olds,” Smith, who also coached Justin Leonard to the 1997 Open, wrote for Golf Digest last year., external
“He’s comparing himself to a player on the Korn Ferry Tour, a PGA Tour winner or to the guy who just won the Open Championship.”
Scheffler translated his observations into success on the US junior circuit, then excelled in collegiate golf while pursuing a finance degree at the University of Texas.
His transition to the professional ranks in 2018 was inevitable, but not without its challenges.
Scheffler had to battle for his Korn Ferry Tour qualifying card, securing his playing status in 2019 with a dramatic up-and-down par save—which he later described as the most important scramble of his career.
From that point, his career trajectory accelerated rapidly.
In 2020, Scheffler achieved his first major top-10 finish at the PGA Championship, and his progress earned him the PGA Tour’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ award.
The following year, his Ryder Cup performance marked his arrival as a force to be reckoned with.
“What separates Scottie is his fire,” Smith added.
“It’s not just competitiveness—though he has more of that than anyone I’ve ever coached.
“It’s the pure love of practicing and experimenting and learning things on your own. It’s determination.”
At the outset of this Open week, some questioned whether that fire still burned.
Scheffler raised eyebrows by admitting that he regularly questions his continued pursuit of golf, lamenting the limited time to savor his victories.
However, his jubilant celebration upon winning the Claret Jug—embracing loved ones, tearfully embracing his wife Meredith, and hoisting his son Bennett—demonstrated that his burning desire to win majors remains undiminished.
“When I wake up in the morning, I try and put max effort in each day I get to go out and practise,” he said.
“When I’m working out, when I’m doing the cold tub, doing recovery, I feel like I’m just called to do it to the best of my ability.
“It’s just mostly about putting in the proper work and coming out here and competing.”
Scheffler ‘living dreams’ but ‘more to life than golf’
Even after ascending to the top of the world rankings, some questioned Scheffler’s putting ability.
While statistics indicated his dominance from tee to green, they also highlighted his struggles with the putter.
A decision was made to enlist the expertise of English putting guru Phil Kenyon—whose clientele includes a who’s who of major champions—to improve his performance with the flatstick.
Particular attention was paid to enhancing Scheffler’s green-reading skills and stabilizing his grip.
The adoption of a claw grip—in which the right hand acts as a pincer lower down the shaft—has transformed Scheffler into one of the game’s most reliable putters.
This adjustment contributed to his historic 2024, during which he became the first player to defend the PGA Tour’s Players Championship, win a second Masters, secure Olympic gold, and claim five other titles—achievements reminiscent of Woods.
Leading the putting statistics after three rounds at Portrush, having holed 97% of putts within five feet and 90% within 10 feet, placed him in a commanding position. On Sunday, he converted putts of 14, 15, and 16 feet.
“[The grip] was something we tested out last year and felt comfortable from the start,” Scheffler said.
“I use it as we get closer to the hole, lag putting. Outside of 15 to 20 feet, I’m still putting conventional.
“It was something we felt could help us improve, and so far it has.”
While improved putting has propelled Scheffler to heights akin to those reached by Woods, whether it will enable him to replicate Woods’ long-term achievements remains to be seen.
The Englishman who turned around Scheffler’s putting fortunes