Scottie Scheffler ‘superpower’ ensured PGA Tour vs LIV Golf battle was no contest at Masters
Scottie Scheffler continued his recent dominance by winning the Masters as he brushed aside LIV Golf and PGA Tour rivals with relative ease at Augusta National
The Scottie Scheffler “era” has started in golf and the new Masters champion is “going to be a force for years to come”.
The devout world No.1 was keener to make a quick return home to Dallas to see his pregnant wife Meredith after his second Major triumph than praise his own virtues. But players and pundits queued to pay tribute to the undisputed best player in the world who has now won a remarkable nine titles – including two Masters – since his breakthrough win in February 2022.
Scheffler has not been out of the top 10 in his last seven events. He’s 142 under par for 35 rounds. He has won three of his last four events – and missed a putt to reach a playoff in the other.
The first major of the season was a long-awaited clash between the best on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. It was no contest.
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His caddie Ted Scott said: “The guy is a different kind of special. I think his superpower is people that are super powerful are good at everything, and he seems to be good at everything. He doesn’t really have a weakness.”
World No.65 Luke List said: “It’s phenomenal. He’s probably just trying to bottle it and keep it going as long as possible. Without question, he’s going to be a force for years to come.”
Golf Channel Brandel Chamblee analyst said: “It was the dawn of dominance. It was the beginning of an era. What we saw today was the birth of a superstar.”
The 2022 Masters champion joins Tiger Woods as the only player who has won multiple Majors as world No.1. The 15-time Major winner did it 11 times. The two are also very different people. But the way the rest of the field fell away as the hot favourite posted seven birdies in his final round 68 was reminiscent of Tiger in his prime.
Max Homa, who finished tied third, admitted: “You just know that he’s just going to play well, and he’s going to be there, and you’re going to have to do something special at some point, chip in, make a long putt, and I just didn’t do that.”
Scheffler played with world No.2 in the opening two rounds and shot a level-par 72 in the wind on Friday while McIlroy came home in 77. The American showed the Ulsterman, who finished tied 23rd in his 10th attempt to complete the career Grand Slam, how to get the job done in Augusta.
Scheffler brushed aside his rivals with a sensational performance
Asked what is in Scheffler’s head right now, McIlroy said: “Nothing. Nothing. Not a lot of clutter. The game feels pretty easy when you’re in stretches like this.”
It has not always been like this. And Scheffler decided after the Tour Championships last year that he needed help with his putting – and called in Southport-based greens guru Phil Kenyon who works with Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick. Last year here a frustrated Scheffler finished 53rd for putting after taking 127 putts to finish tied 10th. This year he was third in the field with fewest putts with 109. “It’s scary that he’s kind of flipped a switch in his putting,” added List.
Media-shy Kenyon was among the first to embrace Scheffler after his latest win – and he thanked him along with his long-time coach Randy Smith in the trophy ceremony. “Thank you for stepping in and helping us,” said the world No.1. “I look forward to you being part of the team for years to come.”
Now the only obstacle to ongoing world domination is impending fatherhood. “My priorities will change here very soon,” he said. My son or daughter will now be the main priority, along with my wife, so golf will now be probably fourth in line. But I still love competing. I love winning. I hate losing. I really do. When I’m sitting there with the lead on Sunday, I really, really want to win badly. I don’t plan on taking my eye off the ball anytime soon, that’s for sure.
After four players in the top five last year, it was a less successful Masters for LIV Golf players with Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau sharing sixth place Tyrrell Hatton finished tied ninth in his best Masters performance.