The Era of Schaeffler's Solo Dominance... 'I am the Post-Tiger'

Men's Golf: Weight Shift from McIlroy to Scheffler
Recent Tournaments: 'Win-Win-Runner-up-Win-Win'
Powerful Long Drives, Top Green Accuracy, Precise Irons
Practice Enthusiast, Diligent and Humble, Devout Christian

He seized the successor's position while his competitors faltered.

Scottie Scheffler (right) is firmly establishing his position as the 'post-Tiger.' Scheffler and Tiger Woods are smiling brightly on the podium at the Hero World Challenge last December.

The protagonist is Scottie Scheffler (USA), the world No. 1. Until now, the player expected to lead the PGA Tour following the 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) was world No. 2 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland). McIlroy delivered outstanding results. Since turning professional in 2007, he has won 24 times on the PGA Tour, including 4 majors, and 17 times on the DP World Tour. He presented a record befitting the title of 'Post-Tiger.' Even amid fierce scouting efforts by LIV Golf, he remained the center of the PGA Tour.

However, this year, the focus shifted from McIlroy to Scheffler. He has become the 'big star' dominating men's golf. Joining the PGA Tour in 2020, he quickly amassed 10 career wins. In 2022, he won 4 tournaments including the Masters, followed by 2 wins last year, and this year added 4 more wins including back-to-back Masters titles. In the 2024 season, he competed in 10 events and finished in the 'top 10' nine times. In his last five tournaments, his record is 'win-win-second place-win-win.'

He ranks first in multiple categories including total wins, prize money ranking ($18,693,235), FedEx Cup points (3,915), scoring average (68.743), and most 'top 10' finishes (9). In contrast, McIlroy has played in 9 events this year but has only one win. He was the sole champion at the '2-man team event' Zurich Classic that ended on the 28th. Mostly, he finishes around 20th place and has been far from the winning competition. It was not enough to stop Scheffler's solo run. Everything belongs to Scheffler, who aims to become the 'new golf emperor.'

Scheffler was born in 1996 in New Jersey, USA, and moved to Texas at age six. He played golf and basketball in high school and enrolled at the prestigious University of Texas for golf in 2014. His senior was the 'golden boy' Jordan Spieth (USA). He won the US Junior Amateur Championship in 2013 and was a member of the Walker Cup team in 2017. He made his first US Open appearance in 2016, shooting 69 on the first day, and was the top amateur in the same tournament the following year. After turning professional in 2018, he won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour (the second-tier tour) in 2019 and was named Player of the Year. He debuted on the regular tour in the 2019/2020 season, earning Rookie of the Year honors with seven 'top 10' finishes, including three 'top 3' placements.

Scottie Scheffler claimed his second Masters title this year. Last year's champion Jon Rahm is putting the green jacket on Scheffler.

He is a master of surges. After more than two years without a win, he exploded in 2022. He won four times in six events: the Phoenix Open in February, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Dell Technologies Match Play in March, and the Masters in April. After the Dell Technologies Match Play, he ascended to No. 1, pushing Jon Rahm (Spain), who had held the top spot for 36 weeks since July 2021, to second place.

He is also rapidly breaking prize money records. He surpassed $50 million in career earnings in just 113 events, the fewest in PGA Tour history. In four seasons, he earned $61,258,464, surpassing Jason Day ($59,389,967, Australia) and Matt Kuchar ($58,849,967, USA), ranking eighth in all-time prize money. Aside from players who moved to LIV Golf, only Woods ($120,999,166), McIlroy ($81,810,229), Jim Furyk (USA, $71,507,269), Vijay Singh (Fiji, $71,281,216), Adam Scott (Australia, $64,290,490), Justin Rose (England, $62,481,391), and Spieth ($62,186,040) have earned more than Scheffler.

He boasts an impressive physique at 191 cm tall and 91 kg. This year, his average driving distance approaches 300 yards (299.3 yards). His fairway hit rate is 74.42% (8th). Above all, his iron shots are exceptional, with a greens in regulation rate of 74.76% (1st). He also leads with 5.38 birdies per round (1st). His putting, once considered a weakness, has improved. He averages 1.669 putts per hole when on the green (1st). His scrambling ability, scoring par or better when missing the green, is 69.81% (5th).

Scottie Scheffler is a diligent and humble 'practice enthusiast' at heart.

Scheffler's strengths are diligence and humility. He is known as a devout Christian who never neglects prayer and Bible reading. Those around him say, "He has no distractions other than golf." His ability to deliver precise shots despite an unconventional swing is thanks to his tremendous practice volume. He met his caddie, Ted Scott, at a Bible study group. Scott was the 'special assistant' who helped Bubba Watson (USA) win the Masters in 2012 and 2014. Scheffler also has a good personality and still casually hangs out with his high school friends.

Im Sung-jae evaluated Scheffler, saying, "He works hard. He practically lives at the short game practice area. I practice a lot too, but he works even harder." He added, "He excels in all aspects including mental strength, ball contact ability, and short game recovery. It seems Scheffler's solo reign will continue for a while." This year, Scheffler has even acquired overwhelming confidence over his competitors. He is a player with an even more promising future ahead.