[Winners Club] Scheffler, Now a Master of the Short Game

Special Event Hero World Challenge Back-to-Back Victory
Boasting Divine Approach and Putting Skills, Displaying the Power of the Strongest
Equipped with Titleist Wedge and TaylorMade Putter
Winning Momentum from 6.78 Strokes Gained Around the Green

Scottie Scheffler (USA) is the world's best. He firmly held onto the No. 1 spot in the men's golf weekly world rankings announced on the 8th (local time). He has not lost the No. 1 position for 1 year and 6 months since May 22 of last year. He has now become the player who has held the world No. 1 ranking for the fourth longest period. Scheffler was criticized for having weak green play compared to his formidable driving distance.

Scottie Scheffler (right) is smiling brightly with caddie Ted Scott immediately after winning the Hero World Challenge. Bahamas=AFP·Yonhap News

However, at the Hero World Challenge (total prize money $5 million), a special PGA Tour event that concluded that day at Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas (par 72, 7,449 yards), it was different. The tournament is hosted by the Tiger Woods Foundation. Although it is not a regular PGA Tour event, world ranking points are at stake. Twenty world-class players competed over four days in a 72-hole event to determine the rankings.

Scheffler showcased flawless play with divine approach shots and putting. After demonstrating overwhelming skill over four days, he achieved a commanding 6-stroke victory (25-under 263). He secured his second consecutive title and earned $1 million (approximately 1.4 billion KRW) in prize money. Winning the Hero World Challenge two years in a row is the third time after Tiger Woods (USA) in 2006 and 2007, and Viktor Hovland (Norway) in 2021 and 2022. This year, Scheffler had his best season, sweeping seven PGA Tour wins including the Masters major championship and winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

Scheffler made 27 birdies over four days, the most among the 20 participants. He had only 2 bogeys, the fewest among the 20 players. In this tournament, he ranked 10th in average driver distance, 3rd in fairway hit rate, and 1st in greens in regulation. A notable record was his short game ability. He scored 6.78 strokes around the green, ranking first in this category. His putting was also outstanding, gaining an impressive 3.845 strokes from putting, also ranking first.

Scheffler carried three Titleist wedges in his bag for this tournament: Vokey Design SM8 (50, 56 degrees) and Vokey Design WedgeWorks SM9 Proto (60 degrees). His putter was the TaylorMade Spider Tour X, with which he put on a 'birdie show.' He exclaimed, "I am very satisfied. I had many good shots and putts. I am happy it led to a victory."

＜Clubs Used When Winning the Hero World Challenge＞

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (8 degrees)

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)

Irons: Srixon ZU85 (#3-4), TaylorMade P7TW (#5-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (50, 56), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks SM9 Proto (60)

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Ball: Titleist Pro V1 *Provided by PGA Tour