Scottie Scheffler is the closest we have seen to Tiger Woods in his prime over the past two decades.
Hank Haney coached Woods, so he is in a great position to comment on the comparisons being made between the 15-time major winner Woods and the newly crowned Open champion Scheffler.
Scheffler himself described the comparisons with Woods as ‘silly’ while talking to the media after his Open victory at Royal Portrush on Sunday.
However, there is no denying that the 29-year-old is on a similar trajectory to the 82-time PGA Tour winner.
This is both of their seasons compared over a three-year span from the 26-29 age range:
Judging by those numbers, Scheffler could even be ahead of Tiger, at this point in his career.
However, it will all be about longevity for the world number one. Can he sustain the form he is showing now for a decade or more?
And will he be able to remain injury free throughout the remainder of his career?
If he does, we could well see Scheffler produce something very special over the next decade.
Hank Haney reacts to Scottie Scheffler comparisons with Tiger Woods
Scheffler is the only player who has even come close to producing the levels of golf that Woods did, since the 15-time major winner burst onto the scene nearly three decades ago now.
The 29-year-old is a completely different character to the man many label as the greatest to ever do it.
Woods was a charismatic, loud and brash character on the golf course – a golfer who relied on energy from the crowd to bring out the best in him.
Scheffler is the polar opposite in the way that he goes about his business. That doesn’t mean to say that one way is better than the other, it just is what it is.
Woods’ former coach Haney has reacted to the comparisons being made between his ex-student and the current world number one.
“No one has ever played the game better than Tiger.“
It’s true what Haney says. However, we are seeing Scheffler getting mighty close to the dominance that Tiger showed all those years ago.
Why Scottie Scheffler can catch Tiger Woods’ major record
Woods’ haul of 82 PGA Tour wins may well be out of reach for Scheffler, due to the strength in depth on the PGA Tour these days.
However, the great man’s tally of 15 major championships may well be attainable for the man from Dallas, Texas.
Scheffler goes about his business in such a calm, nonplussed manner. He never gets flustered and crucially, his quality of life does not depend on how he plays on the golf course.
Woods was obsessed with chasing records while Scheffler works hard on the practice ground and then has an attitude of what will be, will be.
The 29-year-old values being a good father and husband more than being a good golfer, and that’s the way it should be.
Meanwhile, Tiger didn’t have his first child until June 2007, by which time he had already won 12 of his 15 major championships.
As mentioned before, the two golfers are completely different in almost every sense, apart from one.
They are identical when it comes down to their competitiveness on the golf course.
It is what Scheffler does off the course and his attitude to playing in golf tournaments that gives him a great chance of emulating Woods’ major record.
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