Jason Day has claimed that what Scottie Scheffler is doing in the game of golf has not been seen since Tiger Woods was at the peak of his powers, but there is something which the world number one does not do which Woods did.
Scottie Scheffler has written another incredible chapter in the story of his 2024, with the 28-year-old winning the Olympic gold medal at Le Golf National after tying the course record with a 62 on Sunday.
Scheffler winning, in hindsight, felt entirely predictable, and yet, you are still left in complete astonishment at what The Masters champion is capable of, as he came from four off the lead to stand atop the podium in Paris.
He has now won seven times in 2024. In fact, he became the first player since Arnold Palmer in 1962 to win six events in a single season on the PGA Tour before the end of June. And he is edging closer to writing his name in the pantheon of the all-time greats who have played the sport.
Jason Day suggests difference between Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods
For many, there is no-one greater than Tiger Woods. Certainly, many of the world’s best right now would cite Woods as their inspiration.
Speaking after his final round at the Olympics, Jason Day was asked when the last time he had seen someone be this dominant. He went on to note that there are differences between Scheffler and Woods.
“Tiger. I had a really short spurt where I did everything right and I just felt like I could win every single week, which is funny to say but that’s what I felt like. I did for a moment there. But like he’s doing some things that we haven’t seen in a long while, and it’s impressive to watch,” he said.
“The difference between Tiger and Rory, when you watch Scottie, like I know that like from tee-to-green, he’s amazing. I say this in the most respectful away, he doesn’t blow you away like what a Tiger Woods would do or a Rory McIlroy would do. Doesn’t make mistakes. He hits it in the right spots and does the right things. He’s got unbelievable control with his iron play, and when he misses a green, he’s got a good short game to back it up. He’s got such a complete game.
“He’s really hard to play against because you know that he’s never going to make a mistake but that’s something that we have to elevate our games to. We have to catch him one way or another. That just means more work.”
World number one certainly has that special aura
Woods’ aura almost came from the fact that he would find a way to win, no matter how wayward he was off the tee and how much trouble he would get himself into on a golf course. And every golf fan could probably recall a putt from Woods most would have missed where they were convinced that it was never going anywhere other than the bottom of the cup.
Scheffler’s putting is obviously a weakness compared with the rest of his game. But he is so imperious from tee to green that it often does not matter how average he is on the greens.
And if Scheffler extends this dominance over the next few years, then golf definitely has its next Tiger Woods – even if he largely goes about his business on the course in a vastly different way.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
