If Scottie Scheffler’s recent victory at the Hero World Challenge is any indication, another dominant season on the PGA Tour may be on the horizon.
Scheffler won eight times in 2024 and earned over $60m in prize money, the kind of form reminiscent of Tiger Woods‘ heyday in the mid-2000s.
Whenever a new dominant force emerges in professional golf, comparisons to the 15-time major winner are made; fans, pundits and players are eager to know if Scheffler can match Woods’ records.
Woods believes he and Scheffler are very similar, and if the two-time Masters winner continues to improve, records will tumble.
Justin Thomas reacts to Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods comparison
Justin Thomas, speaking before the season-opener at The Sentry, was quizzed on the Scheffler-Woods comparisons.
Thomas was asked: “You might be too young for this, but what do you think Scottie has to do this year to be looked at by players the way Tiger once was?”
The two-time major winner replied: “Keep breathing?”
The reporter then added: “You were there for the, you saw Tiger winning majors, but not kind of the absolute younger, where there was an intimidation level?”
“Yeah, be like, I can’t beat this guy, I’m playing for second, that kind of thing,” Thomas added.
“I mean, he just does it so differently, but I think his demeanour, his demeanour I think could, it could be — I shouldn’t say — obviously it wouldn’t be easier than it was for Tiger, but it could be easy for people to kind of fear, or it would be hard to play against him because how even-keeled he is.
“I mean, he does show emotion, he gets pissed off, but he just, you know, he’s not, you know, waving to the crowd, doing all this. Like, I watched highlights of him so many times, and I’m so impressed by just how he’s like this; he’s so focused and just is playing the best that he can, hitting every shot the best that he can so much, and it’s like he’s not playing anything else or anybody else, and I think he just, yeah, just keep doing what he’s doing. Selfishly, hopefully not. Hopefully, I can take some wins from him, but he’s doing all right.”
When is Scottie Scheffler playing next on the PGA Tour?
Golf fans will have to wait to catch a glimpse of Scheffler on the PGA Tour in 2025 after the world number one withdrew from The Sentry. Scheffler is still scheduled to play The American Express, however.
The 28-year-old was involved in a freak Christmas Day accident which saw him undergo surgery on his hand. CBS pundit and podcaster Rick Gehman believes the event on January 16 could come too soon.
“I am a little concerned about the location of it. The palm, the hands and the connection to the golf club are so important to these golfers,” he said. “I am sure he will take his time to heal up. The report we got was three to four weeks; I would actually rule out The Amex for him; that is 22 days away. Three weeks and one day from Christmas day to Thursday until the American Express. It seems unlikely that he plays that.”
Scheffler is confirmed to play three more events in the first two months of the season. If he returns to the course in La Quinta, the world number one will then play the AT&T at Pebble Beach, WM Phoenix Open and Genesis Invitational at Riviera.
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