Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler have been 2024’s standout performers, and Justin Thomas has pinpointed something they both do so impressively.
The duo haven’t been afraid to heap praise on one another throughout the season. Schauffele recently said Scheffler’s season was exceptional, and the world number one has thrown similar compliments back at the 30-year-old.
As the FedEx Cup top 50 compete at the BMW Championship, Schauffele will be hoping to close the gap on Scheffler ahead of the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake, a venue where he’s typically thrived.
Justin Thomas explains why Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are so impressive
Thomas now had his say on his compatriots and claimed that Scheffler and Schauffele both have extremely well-rounded games, which set them apart in 2024.
“I wouldn’t say they approach it the same way,” Thomas explained. “They’re both really good at everything. I think that’s something that’s very similar with them both, especially this year, is that every aspect of the game they do really well. So that’s always a good thing.”
The two-time PGA Championship winner went on to laud Schauffele’s putting in particular.
Thomas added: “I think I’ve always said if you could choose any player on TOUR to have a putt on your line that you can get a read from, I think Xander is No. 1, how well he rolls it, and he lines it up, and the ball rolls end over end every time. It’s very, very impressive watching him go around a course.”
“Both of them are so good at minimizing mistakes. I think that’s why they’ve found themselves in contention so often because they make so few bogeys that as many birdie chances as they give themselves, it’s kind of hard not to.”
PGA Tour Player of the Year is a foregone conclusion
There’s no doubt Scheffler will claim the Player of the Year award. The 28-year-old has been sensational since the turn of the year and has landed some of golf’s biggest titles.
However, there’s a solid argument to suggest many PGA Tour professionals would prefer Schauffele’s double-major winning season.
Golf’s greats are remembered for their major championship resumes. When Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus are compared, the discourse almost always returns to their major records.
After winning The Open and PGA Championship, Schauffele has etched himself into the history books – and it’s something all tour players would love on their resumes.
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