What has been particularly remarkable about the way Scottie Scheffler has dominated the game of golf in 2024 is how unspectacular the world number one seems to be when he is going about his business on the course.
Scottie Scheffler won eight times worldwide in 2024; clinching a second major title at The Masters, an Olympic gold medal, a second Players Championship crown, The Tour Championship, and winning four signature events on the PGA Tour. It was frightening just how consistent he was.
Certainly, you could watch Scheffler’s demeanour for the majority of the season and assume that he was struggling to break out from the middle of the park – that made Scheffler’s outburst on Thursday at the Presidents Cup so surprising.
It is incredible just how Scheffler has found a way to turn it on during many of the biggest events. And it becomes even more incredible when you consider that the 28-year-old is seemingly not one who looks to mirror that intensity in practice.
How Scottie Scheffler really disappointed Peter Finch at The Open
Speaking on The Rough Cut Golf Podcast, Peter Finch revealed that he was extremely shocked by how scrappy Scheffler looked when he was getting ready for The Open Championship earlier this year.
“I’m lucky enough that at The Open and other tour events, I’m lucky to get on the range and spend time with the players, see them strike the ball and all the rest of it. But I’d not actually seen Scottie play and practice properly before this year, and obviously he’s had this monumental year,” he said.
“And I was on the range with him at Troon, and you go down the line, and Rory, for example, when he’s hitting, he hits it better than you could imagine. I imagine what Rory’s hitting it like, but when he hits it, I’m like that is just so freaking good. That is special. You go to Bryson, especially when he’s hitting his driver, that is just I can’t see that shot, unbelievable. Brooks when he’s striking his irons, epic. I got to Scottie on the range, I was like, ‘he’s dogging it. This is really disappointing’.
“I expected to be stood there completely bowled over, ‘oh my god, this is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen’. And he’s heeling it, he’s thinning it, I can’t compute, I don’t understand what’s happening here, I don’t get it.”
The world number one’s greatest skill
It is amazing how some players are simply incapable of finding their best form unless the spotlight is on them. And Scheffler is clearly one of those who thrives most when the pressure is on and he is facing a shot which could, in his mind, decide a tournament.
It was stunning how Scheffler flew through the field on the back nine at the Olympics. Meanwhile, he has rarely faltered once he has got himself out in front.
With that, perhaps Scheffler’s greatest skill – out of all of them – has become working out when exactly he needs to be able to kick his game into top gear and produce his best performances.
How did Scottie Scheffler perform at The 2024 Open
It was an interesting event for Scheffler at Royal Troon. He did not manage to post a single round in the 60s all week, and yet, ended up finishing in a tie for seventh. In fact, Scheffler was very much in contention for much of the early stages of the Sunday.
However, Scheffler essentially made a four-putt on the ninth at Troon, which seemingly marked the end of his challenge as Xander Schauffele went on to take charge of the tournament.
Scheffler would ultimately finish eight shots back of the world number two in the final major of the year.
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