It is incredibly difficult to argue that Scottie Scheffler has got anything wrong at all over the last few years, with the world number one dominating the PGA Tour for some time now.
There is little question that Scottie Scheffler is the best player on the planet currently. He has won 15 times since the start of 2024, including three major championships.
But perhaps the 29-year-old still has something of a point to prove heading into the 2026 season – as ridiculous as that sounds.
All but four of Scheffler’s victories to date have come in North America.
Scottie Scheffler urged to follow in Rory McIlroy’s footsteps
Scheffler has proved that he can win elsewhere. His performance at The Open Championship this season was incredible.
However, it seems fair to say that Scheffler would be quite content to play almost all of his golf in the States.
But with the PGA Tour working out how to capitalise on the game’s current momentum, there is an argument that Brian Rolapp should be trying to increase the tour’s appeal with the global markets.
And speaking on Golf Channel, Todd Lewis suggested that it is imperative that more players – including Scheffler – embrace a similar mentality to Rory McIlroy when it comes to playing across the world.
“There is an opportunity for the PGA Tour to align with other tours, probably specifically the DP World Tour, but the problem they’re going to run into, the PGA Tour, is trying to convince elite American players to step outside the United States and play in these events,” he said.
“I don’t understand why these great American players don’t go out and play internationally like Rory McIlroy does, brilliantly by the way, more than they do, but that’s just kind of been the MO. Scottie Scheffler, we love Scottie Scheffler, he is a dominant player, whenever he shows up now he’s the top draw, maybe at least with Rory McIlroy if they’re in the same tournament, but rarely does he step outside the United States to play big events globally.
“So I think it is a great opportunity, but they’re really going to have to sell it to the elite players, the PGA Tour officials that is.”
The reason Scottie Scheffler does not play more often internationally
Scheffler did explain ahead of this year’s Scottish Open why he does not play internationally more often.
The four-time major winner admitted that he is not particularly motivated by the chance to play outside of the United States once the PGA Tour season comes to a conclusion.
“I haven’t really played too much golf internationally. I always come over here and try to play this tournament and The Open Championship. I haven’t played in Asia or Australia yet as a professional,” he said.
“Really, with the way our schedule is on Tour, the thing that’s most important to me is my time at home. It would be wonderful to be able to play an international schedule, but right now we play most of our tournaments in the States and I come over here for these few weeks.
“The off-season for us is typically where guys will go play in Asia and Australia or start the year in Dubai. For me, it’s important to get time at home because that’s my priority and playing tournaments that I can.”
You have to give Scheffler credit for his honesty – and it is hard to argue with his reasoning.
The challenge for the PGA Tour, as Lewis notes, would be to make these star players care about events elsewhere.
There are some big names who head to Japan for the Baycurrent Classic each year. So there is definitely potential there. But clearly, we are probably a long way off the PGA Tour adding a raft of international events to its schedule.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
