Anyone who doubted whether Scottie Scheffler was going to return to the level which allowed him to dominate in 2024 is probably feeling a little foolish this morning.
Scottie Scheffler produced an outstanding performance to win The CJ CUP Byron Nelson for the first time in his career. The world number one finished 31 under par for the week to win by eight at TPC Craig Ranch.
It is fair to say that Scheffler had one hand on the trophy at the halfway stage. But it was remarkable just how he kept his foot on the pedal – almost sending a message to his rivals ahead of the second major of the year.
Admittedly, the event did not boast the strongest field. However, Scheffler probably would have still won at a canter up against the best players on the PGA Tour.
The shot Scottie Scheffler hit at The CJ CUP Byron Nelson which was reminiscent of Tiger Woods
And if there was any doubt about how good Scheffler’s performance was, it seems that he produced one shot during the final round which was reminiscent of Tiger Woods.
One of the most iconic shots of Woods’ career came at the 2000 Canadian Open when he hit a stunning approach from 218 yards on the final hole. Woods found himself in the sand likely needing a birdie to win.
But rather than take the safe approach, Woods hit the most audacious shot from the bunker over the water and on line with the pin. He would end up making the four he needed to hold off Grant Waite.
And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard suggested that Scheffler’s second shot into the ninth on Sunday had shades of arguably the greatest talent to ever play the game.
“He told me late last year and I was trying to get him to reflect on his season at the Hero World Challenge, and he said the best golf he played was the final nine at the Olympics to win the gold medal, to overtake Jon Rahm. And whatever it is he did well that Sunday in Paris, I think he probably did it well for multiple nines this week at the Byron Nelson. He never looked like he was flustered, he never looked like his game wasn’t quite right, he never really looked like he gave himself much of a chance to make a big number. And I think the best way the CBS crew described it was it looked like he was playing video game golf. It really looked like Golden Tee out there where he was just pointing and shooting and the ball was going exactly where he wanted it to,” he said.
“The moment that stood out to me was on the ninth hole, and you and I tried to get Johnson Wagner on tonight in the boots on the ground segment, but he had an early flight and he is going to do something really cool along these lines later this summer, but on the ninth hole today, Scottie had I think it was 230 yards, and they were debating a four iron, a three iron, and I think Ian Baker-Finch on the telecast actually said you could wedge this up there and then you would have another wedge in and you can make a four that way as well. And he launched it to 20 feet, and it was one of those shots where it was almost felt like Tiger Woods at Glen Abbey. And I hate doing that, I always get feedback when I compare anything to Tiger Woods. But that shot felt like he didn’t have to do it, he certainly didn’t have to do it.
“He did it because he wanted to. He did it because, ‘yep, I’m pretty sure I can pull this off, don’t worry about it’. Teddy didn’t even have to step in, he didn’t have to have a long conversation. It was, ‘no, I’ve got this’, step back.”
Scottie Scheffler’s stunning iron play is back
There is no question what the greatest strength of Scheffler’s game was this past week. It was vintage Scheffler when he had an iron in his hand.
Remarkably, he gained nearly 13 shots on the field just in his approach play to the green, according to the PGA Tour website. Unsurprisingly, he was inside in the top four in that particular category for all four days at TPC Craig Ranch.
That is definitely something for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau to think about ahead of the PGA Championship.
Scheffler was building such an impressive season without winning. But that pressure has now been lifted.
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