Scottie Scheffler has been the player who has set the standard on the PGA Tour over the last few years, with the world number one producing the most dominant spell the game has seen since Tiger Woods was at the peak of his powers.
Scottie Scheffler is on a trajectory which could see him become one of the greatest golfers of all time. He already has four major titles under his belt and is a US Open victory away from completing the Career Grand Slam.
He is the player who you would imagine most of the PGA Tour now looks up to. Scheffler makes everything look so simple, but the results have been devastating.
Keegan Bradley is going to need Scheffler to set the standard at the Ryder Cup next month. But of course, the 29-year-old cannot win the event on his own.
Scottie Scheffler lauds ‘special’ PGA Tour player
For American fans, the form of Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa will be particularly concerning heading into Bethpage. However, Europe will not be taking Bradley’s team lightly.
One of the players who could be a dark horse to make a big contribution is Russell Henley. Henley is one of the players who has automatically qualified for the team.
Scheffler and Henley formed such an impressive partnership at the 2024 Presidents Cup. And speaking ahead of the Tour Championship, Scheffler was full of praise for his countryman.
“Yeah, Russell is a tremendously hard worker. When I’m in the gym, I see him in the gym. When I’m out practicing, I see him out practicing. Russell is a guy I look up to for a variety of reasons. He’s a great person; he’s a great golfer as well. Anytime you see a guy who puts in the amount of effort that Russell puts into becoming a good golfer and seeing him have success, it really is special to see,” he said.
What Scottie Scheffler said about Russell Henley during the Presidents Cup
There was real pressure on Henley heading into the Presidents Cup once it became apparent that he would be playing alongside Scheffler.
Scheffler’s record in the previous two team events had been extremely poor. And the US were overwhelming favourites to continue their dominance of the Presidents Cup.
Henley was able to step up and deliver in Montreal.
He won three points from four matches, with two victories in three matches alongside Scheffler. And after the pair came from three down to beat Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im on Saturday afternoon, Scheffler suggested that his partner should take all of the credit.
“I’ve got to give a ton of credit to Russ. I felt like I messed up the beginning of the match. I felt like I was on a different planet for the first six holes, really the first five holes. Starting on number six I hit a good shot in there, and I don’t think Russ missed a shot today. I can’t think of one shot I thought he could have hit better. Props to my guy here; he’s a great partner and I’m just proud to be out here with him,” he said.
“Well, I’ve got a tough partner. I really do. Sometimes out there, that’s what’s great about team golf, you don’t get to experience too much. He really picked me up because I felt like I was letting him down early in the match. I really was,” he added.
Henley will be a leading candidate to partner Scheffler once again at Bethpage. But Bradley will surely be confident that the 36-year-old will be able to make an impact whoever is standing alongside him.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
