Scottie Scheffler is already eyeing a third Masters title aged just 28, with another opportunity for success arriving next week.
Scheffler has been backed for Masters contention this time around, having won the tournament in both 2022 and 2024.
Augusta National plays host to the major championship once more, with Scheffler enjoying a ‘solid week’ at the Houston Open in his latest Masters preparation.
The world number one has now made six PGA Tour starts in 2025 so far, but won’t take on the Valero Texas Open this week.
Scheffler has made the cut in all six tournaments, with three top 10 finishes to his name, including a T2 finish in Houston.
Scottie Scheffler ‘embarrassed’ about four putting on the 18th at Augusta
All focus will now be on shining at the Masters once more, although the two-time champion has now spent time looking back on his first win there in 2022.
As per The Masters on YouTube, Scheffler recalled of the 17th hole: “I had built up what I think was a five shot lead.
“I believe Rory [McIlroy] had already posted, and he had posted pretty far in front of me, so I knew the score I had to beat and with a five shot lead going down 17 and 18 I think I got a little bit out of focus on the tee shot.
“I missed it 50 yards right of the fairway with a three wood and had to settle down. I gave myself a talking to to stay focused and hit a nice pitch out and then it was really great hitting that ball in close to have a five shot lead going into 18 and just be able to rest and enjoy it.”
And moving onto the 18th, he noted: “Sunday with the lead really I am just trying to make sure I don’t hit any of the trees, because really it is a hard tee shot.
“I think of Saturday in 2022 where I hit it in the junk and had to take an unplayable. It’s so narrow coming out of that shoot, it’s not even a hole you can curl it that much you basically just have to hit it dead straight down the middle of that fairway.
| Position | Player | Score | To par |
| 1 | Scottie Scheffler | 69-67-71-71=278 | −10 |
| 2 | Rory McIlroy | 73-73-71-64=281 | −7 |
| T3 | Shane Lowry | 73-68-73-69=283 | −5 |
| Cameron Smith | 68-74-68-73=283 | ||
| 5 | Collin Morikawa | 73-70-74-67=284 | −4 |
“I remember Teddy telling me as we were walking to the green to soak everything in and look around and enjoy it.
“I did that and ended up four putting. I was slightly embarrassed but at the same time I was overjoyed and relieved that the tournament was over and I had accomplished winning the tournament. My whole family was there, Meredith was back there, it was really special.”
How Scottie Scheffler avoided 2022 Masters mistake in 2024
Scheffler was perhaps understandably overcome with emotion at the time, with other issues such as pressure and adrenaline likely also playing a part.
But very uncharacteristically, he missed a birdie putt on the 18th before missing two short putts and eventually tapping in for a double-bogey.
He did, however, still manage to finish on 10-under, three shots ahead of McIlroy and five ahead of Shane Lowry and Cameron Smith.
Scheffler quickly made it a priority not to suffer a similar embarrassment, with that approach helping him triumph at Augusta just two years later.
“In 2024 I made it a goal to not lose my focus,” he continued. “I said in 2022 I lost my focus on 17 off the tee and on 18 on the green.
“In 2024 going down the stretch I really made it a goal to stay locked in all the time and I did a good job of that.
“I kept my head down as we were walking up 18 and saved the celebrating for after the final putt dropped and was able to make a nice up and down and finish the tournament off the right way.”
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