Scottie Scheffler was well off the boil at The Players Championship last week, while Cam Young earned his second win on the PGA Tour at TPC Sawgrass.
In fairness to Scheffler, he still managed to finish in a tie for 22nd at The Players Championship, despite the distinctly average golf that he played throughout the week.
The 29-year-old world number one has not finished outside the top-25 since way back in August 2024!
Can you name three better players than Cameron Young right now? 🏆
Young won The Players by one shot after making birdie on the tough 17th hole and parring the immensely difficult 18th at TPC Sawgrass.
The 28-year-old New Yorker made the game look very easy in Ponte Vedra Beach last week while Scheffler had to fight incredibly hard to post a four-round total of five-under-par.
In fact, Scheffler was so frustrated with his game at The Players that he ducked out of speaking to the media after two of his four rounds.
That is so out of character for the man from Dallas, Texas, and it was a sign that he is really feeling the pressure right now.
He is clearly not comfortable with his golf swing and as a result, Scheffler’s emotions have been boiling over out on the golf course.
However, Cam Young’s impressive victory may be just what Scheffler needs to help him rediscover his dominant form.
Why Cam Young’s Players Championship win was a really good thing for Scottie Scheffler
First of all, it’s worth highlighting that Scheffler has recorded some really impressive results this year.
He has a win and two top-5 finishes to his name, as well as a T-12 and two top-25s.
Scheffler’s form so far this year has been considerably better than how he started the 2025 PGA Tour season.
However, anyone who has watched Scheffler play this season will be well aware that something isn’t quite right with his swing.
The source of his problems has been his poor iron play. The man who has ranked first in strokes gained approach over the past three seasons is ranked down in 78th this year in that statistical category.
Despite what he has been saying to the media, Scheffler will know full well that he needs to improve.
If the world number one is to win a major championship this season, he unequivocally needs to sharpen up every single aspect of his game.
And that is why Young’s win at The Players will be so important for Scheffler. The 28-year-old has proven that the Texan will have another worthy adversary this year and beyond.
And Scheffler has proven in the past that he gains motivation from his rivals winning big events.
Extra motivation is exactly what Scottie Scheffler needs
Scheffler’s most formidable opponent over the past few years has been Rory McIlroy, and that was especially the case in 2025.
When McIlroy dramatically won The Masters in April of last year, he completed the career Grand Slam in the process.
It was also his third win of the season, while Scheffler had zero victories to his name up to that point in time.
Do you think Scottie Scheffler is ‘too boring’ or ‘overly emotional’?
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After The Masters, Scheffler admitted that McIlroy’s win motivated him to work even harder on his game.
And the rest is history. The 29-year-old went on to win seven of the final 13 events that he played in 2025, including two major championships.
Now there is a good chance that Cam Young’s victory at The Players Championship will really kick Scheffler into gear.
He will be under no illusions about the fact that he needs to sharpen up the technical aspect of his golf swing.
And with players like Young breathing down his neck, he will have to work even harder to maintain his position as the game’s most dominant player.
If you stand still in any elite sport, you will be overtaken very quickly. There is a copious amount of talented young players coming through the ranks who are desperate to take Scheffler’s crown.
The question is: How will he respond? Judging by last year, nobody should bet against the man from Dallas, Texas, recording multiple wins between now and the end of the season.
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