After his display at the Masters of Augusta, achieving his second Green Jacket, and after an exceptional start to the season, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the THE PLAYERS, the name of Scottie Scheffler is on everyone’s lips in the world of golf. It is not surprising, therefore, that the players who have passed through the press room in the preview of the RBC Heritage of the PGA Tour have been questioned about the total and absolute dominance that the Number One in the world currently exerts.
“He’s been ‘annoying’ everyone for three months, right? It’s incredible… There are no words to talk about him, how much I appreciate and value him as a golfer and as a person,” began Matt Fitzpatrick. “I don’t know Scottie very well off the field, but there’s no doubt he’s down to earth. And I think that’s made it easier for everyone to support him. It’s a great sign in a person,” insisted the English golfer.
“Obviously, when he’s so successful, it’s even more impressive. So, yes, I watched his last four or five holes on Sunday and the shots he hit were incredible. No disrespect to the tournament, but the way he was playing was as if he was doing it at home with friends. I think that’s the difference from where he is compared to many other guys right now. It seems like he has the ball sewn with a thread. And when you can do that, it’s impressive,” explained Matt.
Brian Harman also used irony when asked if he was surprised that after winning the Masters, Scheffler played this week… and if he expected him not to: “Yes, there are many parts of me that hope he doesn’t play. But no, I’m not surprised. He’s one of those guys that when he commits to doing something, he does it. Yes, he’s as impressive as you think. I remember when he arrived, I was talking to him about football in Texas, trying to get a reaction out of him, but he didn’t give me one. I was joking with him, I was impressed that he didn’t take the bait.”
“I think it was his rookie year or his second year. We were playing in Detroit. He had a bad score on the first day, but on the second day he comes out, practically with no chance of making the cut, and shoots 65. It was impressive because most guys in their first year would have given up, but he stuck with his routine and got a great result. His success hasn’t surprised me. He has the mental strength and the perfect behaviour to do what he’s doing,” he recalled.
From the outside, it seems that the gap between Scottie and the rest of the players is widening a little more each time. Does Harman see it that way? “It also seems that way from the inside. It’s the essence of our game and I’m sure the guys felt the same when Tiger won every tournament he stepped on. Now it seems that if Scottie shows up with anything more than a B game, he’ll probably be there. He’s been very consistent. He works hard.”
“I remember at this year’s THE PLAYERS, he had just won at Bay Hill the day before and on Monday afternoon he was already on the course, ball after ball, shot after shot, working and working. He has a great dedication and a great mental focus on the game. I don’t think he’s valued enough for how he putts. Everyone seems bent on criticising his putt, but to me it seems quite good,” he insisted.
As for the comparison he makes between Scheffler and Tiger, Harman clarifies: “Let’s see, in 2012 I think Tiger won five times. He swept the Invitationals… and it seems that Scottie and his trajectory would be very comparable in that. Yes, he’s extremely good and he’s playing extremely well. I’m super excited for him and for Meredith to welcome their son into the world. They’re going to be fantastic parents. He’s a very nice person to be around. There are no words for all the good that Scottie has.”
