– If Scottie Scheffler doesn’t manage to win the RBC Heritage today, and it’s certainly not easy for him (he’s four shots behind the leader), it would somehow add fuel to the fire of a debate that has become essential in 2025, based on the answer to this blunt question: how is it that this man hasn’t managed to win yet this season?
Let’s be objective: it’s possible that in 2025 he has lost a certain knack for timing, an inexplicable intangible, but it exists (the famous dynamics); and perhaps at times he has appeared somewhat more anxious than usual to get the win counter going again. As a result of all this, it’s even possible, if we look closely, that his tee-to-green game, overall, hasn’t been as absolutely excellent compared to 2024…
– But it turns out that if he finishes the tournament exactly as he is right now, after 54 holes, he would rise to second place in the FedEx Cup rankings, only behind Rory Mcilroy, naturally, because it’s the Northern Irishman who, to date, this year, is operating in dimensions more akin to the exosphere. Yes, Scottie, the greatness of a player is also measured, or above all, by the excellence and height of their ‘failures’ or, rather, their setbacks. Or fiascos.
– Moreover, this ‘hesitant’ Scheffler, who hasn’t quite found the path to victory (let’s not rule him out yet at Harbour Town), is in second place in the two major and most revealing statistics that measure the average strokes per round, only behind… Have you guessed it? Correct: only behind Rory. Let’s say that, as of today, with the results in hand, Rory is a World Number 2 acting as Number One and Scheffler is a Number One acting as Number 2… Well, what a failure.
– Of course, Scheffler has plenty of resources on a golf course. He possesses so many and so varied that it’s common to conclude that even in the less polished weeks, he’s capable of scraping a top ten and even a top 5. However, beyond how well-rounded these clichés may sound, it’s worth remembering that behind his remarkable records lies a fierce determination and commitment to honour his status as World Number One.
– He was also fighting for victory last Sunday at the Masters, and here he is again. This week, there are up to twelve players in Hilton Head who finished in the top 20 in Augusta last week (Rose, Scheffler, Im, Aberg, Conners, Day, Schauffele, English, Homa, Hoge, Morikawa, and Spieth). Well, of all of them, the best on the leaderboard after 54 holes, by far, and surely the only one going out today with some chance of victory is Scheffler. He’s very good, agreed. But it’s not enough. Something more is needed: commitment and determination.
