Scottie Scheffler dominates at the Byron Nelson. Wins by eight strokes and dutifully follows the winner’s ritual with the media. It’s his tournament, where he has lived since he was six years old, when his family moved from New Jersey to Texas. His home. He spent hours and hours of his childhood on the practice range, mesmerised by the stars of the time, learning, trying to imitate, forging a dream. “I don’t have any specific memories, I just know I loved being on the practice range and following the practice rounds because you could see the shots better, up close. The two or three weeks after the tournament, I spent hitting balls. I dreamed of playing with those new balls and on those perfect courses, but I never dreamed of getting this far,” Scheffler says, especially moved.
The Byron Nelson was Scheffler’s first tournament on the PGA Tour when he was only 17 years old. That has made the victory much more emotional, although the double Masters de Augusta champion is not one to look back. Quite the opposite. A minute after winning at the TPC Craig Ranch, he was already thinking about the next challenge. No one asked him directly, but in his mind, the PGA Championship was already looming. Everyone better get ready for what’s coming.
Specifically, the question was about Rory McIlroy and how his victory at the Masters might have inspired him. That’s when his most competitive flame ignited again. “Every time someone beats you, it inspires you, of course. But above all, it motivates you to compete. That’s the beauty of this sport. Every week you have a new opportunity. This week I was the best. Now I have a week off, and we’ll see who is the best at the PGA. Rory has been playing tremendous golf this year. The Grand Slam was very special, and I’m glad I was there. Whenever you get beaten, it pushes you a bit more to go out and practice. I’m excited for what’s coming this season,” he notes. So, the PGA. Everyone better get ready. Scheffler is eager for a rematch.
His victory at the Byron Nelson is the fourteenth of his career on the PGA Tour and the tenth in the last 14 months. However, Scottie does not rest on his laurels, quite the opposite. There’s an anecdote with Erik Van Rooyen during the final round this Sunday that perfectly defines his tremendous capacity for improvement. “I knew he was going to play well. He’s a great golfer, works hard. When we were in the scoring area, he asked me what club I used on the bunker shot at 18. He’s always looking to improve,” he explains. That’s Scheffler, who finds greatness in what many would consider insignificant questions. For him, it’s a reflection of his desire.
Perhaps, now that he’s broken the ice, it’s a good time to review Scheffler’s numbers in 2025. He has played nine tournaments, won one, finished in the top four three other times, has six top 10s, and his worst result has been a 25th at the Phoenix Open. He hasn’t missed a cut since the FedEX St Jude in 2022, two and a half years ago. And the PGA is just around the corner…
