Scottie Scheffler continues to drag rabbits out of hats, producing magic not seen on the PGA Tour since prime Tiger Woods.
Scheffler signed for an 8-under 63 Saturday on the RBC Heritage, hovering up the leaderboard and into the lead. He carded his thirty ninth straight spherical at even-par or higher, the second-longest streak seen on tour since 1983. Solely Woods has bested that mark with 52 such rounds in 2000 and 2001, when he accomplished the famed ‘Tiger Slam’ by successful 4 straight main championships.
Talking of majors, Scheffler arrived in Hilton Head “emotionally drained” after his historic win at Augusta Nationwide final week, and understandably so. As such, Scheffler maintained a low profile, practiced on the vary after his arrival Tuesday, and performed the again 9 throughout Wednesday’s pro-am. He then stated he would see the entrance 9 on Thursday morning and go from there.
He didn’t get off to an incredible begin on Thursday, making a double on the par-4 third gap. However he did salvage that mistake with two birdies on the entrance.
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Scheffler closed his opening spherical with two birdies on 16 and 17 to shoot a 2-under 69. Then, on Friday, the two-time Masters winner carded a 5-under 66 to get into the combination, however nothing may examine to what Scheffler did Saturday.
“I felt like my ball-striking was actually good at the moment. Hit a whole lot of greens,” Scheffler stated after his masterful third spherical.
“I performed the par-5s properly. The par-3s have been very difficult, and I performed them very well. Total, it was effort. I am happy with my rating at the moment.”
Amazingly, Scheffler has not dropped a shot since that third gap early Thursday morning. However the world’s top-ranked participant is aware of that won’t persist by way of Sunday’s closing spherical.
“[Sunday] goes to be difficult,” Scheffler added.
“We’re going to get a special wind tomorrow, so the golf course will play fairly completely different. It’s one thing that we’ll regulate to tonight, type of get in the best headspace. Exit tomorrow and take a look at our greatest to remain affected person and execute.”
Like his golf recreation, Scheffler’s mindset continues to amaze everybody within the golf world. His capacity to remain affected person, stay centered, and never lose sight of the duty at hand are simply additional explanation why Scheffler has obtained comparisons to Woods.
His feedback about his strategy going into Sunday exacerbates that time additional.
“We’ll see the place the whole lot shakes out. The fellows behind me nonetheless have some holes to play, however we’ll see; both approach, I’ll be in an honest place going into tomorrow,” Scheffler assessed.
“Simply seeking to exit and get off to begin. On this golf course, you may shoot some low scores for those who’re hitting it properly and inserting the ball in the best areas, in order that’s what I’m going to try to do tomorrow.”
He regarded like a grasp tactician on Saturday, carving up Harbour City Golf Hyperlinks by placing his golf ball within the excellent locations. No marvel why he made eight birdies and 10 pars, making it look simple within the course of.
However Scheffler has made this irritating sport look so easy over the previous few months, and now he has an opportunity to do one thing that just one different individual has: win The Masters and the RBC Heritage in back-to-back weeks. Bernhard Langer did so in 1985.
Now, Scheffler has an amazing alternative to go from successful a Inexperienced Jacket to a plaid one, additional asserting himself as the sport’s most dominant participant. He has the mentality to take action, too, and he certainly will enter the ultimate spherical with a large goal on his again.
But, different gamers will concern his presence, too, similar to all of these not named Tiger Woods all through the early 2000s.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Be sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
