Scottie Scheffler has had a ridiculous season. He gained at Augusta Nationwide, TPC Sawgrass, and East Lake. He additionally stormed from behind to win the Gold Medal in Paris, posting a final-round 62 that can reside on in Olympic lore without end.
He gained over $62 million this season alone. However essentially the most absurd second of his 2024 PGA Tour season got here on Friday morning, Could 17, when Louisville Police arrested Scheffler simply hours earlier than his second spherical of the PGA Championship. Scheffler went on to shoot a 6-under 66 that day.
He and his spouse, Meredith, additionally had a baby, Bennett, who entered the world on Could 8. It’s been a whirlwind for the World No. 1, as he has drawn comparisons to Tiger Woods whereas receiving recognition for having among the best seasons ever. Little question he has. So, on the eve of the Presidents Cup, Scheffler described this loopy season in a means that solely he can.
“I really feel like typically I’m virtually dwelling in a simulation out right here,” Scheffler mentioned.
“I nonetheless really feel like a child typically as a result of I play golf. I don’t have an actual job that I am going to. I get to play golf for a dwelling. I married the woman I dated in highschool, and we’ve got a child now, which might be much more surreal. We nonetheless have the identical buddies we did 5 to 10 years in the past. Life for us at dwelling hasn’t modified a bit. It’s simply out right here, issues are a bit completely different.”
A simulation.
At quite a few factors this season, it has felt just like the tour simulated its largest occasions, such because the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the RBC Heritage, the place the very best participant emerged with the trophy on the finish. You’ll be able to say the identical factor concerning the Tour Championship, the place Scheffler obliterated East Lake to win the FedEx Cup and the $25 million that got here with it. The Vacationers Championship additionally felt related—it appeared inevitable that Scheffler would win in Connecticut.
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But, Scheffler realizes that seven wins in a season—eight in the event you rely the gold medal—hardly ever comes, if ever, not to mention in a sport with so many variables, unfortunate breaks, and prospects.
“Generally the breaks go your means on this recreation, and typically they don’t. You understand, Rory’s had some shut calls. He had a playoff final week, and a man eagles the ultimate gap to beat him, and that’s a troublesome deal. He didn’t lose, he obtained beat. So that may occur,” Scheffler mentioned.
“Generally, the breaks fall your means, like Tom Kim and I within the playoff at Vacationers. He birdied 18 to get into the playoff, however then he made a bogey on the playoff gap. Simply little issues like that typically may also help. I bear in mind Sam Burns made a 40-footer off the perimeter a few years in the past to beat me at Colonial on a day when all of the afternoon guys struggled as a result of the winds began selecting up like loopy.
“Generally, it’s an vital putt or slightly break right here or there, and plenty of occasions this yr, I felt like I made the putts after I actually wanted to. I made that 5-footer on 18 in Paris and made a bunch of putts on that again 9. I made a putt to win the Memorial on the final gap. And again 9 on the Masters, last spherical at The Gamers, I made plenty of putts that weren’t essentially on the 18th inexperienced, however plenty of putts that have been vital to maintain momentum within the spherical going. In years previous, possibly these putts went in typically, however this yr, I felt like, for essentially the most half, I made plenty of these putts after I wanted to.”
On the finish of the day, each golf event comes right down to placing. Outcomes are decided on the greens, and Scheffler’s 2024 season displays that. He switched to a mallet putter forward of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which fully modified the course of historical past. He rattled off a season of epic proportions afterward, one that individuals will discuss for many years to come back.
Keep in mind when everybody knocked Scheffler for his poor placing in January and February? Effectively, these days are lengthy gone. He might not be the very best putter on tour now, however he’s not among the many worst. He hits the ball so properly from tee to inexperienced that he solely must be a mean putter anyway. The truth that he led the PGA Tour in over 40 statistical classes displays that. However he additionally must make the putts after they matter most. He did that. He made so many massive putts from March via August, making it appear that Scheffler simulated his means via golf tournaments, tantalizing {the golfing} world whereas etching his identify additional into the file books.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Make sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
