AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sports activities usually produce a few of the greatest underdog tales. We gravitate to them with ease and cherish them whereas they final. However the not-so-secret fact about all of it is that nothing beats the innate want to look at and witness greatness.
The character of golf’s individuality facilitates this narrative. One participant is liable for each shot and the burden of each miss and make falls on his or her shoulders. This solely serves to boost the peaks and the valleys one of the best golfers on the planet will inevitably undergo. However infrequently, a determine arrives who appears to transcend the see-saw nature of sports activities and produce a dominance that leaves followers and friends in awe.
After profitable his second Masters in three years at simply 27 years previous on Sunday — his ninth profession event win and third this yr — Scottie Scheffler has established himself as the game’s dominant drive. The truth that it was extensively anticipated solely makes the accomplishment that rather more spectacular and cements Scheffler as somebody the game hasn’t had shortly: a Goliath.
“I feel his superpower is folks which might be tremendous highly effective are good at the whole lot,” Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, mentioned. “And he appears to be good at the whole lot. He would not actually have a weak spot.”
Loads has modified since Scheffler gained his first Masters in 2022. He is older, is sporting a full beard and is about to be a father. On the golf course, nevertheless, he has solely gotten higher.
“I really feel like I am enjoying actually good golf proper now. I really feel like I am in charge of my feelings as I’ve ever been, which is an efficient place to be,” Scheffler mentioned. “I really feel like I am maturing as an individual on the golf course, which is an efficient place to be.”
Earlier than this event started, Scheffler’s inevitability might solely be mentioned in idea. His dominance had manifested itself in each statistics and outcomes, however gamers of his caliber are measured by majors and being the outright favourite earned Scheffler nothing however excessive expectations.
For 3 days, Scheffler showcased each a part of his full recreation — constant driving, improved placing, historic ballstriking and underrated brief recreation. However it wasn’t till Scheffler’s ninth gap on Sunday, that the sensation of inevitability crystallized into actuality.
He was solely up by 1 stroke on Ludvig Åberg as he surveyed his brief method shot from the green. His lengthy limbs swung over his head as he struck the ball, a snapshot of the truth that no matter grace the aesthetics of Scheffler’s swing could also be missing are made up by the sheer precision it produces. The ball landed on the inexperienced, spun again onto the proper slope and practically went within the gap.
After watching Scheffler practically gap out for eagle and go away himself a tap-in birdie so brief he did not even take away his glove, the inevitable chants from the patrons at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership started.
“Scottie! Scottie! Scottie!”
The stroll from the ninth inexperienced to the tenth tee carried with it an power that Augusta Nationwide hadn’t had simply but. As patrons mentioned out loud, “It is over!” and “He’ll win!” what was within the air wasn’t simply an inevitability for a way the remainder of the day would unfold; it was the conclusion that these on the grounds had been witnessing greatness.
From there, each blade of grass Scheffler’s shuffling ft touched from tee to the inexperienced all the best way up the 18th fairway, was accompanied by a serenade of cheers that acknowledged the magnitude of the second. Any want for an exciting end gave method to a coronation.
“I attempted to soak in stuff round me right now,” Scheffler mentioned. “I seemed up on the timber at occasions. I seemed up on the followers sometimes to attempt to soak in a few of their power. However didn’t ever let myself get hooked up to the lead. I simply tried to maintain pushing.”
As his opponents crumbled round him, placing balls into the water on 11 or lengthy of the inexperienced on 12, Scheffler’s steadiness by no means faltered. And as soon as he made the flip, he solely accelerated, making 5 birdies on the second 9 and leaving everybody behind. It was a efficiency that acted as a reminder and a warning: That is one of the best participant on the planet and he may very well be simply getting began.
“I am simply pinching myself truthfully. I do not actually know what I am seeing,” Scott mentioned. “The man is particular. He is a unique sort of particular. I feel we’re all seeing it, and we’re all questioning, ‘The place did this come from?’ When he referred to as me, I had no concept he was that good.”
Scheffler just isn’t your typical dominant determine. He speaks softly and walks calmly. He talks about his religion as a lot as his recreation and believes in solely controlling what he can management. He isn’t afraid to be weak and share a time when he was pressured or emotional. However Scheffler’s seeming affability usually camouflages the hyper-competitive mentality that lies beneath the floor.
“I used to be sitting round with my buddies this morning, I used to be a bit overwhelmed,” Scheffler mentioned. “I advised them, I want I did not need to win as badly as I do. I feel it could make the mornings simpler. However I really like profitable. I hate dropping. I actually do.”
Life is about to vary for Scheffler and his mornings are about to get a lot more durable. His spouse, Meredith, is anticipating their first youngster and he is absolutely conscious that golf will take a again seat. However that does not imply he will not preserve making an attempt to win each time he tees it up.
“Golf will in all probability now be fourth in line,” Scheffler mentioned of his priorities. “However I nonetheless love competing and I do not plan on taking my eye off the ball anytime quickly.”
The game has by no means been as deep and gifted in its historical past as it’s at this second and but Scheffler feels to date and away one of the best participant on the planet that friends making an attempt to beat him can not help however need to draft off his greatness.
“To have somebody beside you that has an amazing perspective and kind of does the whole lot the correct approach, it is good to attempt to feed off that,” World No. 2 Rory McIlroy mentioned of enjoying with Scheffler the primary two rounds. “Scottie does such an excellent job of — it would not seem like it is 6-under par, after which on the finish of the day it is 6-under par. He is simply so environment friendly with the whole lot.”
When Scheffler made that stroll from the ninth to the tenth gap Sunday, McIlroy, occurred to be developing 18. After beginning the week enjoying with the eventual champion, McIlroy would end 4-over for the event — 15 pictures behind Scheffler.
Scheffler returned to Butler Cabin for the third time in three years on Sunday, and this time it was final yr’s winner, Jon Rahm, who needed to place the jacket on Scheffler’s shoulders. Not too way back, Rahm was thought of to be Scheffler’s equal, preventing for the game’s prime spot with Scheffler. Now, Rahm has left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf and watched as Scheffler has gained the tournaments he as soon as wished. This week, the Spaniard completed 20 pictures behind Scheffler, whose second Masters win places him in elite firm: Tiger Woods is the one different participant who has gained a number of majors as World No. 1.
If it wasn’t the case earlier than, Sunday’s victory additional units the stage for the game’s future. Each participant, whether or not on the PGA Tour or LIV Golf, is chasing the seemingly unflappable Scheffler, who stands out as the closest factor the game has had since Woods.
Scheffler’s win provides the game not solely a far-and-away favourite at each occasion, but in addition two compelling chases: Everybody else’s quest to beat him and Scheffler’s quest for extra.
“He makes us higher,” the runner-up, Aberg mentioned. “He makes you need to beat him.”
Because the solar washed over the 18th inexperienced Sunday whereas an impassioned Scheffler celebrated, his 6-foot-3 body created its personal lengthy Augusta shadow. After this week, that’s the place each different skilled golfer resides.