I’ve Scott fair way to go to match Tiger

SCHEFF PLAYS DOWN COMPARISON WITH ACE

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER says he is not worthy of comparisons with Tiger Woods after winning his eighth PGA Tour title in 25 months.

The world No.1 became the first player to retain the Players Championship title on Sunday, following up his triumph a week earlier at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

And he’s in such red-hot form in the build-up to the Masters next month that bookies have him as short as 5-1 favourite for Augusta, with Rory Mcilroy next at 10-1.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Mcginley claimed Scheffler’s ball-striking has been matched only by Woods, and Laura Davies backed him to complete a calendar Slam. Woods held all four Majors after his Tiger Slam in 2000-01.

The 2022 Masters champion is now in his 79th week as world No.1. Woods won 15 Majors and 82 PGA Tour titles and spent 683 weeks at the top of the rankings.

And Scheffler told a story showing he knows he has a long way to go. “We’re playing at Riviera this year and I hit my tee shot and this guy yells out: ‘Congrats on being No.1, Scottie. Just 11 more years to go’,” said the American.

“Any time you can be compared to Tiger is really special but the guy stands alone in our game. I’ve got 14 more Majors and 70-some

PGA Tour events to catch up. So I’m going to stay as even-keeled as I can.”

Scheffler’s bogey-free closing 64 at Sawgrass in Florida on Sunday was Tiger-like and the lowest final round by a winner in the event’s 50-year history.

And he was suffering with a neck injury!

Former Ryder Cup skipper Mcginley (circle) said: “We have seen ball-striking in this last couple of seasons that have only been matched by the high standards of Tiger Woods.

“The best season Tiger ever had in terms of ball-striking was 2006 in terms of strokes gained. Last year Scottie Scheffler was second to that and he has surpassed that this year.” Four-time Major winner Davies (circle) added: “The others have got their hands full now. It is not a long shot to say he is going to win at least two of the four Majors and maybe we are talking Grand Slam here.

“I think it really is possible.”