Scheffler is the no1 that no one tends to talk about

US star admits he doesn’t feel like game’s top player

SUCh has been the astronomical speed at which he has propelled himself into a new stratosphere, Scottie Scheffler would be deserving of a sponsorship deal with nASA.

The Masters champion and current world no 1, Scheffler will tee it up at St Andrews as one of the most in-form players in the game.

The 26-year-old American has enjoyed an outstanding season, winning three other tournaments beyond his triumph at Augusta, as well as finishing tied-second at the US Open last month.

Yet, curiously, he senses very little fanfare around him. Despite his achievements, he feels that he still slips under the radar and is perhaps overlooked by some.

Brooks koepka had a similar theory. As he racked up four majors in just eight starts in a brilliant two-year burst across 2017 to 2019, koepka developed a chip on his shoulder.

it stemmed from what he perceived to be a lack of recognition for his achievements, most notably when he was bizarrely left out of a TV ad for the US Open despite the fact he was defending champion.

‘Someone probably got fired over it — or should,’ said koepka back in 2019. Clearly, he felt he wasn’t getting the credit he deserved.

Scheffler hasn’t quite gone that far. not yet, at least. But it’s clear that he is now beginning to feel the same way koepka did.

Asked about his status as the world’s no 1 player, Scheffler (below) said: ‘i guess it’s good. i guess i am no1 in the rankings. i’m not sure if i’m necessarily perceived that way by you all or whoever it is, but that’s not stuff that i really ever think about.

‘For me, i’m just trying to go out and play good golf. it’s definitely different when i go out and play practice rounds and there’s people around, and i come in here to do this (media) stuff.

‘Six months ago, i definitely wasn’t asked to come in the press room unless i was winning, so there’s definitely a bit more activity going on at tournaments.

‘That’s something i’m learning how to navigate. And i’m kind of learning on the go right now. i don’t feel like there’s any extra attention on me. i haven’t read much, but i would assume not everybody’s picking me to win this week, just stuff like that.

‘i don’t think i was the favourite going into the Masters. i’m not sure if i’ve been the favourite going into any tournaments. So, for me, i don’t really feel like whatever being no1 would be.’

Scheffler might well have a point. if a man is to be judged by the company he keeps, then his draw to play alongside Tyrrell hatton and Joaquin niemann is instructive.

hatton and niemann are two fine players in their own right but not exactly names who would fall into golf’s genuine A-list category.

Can you imagine the likes of Rory Mcilroy, Jordan Spieth or Justin Thomas being handed that sort of draw if they were the current Masters champion and world no 1? Didn’t think so.

Put it this way — of all the thousands of kids who will be in attendance at St Andrews over the next few days, how many of them will grow up aspiring to be the next Scottie Scheffler?

he perhaps just lacks a little bit of star quality or charisma, as though he almost doesn’t realise himself how good he is, or how good he could yet become.

Asked if that perceived lack of recognition bothers him, Scheffler said: ‘it’s funny. Sometimes, stuff will tick me off, other times it won’t. Stuff like that doesn’t really matter to me.

‘i’m extremely competitive just in nature. That’s how i am. That’s how i’ve always been.

‘Whether we’re playing board games or basketball or table tennis or whatever it is, i’m going full throttle.

‘When i show up to a tournament, i’m as fired up as anybody to go out there and play. i don’t think i need any extra motivation or anything like that. i don’t feel like there’s any more pressure on me.

‘i don’t think it matters if i’m no 1 in the world or no50 in the world. i want to win this tournament as bad or more than anybody out here.’