As good as Tiger? I’ve only got 11 YEARS TO GO
Scottie: Don’t compare me to icon
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER insisted he is not worthy of comparisons with Tiger Woods after winning his eighth PGA Tour title in 25 months at The Players Championship.
The world No.1 became the first player to retain the title at Sawgrass to claim back-to-back following his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The 2022 Masters champion had gone 51 weeks before claiming an official title before finding his top form before the Masters.
Sky Sports pundit Paul McGinley claimed Scheffler’s ball-striking has only been matched by Woods while 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 modest 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 ball and this guy yells out, like: ‘Congrats on being No. 1 Scottie, 11 more years to go, 11 more years to go’,” said the American.
“Anytime you can be compared to Tiger is really special but the guy stands alone I think in our game. He really does.
“This is my eighth tournament win now out here, I’ve tied him in Players Championships. Outside of that, I got 14 more Majors and 70-some PGA Tour events to catch by Neil McleMaN up. So I think I’m going to stick to my routine and just continue to plot along, try and stay as even keeled as I can.
“Yeah, we all idolise Tiger. He’s been our guy. Watching what he did in special moments over the years is crazy to watch. I’ve learned a lot just from being around him. We’re just very thankful that he’s still a part of our sport.”
Humble, family man Scheffler has a contrasting image and personality to Woods.
But his bogey-free closing 64 was Tigerlike and also the lowest final round by a winner in the event’s 50-year history.
Former Ryder Cup skipper McGinley 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 added: “The others have got their hands full now. Going forward, 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’m going to stick to my routine and just continue to plot along
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
DOESN’T WELCOME TIGER WOODS COMPARISONS