Another Scheff’s special would be very tasty

BY NEIL SQUIRES

WORLD NO.1 Scottie Scheffler will attempt to blank the memory of last year’s Augusta victory, in a bid to crash the most exclusive of Masters clubs this week.

Only three players in history have won the tournament back-toback – and that makes it comfortably the most difficult of the Majors to successfully defend.

The trio that have managed to do it – Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods – carry such an intimidating pedigree that Scheffler has decided the best plan is to simply wipe his mind and forget he will be trying to join golfing royalty.

“It’s very hard to win one, and it’s probably even harder to win two, so as I’m approaching the Masters I’m not going to think of myself as defending champion,” said the American star (below).

“Yes, I would love to bring this green jacket back home with me – it has been a special experience to be Masters champion and I still get goose bumps when they announce it – but I’m not going to be thinking about that on the first tee. I’m going to be thinking about hitting the fairway.”

Keeping it simple is the Scheffler mantra, and he rolls into Augusta in hot form. Just like he did in 2022.

Nobody could lay a glove on him in the final round 12 months ago as the ice-cool Ryder Cup star defended a three-stroke lead. But he revealed afterwards he had spent the morning crying in his wife Meredith’s arms, worried he was not ready.

Scheffler, 26, reflected. “One of the cool things about marriage is that somebody loves you for who you truly are, not some fake version of yourself.”

Maybe putting on a show as the host to past winners at Tuesday’s Champions’ dinner is a factor in The Masters’ quirky lack of back-to-back heroes? This year LIV rebels such as Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson will break bread with PGA Tour loyalists, and Scheffler added: “I have to say a few words. I’m not quite sure what the vibes will be like but I’m sure we’ll put all that other stuff aside and just have a good time.”