Scheffler v Aberg: Why Masters top two are rivalry of the future
American won his second title at Augusta but Swede showed enough to suggest he may one day don Green Jacket himself
Scottie Scheffler’s second Masters win in three years was comprehensive in the end.
Although the American’s challengers pushed him close on the front nine at Augusta, a hat-trick of birdies around the turn took Scheffler two clear and three more in four holes exiting Amen Corner floored the field. His four-shot victory was entirely merited.
Who can stop the world No1 from dominating the next few years?
Scheffler arrived at Augusta as the clear favourite – off the back of successive wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship, plus a second at the Houston Open – and delivered a crushing victory.
If there was a ray of light, though, it came in the challenge laid down by rookie Ludvig Aberg. The young Swede produced an exceptionally mature performance on his debut at Augusta, a course where players historically do not tend to peak until their seventh or eighth visit.
Aberg – who was still at college this time last year – has risen to seventh in the world rankings and is surely only going to get better.
The prospect of America’s top player and Europe’s rising wunderkind, only three years apart agewise, locking horns for the next few years, is a mouthwatering one.
Here Telegraph Sport runs the rule over their strengths and weaknesses.
Background
Scheffler Born in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Only boy among four siblings. Moved to Dallas aged six, where he played at Royal Oaks. Prolific winner at youth level, winning 75 times on the PGA junior circuit. Deeply religious.
Aberg Born in Eslov, Sweden. Preferred football as a boy but his dad used to bribe him to play golf, which was possible for only around four months of the year because of snow. Went to Texas Tech, where he was the star player in the Red Raiders team, picking up a slew of records and becoming the first student to earn his full PGA Tour card via collegiate merit as part of the new PGA Tour University programme.
Strengths
Scheffler Too many to mention. Scheffler credited his “short game and driving” as being the biggest reasons for his latest Masters success, with the former probably more decisive given the wind on days one and two, when he was able to recover from being out of position around the greens.
He also noted his ability to stay calm under pressure at the end. “I didn’t let my emotions get the best of me this time,” he said of his one-putt on 18, as opposed to his fourputt at the last two years ago. “I kept my head down. I don’t think I even took my hat off and waved to the crowd walking up 18. I stayed in the moment.”
He credits his faith – he and wife Meredith are both deeply religious – as being hugely important in allowing him to clear his mind and trust in God’s plan for him.
Aberg Strikes the ball so cleanly and uses his 6ft 3in frame well. He is a big hitter, too. Ranked ninth in driving last week, averaging 308.5 yards, above Scheffler (13th at 305.7 yards). But his biggest strength is his temperament. Seems unfazed by anything, winning on the European and PGA Tours within six months of turning pro, and winning two points at the Ryder Cup before he had even played a major.
The way Aberg played the final round on Sunday, shrugging off the water ball on 11 with a little smile as he walked to the 12th tee, was hugely impressive. Many would have collapsed emotionally after that. He stayed positive. “Yeah, obviously it wasn’t ideal to hit it in the water on 11,” he said. “I think we all know that. I mean, I felt like me and my team, we’ve focused a lot on just keep playing no matter what happens. I think me finishing well after those couple of holes were pretty encouraging to see.” That is an understatement.
Weaknesses
Scheffler People used to say his putting, but Scheffler has kept it very tidy this year. Three-putted only twice in 72 holes last week. “What is he not good at?” mused his caddie Ted Scott on Sunday. “I don’t know. I think his super power is people that are super powerful are good at everything, and he seems to be good at everything. He doesn’t really have a weakness. I think people created a weakness in his putting. He’s not a weak putter. He’s a good putter… a very good putter.” Aberg Some have also cited his putting but Aberg did not three-putt all week, averaging 1.53 putts per hole (fourth best in the field). Perhaps his lack of experience is a weakness, although it did not seem to affect him much at Augusta. That, and holding on to snack bars while high-fiving patrons.
Personal life
Scheffler Settled. He and highschool sweetheart wife Meredith are expecting their first baby this month, at which point Scheffler says golf will be only his “fourth priority” (after God, his wife and his child, presumably). But he warned anyone thinking he is suddenly going to stop winning: “I still love competing. I don’t plan on taking my eye off the ball anytime soon.” Aberg Going out with British tennis player Olivia Peet after meeting at Texas Tech (first seen together at the 2023 Ryder Cup). Seems remarkably well-adjusted. His dad played golf. He has an older sister named Linnea.