After his second Masters triumph, Scheffler thanks his caddy. Only since working with him has the Texan developed his full potential.
He has been the undisputed number one in the world rankings for almost a year. A position he has held several times before. But if Scottie Scheffler were to walk alone through the streets of New York, there would be few people who would recognize him.
This is not just because of his everyday face, which hardly ever expresses any emotion. It has more to do with his view of the world. The 27-year-old Texan, who won the prestigious Masters with a clear lead on Sunday for the second time since 2022, does not see himself as a self-centered golf star who feeds on the admiration of strangers. Sporting successes? Millions of dollars in prize money? The reputation of being the best in your profession?
Everything is not that important.
On his way to victory at the 88th Masters Tournament, Scottie Scheffler put on a virtuoso performance. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ehon8vH8vM
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 15, 2024
“I don’t think about things like that at all,” he said a few weeks ago when it became clear that he would once again deliver a top-class season. Scheffler, a golfer who carries the small, white ball with astonishing precision, almost like a robot, with a precise swing and spin over distances of up to 300 meters, rests in himself and in his confession to a higher power: “I believe in Jesus . And that’s what defines me.” There are also “great parents, a great wife, great friends who don’t care whether I won a tournament at the weekend or not.”
“Someone online said he was boring,” said American golfer Max Homa recently. “I would imagine that’s exactly what you dream about: becoming the best player in the world and winning a bunch of majors, all while playing as boring golf as possible.” Scheffler is the “most consistent player I have ever seen”.
In Augusta, Scheffler won clearly with 277 strokes (11 under par) with this no-nonsense, determined approach. None of the strongest competitors managed to gain a useful lead in the first two rounds like Texan Bryson DeChambeau, who fell to sixth place in the final rankings.
And everyone who wanted to catch up with him at the crucial moment made too many mistakes with risky play. Like the Californian Collin Morikawa, who went into the final round just one stroke behind Scheffler, but ultimately returned to the clubhouse with a minus of seven points. That was only enough for third place, which he had to share with Homa and the Englishman Tommy Fleetwood.
Tiger Woods and the LIV golfers disappoint
Only one of the challengers could be truly satisfied: the Swede Ludvig Aberg, who took second place with 281 strokes (7 under par) and catapulted himself among the best in the world in his second season as a professional. After a successful stint at college golf in the USA, the 24-year-old made people take notice with his first professional victory at the Omega European Masters in Crans-Montana last year. This was followed by a remarkable appearance at the Ryder Cup and another tournament victory in the American state of Georgia in November. The trip to the difficult course in Augusta (par 72, 6908 meters long) gave him a boost: “I gained a lot of experience this week and learned a lot of lessons. That really makes me hungry for more.”
Things went completely differently for five-time Masters winner Tiger Woods: he achieved his worst result to date in his 26th participation. The 48-year-old, who despite several operations and extensive rehabilitation is still suffering from the consequences of his serious traffic accident in 2021, qualified for the crucial two rounds on Saturday and Sunday, but slipped to 60th and last place among the finalists.
The thirteen golfers in the LIV tournament series, which was financed with billions in Saudi oil, also performed disappointingly. Only nine made the cut. Last year’s Spanish winner Jon Rahm continued to struggle afterwards and finished 45th, 20 shots behind Scheffler, together with Bruce Koepka, another LIV player. The best placements in this group were Bryson DeChambeau and the Australian Cameron Smith in sixth.
Only with the new caddie does Scheffler develop his full potential
Away from the spotlight, one contributor also got his money’s worth on Sunday, although his name is rarely mentioned: Scottie Scheffler’s caddy Ted Scott, who lugged the winner’s bag across the hilly course for the fourth time at Augusta. He was Bubba Watson’s assistant during his Masters successes in 2012 and 2014 and was hired by Scheffler at the end of 2021. “I had no idea how good he was back then,” he revealed at the weekend. Because his new boss only developed his potential in 2022. Then the caddy realized: “His superpower is: He has no weakness.”
Such a format is very worthwhile for the man at his side who is almost twice his age. Caddies traditionally receive a share of ten percent of the prize money that the player collects if he wins the tournament. And between five and seven percent of the regular tournament bonuses. The world number one has already earned $15 million this year, including Sunday’s $3.6 million. His caddy’s estimated share: about $1.5 million.
On top of that, there was express praise from his boss, who knows how important it is to have a competent advisor when choosing clubs and psychological support, which is much more than a classic luggage carrier can offer: “That was good work . He made sure I kept a clear head out there.”
And so Scheffler goes into the other big tournaments of the season as the favorite. The next important date: the PGA Championship from May 16th to 19th at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.