Scottie Scheffler reinforces his status as golf's most consistent and relentless champion

Khaleej Times

20-05-2025

In a major season already punctuated by emotional comebacks and history-making performances, Scottie Scheffler's emphatic victory at the PGA Championship served as a powerful reminder: the world's top-ranked golfer is still very much the man to beat.
His third major title—and first outside Augusta—didn't just add to an already glittering résumé, it reinforced the quiet dominance that defines Scheffler's game. Even amid a tense final round at Quail Hollow, with challengers circling like hungry wolves and his swing misfiring, Scheffler never seemed to blink.
"I felt like this was as hard as I battled for a tournament in my career," Scheffler admitted. 'Finishing off a major championship is always difficult. I didn't have my best stuff, but I kept myself in it. I was battling my swing the first couple of days.'
Scheffler's margin of victory—five strokes—felt eerily reminiscent of the Tiger Woods era, not just in numbers but in tone. The same steely control, the relentless pressure, the aura of inevitability.
After stumbling early with three bogeys on the front nine, Scheffler steadied himself and surged on the back nine, birdieing three of five holes through 15. From there, the outcome seemed certain.
"This back nine will be one that I remember for a long time," he said. "To step up when I needed to the most, I'll remember that for a while."
Tears, Triumph, True Passion
The moment wasn't just about technique or temperament. As Scheffler walked toward the 18th green, the emotion finally cracked through his usually stoic demeanour. He wiped away tears, slammed his hat onto the putting surface, and let out a yell of triumph—no longer the composed tactician, but a competitor who deeply cares.
"Sometimes I wish I didn't care as much as I did — or as I do," he reflected. "It would be a lot easier if I could show up and be like, eh, win or lose, I'm still going to go home and do whatever. Sometimes I feel that way. But at the end of the day, this means a lot to me."
While others like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau threatened to spoil the party, they couldn't sustain the level required to keep pace with Scheffler's late charge. Rahm, who tied the lead on the 11th, fell away as quickly as he rose, eventually succumbing to water on the 17th.
"It's a tough pill to swallow," Rahm said afterwards.
Ties That Bind Rory
But perhaps the most significant rival in the wider narrative of this golf season is Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman finally completed his career Grand Slam earlier this year with an emotional Masters victory, a moment celebrated around the world—including in Dubai, a city with which McIlroy shares deep ties. Dubai has served as a base and inspiration for Rory for years, and many here saw his Augusta triumph as the culmination of a long and emotional journey.
Yet even amid McIlroy's resurgence, Scheffler's win in Charlotte confirmed the existing hierarchy: Rory may have the headlines, but Scottie still has the crown.
'He just doesn't get too high or low, but his game speaks for itself,' said Luke Donald, drawing comparisons between Scheffler and Woods. 'And he hates to lose.'
Scheffler, who is now 3-for-3 when leading after 54 holes in majors, continues to invite comparisons to the legends of the game—not through flair, but through quiet devastation. Opponents aren't beaten by miracle shots, but by the psychological grind of watching Scheffler calmly dissect course after course.
Winning Mentality
Even his coach, Randy Smith, put it plainly: "He wants to win every time he goes out here, regardless if it's golf, pickleball, whatever it is, he wants to win."
Smith likened Scheffler to that singular player in every sport who wants the ball with one second left. It's not about bravado; it's about belief—and a relentless will to win.
With three majors now to his name at just 27, Scheffler's climb toward the Grand Slam is no longer speculative—it's probable. And for those wondering if his Masters success was a singular strength, his PGA performance provided the answer.
Scheffler is still the best golfer on the planet. Everyone else, for now, is playing catch-up.