SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER FINISHED 2023 WITH HIS BEST PERFORMANCE- AND THAT’S A SCARY THING

Mario Russo

It might be difficult to say, but in his final tournament of 2023, Scottie Scheffler pieced together his best performance of the season with a victory at the Hero World Challenge on Sunday. 

From start to finish, Scheffler’s game appeared unbothered, unfazed and unchanged as he teed it off for his first 72-hole event since the TOUR Championship back in August.

Nearly two months removed from any form of competitive golf, the 27-year old led the 20-man field in driving distance while averaging nearly 345 yards off the tee and finding his fairways 75% of the time over the course of the four-day unofficial event. 

But driving has always been Scheffler’s strong suit ever since he exploded onto the scene in April of last year.

Up to this point, the late-bloomer has maintained his consistency on Tour with his elite ball-striking ability, picking up his two official wins this season having led the PGA Tour in strokes gained: off the tee, tee-to-green and most crucially, approaching the green. 

It is laughable that he ranks 162nd in strokes gained: putting despite winning twice on the Tour this season.

Even with just an average putter, Scheffler would double his 2023 win total and perhaps even have picked up the elusive second major title of his career. 

The possibility of seeing Scheffler swing not just a hot putter for a weekend, but an above-average flatstick for the course of a season is a scary thought.

With a field-leading six birdies at the Hero World Challenge and finishing the event nestled near the top of the leaderboards in strokes gained: putting, it may appear as though Scheffler might be trending closer to that frightening scenario than many anticipated. 

Schefler’s work with industry-famous putting coach Phil Kenyon kicked off prior to his stint at the Ryder Cup in September.

With additional work on the putting greens since then, Scheffler and his custom-designed putter have already started decorating scorecards throughout the past week - a feat that consistently separated himself from the rest of the field this past Sunday.

The only concern that comes with Scheffler’s week of success on the greens involves what sort of label can be attributed to it.

Although the sample-size remains miniscule at best, the signs of the 2022 Masters winner elevating the weakest elements of his game ahead of the 2024 season are apparent, but it is unclear when they will garner another test. 

Perhaps it may come in the first signature event of the 2024 season at The Sentry tournament to open up the first weekend of January, or even sometime during the packed winter schedule before the season starts to pick up traction. 

Whenever it arrives, it is unsure if the field will be able to keep up with the complete game of a Scheffler that already inflicts damage with a slightly below-average putter.

Just thinking about what the Texas native will be able to accomplish while harnessing similar, if not better, putting metrics to that of his post-Masters form from a year ago remains a daunting thought that has the potential to overhaul the game of golf and it’s storylines all throughout the 2024 campaign. 

Already perched atop the World Golf Rankings following his dominant victory last weekend in the Bahamas, it doesn't appear that the game of Scottie Scheffler is in immediate need of any new wrinkle to boost his stock. 

He is already one of, if not, the leading star of today’s game and is highly respected by his peers as a result of the quiet, business-like demeanor that he cranks up whenever he grips a club. 

It is visibly noticeable when Scheffler is playing at the highest level of his game. Conversations with himself are confined within the impervious surface of his mind. His eyes become familiar with what only lies six feet in front of him as his head rarely observes what's around. 

When he’s on, Scheffler is dialed in. When he’s hot, the former Longhorn shoots himself up the leaderboards until he can go no further.

When he’s making putts, Scheffler doesn't give anyone behind him a chance and solidifies himself as the best golfer in the world. 

Last weekend, the putts were falling, Scheffler was hot and his game was turned on. What happens when all those elements connect together is a scary thing that guarantees merely one result that the game of golf may not be ready for. 

The 2024 season is only a month away, and Scottie Scheffler might just know how to regularly putt a golf ball.