Scottie Scheffler has now joined the exclusive $100 million club alongside golf legends Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy following his impressive victory at The American Express to kick off the season.
As the current world No.1, Scheffler made a strong statement to the reigning Masters champion that he is a top contender in this year’s Major tournaments. Despite a setback last year due to a hand injury from a broken wine glass during Christmas, the American golfer has started this season on a high note, clinching a four-shot victory in California with a final round score of six-under 66, finishing at 27-under par.
This win marks Scheffler’s 20th victory on the PGA Tour, all achieved within the past four years, securing him a lifetime membership. Notably, nine of these wins were by a margin of four shots or more. With his latest earnings of $1.656 million, Scheffler’s total on-course earnings have now surpassed $101 million, placing him in the elite company of Woods and McIlroy.
At 29 years old, Scheffler has also entered the ranks of Woods and Jack Nicklaus as one of the few players to achieve 20 PGA Tour titles and four majors before turning 30. Reflecting on his success, Scheffler humbly acknowledged the significance of being mentioned in the same breath as golfing greats like Woods and Nicklaus.
Since his first victory at the 2022 WM Phoenix Open, Scheffler has outpaced McIlroy with 11 more wins, demonstrating his consistency and dominance in recent stroke-play events. Notably, since his T-20 finish at The Players last March, Scheffler has maintained a remarkable record of not finishing lower than T-8 in subsequent events.
Commenting on Scheffler’s remarkable performance, former world No.1 Jason Day acknowledged the American’s impressive form, likening his statistics to those of Tiger Woods. Despite the comparison, Day emphasized the challenge of staying hungry and avoiding complacency in the highly competitive golfing arena.
Looking ahead, Scheffler remains focused on further improvement, indicating that he believes he can raise his game even higher following a slow start last season. With the Masters tournament approaching in April, Scheffler is determined to build on his recent success and continue his ascent in the world of golf.
In a notable development during the tournament, teenager Blades Brown emerged as a rising star, playing alongside Scheffler in the final group and expressing awe at witnessing Scheffler’s victory firsthand. Brown’s experience alongside the seasoned champion left a lasting impression, highlighting the impact of Scheffler’s dominance on young talents in the sport.