Scheffler May Be Blossoming in Tiger’s Long Shadow

I guess it’s always been the case - the comparisons. I can’t tell you how many times the “next Jack Nicklaus” has come down the pike, only to never quite measure up. 

Oddly, Tiger Woods was never referred to as the next Jack Nicklaus, and yet he came closer than anyone. Woods was more spectacular in his play than Nicklaus. Nicklaus was methodical, plodding his way to 18 major championships. Tiger tore them apart. It started in 1997 with his record Masters win, continued through the 2000 US Open, to the 2005 Masters, and finally culminating with his 2019 Masters win.  

He was dynamic. He was exciting. He did things we’d never seen done before - or since. I don’t know if we realized it at the time, but he was spoiling us. He made us believe that what he accomplished was normal. It wasn’t. We were spoiled. 

Which brings me to Scottie Scheffler and what he accomplished last week at the Byron Nelson. I hate to say it, but it was a lot like the kind of things Woods used to do. He opened with a 61. He tied the PGA Tour record for the lowest 72 hole score. He won by a wide margin. The results may have been Tiger-like, but the way Scheffler goes about his business is more akin to Nicklaus. Methodical. Plodding even. 

As I said, while Woods was doing what he was doing, we didn’t realize or maybe even appreciate it as much as we should have. We need to make sure that we realize and appreciate what Scheffler has been accomplishing. The Byron Nelson was his 14th victory on the Tour, passing his buddy Jordan Spieth. Yes, he only has two Masters wins, but he’ll be working hard at Quail Hollow next week, trying to secure his third at the PGA Championship. 

Woods spoiled us, but it’s still early for Scottie. There’s a long way to go, but he’s delivering at a rapid clip. There’s no reason to think he can’t keep it up. Even recent Masters winner Rory McIlroy watches how Scottie attacks a golf course and has said there are things he learns from him. He even put some of them into practice on that fateful Sunday a couple of weeks ago. 

Let’s revel in what Scottie Scheffler is doing. It’s significant. It should also be noted that he’s one of the most decent human beings you would ever want to meet. This was his first win in 2025, but nobody should be surprised if it turns out to be the first of several this year - including, possibly, another major. Don’t take him for granted. We might be watching another player that turns out to be one of the best to ever play the game. I know, it’s heady stuff for someone that’s won fourteen times. But we were spoiled by Tiger. Here’s hoping we’re spoiled by Scottie Scheffler for years to come.