Scottie Scheffler from Dallas is without a doubt making waves in the world of golf after defeating Kevin Kisner and WGC Dell Match Play and clinching the number 1 spot according to a Golf Digest article from March 27 which reports,
“Scottie Scheffler got his first win on the PGA Tour a month ago at the WM Phoenix Open. Less than two months later, he is the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world after winning the WGC-Dell Match Play final over Kevin Kisner, handing Kisner his only defeat of the week, 4 and 3.
Though it is difficult to imagine Scheffler in the top spot instead of Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa or a plethora of other names we have become more familiar with, Scheffler has more than earned the ranking with his play of late.
For starters, Scheffler was in one of the deeper brackets with match-play maven Ian Poulter, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, who took Scheffler six extra holes—tying the longest overtime in tournament history—before succumbing to a Scheffler birdie, allowing the now three-time tour winner to emerge from group play.
“I picked up a little ball speed and it goes as straight as my old one,” Scheffler told Golf Digest recently. “A new driver has to pass the eye test and this did. Since putting it in play I fiddled around with where I liked the movable weight on the sole, moving it about half an inch from the fade setting to a more neutral position.”
The 25 year old recounted his childhood dream of being a professional golfer and how he eventually arrived to where he is now in a Texas Monthly article from March 29 which says,
“I grew up wearing long pants to go practice because I wanted to be a professional golfer,” Scheffler said last week. “That’s what I dreamed of. I dreamed of being out here. I’ve always been, I would say, fiercely competitive, and so for me getting out here was a goal per se, and being out here, I like competing and I enjoy the challenge of playing out here every week. Just competing out here is really fun for me and just being able to win tournaments is pretty awesome. The rankings never really crossed my mind. It was always just about being out here and competing.”
All those thousands of shots and practice rounds and coaching sessions, all the travel to amateur tournaments throughout Texas and beyond, and, yes, some frustration, led to Scheffler’s ascension to being crowned the world’s top golfer. He’s the sixth-youngest player to earn the number one spot since the rankings began in 1986. He was ranked fifteenth when the stretch of three victories in five events began.
I would say this week, it’s definitely got a special place in my mind and heart,” Scheffler said. “I’ve got a lot of good memories being here in college. It’s been a long journey to this point. . . . To be out here and win this golf tournament in front of the fans down here is really special. Like I said, I always dreamed of playing in this tournament, and just to be out here was a treat, and to be able to play seven rounds and finish and win is really special.”
What makes Scheffler particularly special is that he clinched the number one faster than anyone else. Amazingly, he only did it in 42 days whereas revered champion Tiger Woods did it in 252 days.
