At the 17th tee, a crowd of kids clustered together, their eyes fixed on the towering figure in a bright azure golf shirt. Silence fell momentarily, and then the air erupted with cheers as Scottie Scheffler sent his shot soaring into the Carolina blue sky.
“Scottie! Scottie! Scottie!” the children chanted, echoing the sentiment of golf fans everywhere. Scheffler, with his easy-going Texan charm and electrifying gameplay, has become the hottest name in golf today. Arriving in Pinehurst for this week’s U.S. Open, he’s the undisputed favorite, dominating headlines and rival players’ thoughts. In fact, almost every contender has faced questions about Scheffler’s formidable presence.
“You can have a nice little run, but then most of the time you kind of fall back to whatever, a more average week,” Viktor Hovland observed. “But his average week is just really, really good.”
“Every week we play,” PGA champion Xander Schauffele added, “he seems to build a bigger lead and somehow make the mountain even taller for all of us to climb.”
Scheffler’s performance this year is more than impressive; it’s historic. The 27-year-old has clinched five tournament victories already, making 2024 a career-defining year. He hasn’t missed a single cut in his 13 tournaments, and his lowest finish is a T17. His streak is drawing comparisons to Tiger Woods’ golden years, a testament to his current dominance.
“He’s definitely got a bull’s-eye on his chest,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said, metaphorically highlighting how Scheffler’s competition sees him. “He’s got to be able to guard and understand that we’re there to protect him and help him if he does get beat.”
Not only does Scheffler win, but he also does so with a poise and resilience that sets him apart. His ability to compartmentalize his personal and professional life, especially after becoming a father, has become one of his greatest assets. Whether dealing with a tough shot or the demands of fatherhood, Scheffler maintains his composure, a trait admired by many, including Bryson DeChambeau.
“He’s really in control of the environment, not only his environment but the conditions on the golf course,” DeChambeau said. “He knows what the golf ball is going to do. He knows how to react accordingly. When things go wrong, he’s able to right the ship pretty quickly. That’s just a recipe for success.”
Scheffler himself acknowledges the role of mental toughness in his success. “Bad breaks are going to come,” he said. “It’s more about your response to those things… How am I going to recover from those shots?”
As the U.S. Open unfolds, all eyes will be on Scheffler, who tees off at 1:14 p.m. on Thursday alongside Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. If his recent form is any indicator, Scottie Scheffler will not be lingering at even par for long. The kids on the 17th tee, and indeed the entire golf world, are right to chant his name.
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