Scottie Scheffler set an incredibly high bar after a seven-win season, earning his third Player of the Year award. But this season, things haven’t clicked just yet — and it’s clear something’s off. World No. 1 missed a couple of starts after injuring his right hand and undergoing surgery during Christmas. Since returning, he hasn’t looked quite like his usual dominant self. Last week, at the Genesis Invitational, he struggled in two rounds, losing strokes off the tee and, even more surprisingly, on approach shots — something we rarely saw in 2024.
His 4-over 76 on Saturday marked his worst round since the final round of the 2022 Players Championship, leaving fans wondering when the Scottie Scheffler magic will return. However, the two bogeys on the eleventh, and sixteenth hole, cost him a lot. He ended up with a 6-under, and finished T3, running three strokes behind the winner Ludvig Aberg. Imagine, this was the World No. 1’s best finish in this season. His fans are left worried about him, as he made his debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this month, and settled for a T9. His game got worse at the WMPO, where he carded a cumulative score of 9-under, tying for the 25th position.
Scottie Scheffler’s magic almost felt back?
However, on Friday, it was as if his magic was almost back. Scottie Scheffler carded a beautiful 547 yards eagle on the sixth hole, after he began the round from the back nine, and this gave not just the fans, but also Patrick McDonald some hope. Scottie Scheffler needs a little time to get back to his form, and well, lets not forget, even last season, he did not win until the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. In the latest episode of The First Cut Podcast, Patrick McDonald said, “I don’t think he has a win in California so I know February through April is kind of his time just wait till the API guys like just a little patience,”
The World No. 1 has time and again stated his stance about playing golf. He focuses more on the process than the results. “on Friday he hit five Fairways and was bogey free shot five under and then going in a Saturday he talked about it after uh his round today where he didn’t like his attitude. it almost felt like he became result oriented”, he added. Even at the 2024 Olympics Scheffler said that his goal was just to have fun on the course. And well, it did work out. He won the gold medal. But his disappointing Saturday round seemed different to him. Patrick McDonald said, “He was bummed out about his perspective on the Round. He shot 76, the highest round of the day and then came back today and proved it by 10 but like you mentioned Rick it was not the cleancut Scottie Sheffer that we’ve been used to the past couple of years”.
But he still did have a good chance of clinching the title at Torey Pines, after a good round of golf during the Sunday round too. “no fives on the scorecard today he had three sixes. yesterday so much improved there but you have to remember this guy’s coming off a hand injury procedure,” McDonald reminded. The Golf Reporter also added how Sechffler had mentioned that he is not Tiger Woods, and he cannot win right after a surgery. In 2002, Tiger Woods underwent surgery to remove a benign cyst from his left knee and drain fluid from around one of his ligaments. He made an incredible return right after, winning the 2003 Buick Invitational.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – SEPTEMBER 25: Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. Team plays his shot from the 13th tee during a practice round prior to the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 25, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
While Patrick McDonald has full faith in him, on Sunday it felt as if Scottie Scheffler himself was losing the hope.
Scottie Scheffler confesses about not being happy with his form
“I feel pretty bad about where I’m at,” Scheffler admitted after his final-round 66 at Torrey Pines. When Marnus asked about his day, Scheffler shared, “Honestly, I feel in a better spot today than I did yesterday.” He explained that his mindset heading into the round was better. “Yesterday, I tried to press a bit as I was falling behind, and I definitely paid the price on the back nine. But today, I gave myself a chance, even though I couldn’t hit all the shots at the end.”
On Sunday, Scheffler made a strong push, cutting 10 shots from his score and playing like a true No. 1, pulling off pars and birdies. His chip-in birdie on No. 5 and bunker shot on No. 15 were highlights. He shot 5-under 31 on the front nine, just a shot behind the leader. It felt like Tiger Woods-esque play until mistakes on No. 11 and No. 16. “I could’ve given myself more chances on the back nine,” Scheffler reflected. “I put up a good fight, and while I didn’t have my best stuff, I still found a way to stay in it. A few fewer mistakes and it could’ve been a different story.”
Well, there seems no reason to panic, because the season has just begun, and sometimes, there is a little rain before the rainbow comes out! When do you think will he finally make a comeback? Let us know in the comments section below!
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