Scottie Scheffler has dominated the PGA Tour in recent seasons, yet he admits there is one key aspect of Tiger Woods‘ game he has not fully embraced as while comparisons to the golf legend are inevitable, he is clear about his priorities and mindset.
Between 2000 and 2001, Tiger won 14 PGA Tour events, but Scottie has captured 13 in the past two seasons. So will he go for broke to try to eclipse the sport’s biggest name? Despite the similarities in achievement, their approaches to the game are notably different.
“When he [Tiger] was in the field, he was a guy that would always give himself a chance to win,” Scheffler said. “And there were very few spurts throughout his career when he wasn’t the best player in the world.
“I would say that’s one thing I admired about him. He could hit many types of shots and worked extremely hard on his game.
“He was never complacent or satisfied with where he was with his game, and always kept working. I’ve admired that about him.”
Scheffler highlighted Woods‘ sustained excellence as the defining factor but also emphasised that winning is not his only goal as his family and faith take precedence over legacy, titles or records.
“What is the point? Why do I want to win this tournament so badly,” Scheffler continued, rhetorically. “That’s something that I wrestle with daily.”
His record is nonetheless impressive. He won seven tournaments in 2024, including the Masters and Olympic gold, and six more in 2025, capturing the PGA Championship and Open Championship.
Moreover, he has spent 169 weeks at World No. 1, with a points gap over Rory McIlroy nearly double the competition putting him as one of the finest to enter the sport, at least in the modern era and Tiger knows it.
“Scottie is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. What he is doing on the course is incredible. The consistency day in and day out,” Woods said. “It’s truly amazing how thoughtful and strategic he is throughout the entire round.”
“I truly love watching him hit irons. The shots that he hits, the trajectory and the window changes that he has. The distance control and miss in the proper spot. The proper spin to certain pin locations.
“These are subtle things that mean a lot over 72 holes. That to me is impressive. To see him move it up and down in different windows and use wind, fight wind and control spin is fun to watch.”
Tiger Woods fitness update: What is the latest news?
The numbers suggest proximity, yet Woods‘ timeline illustrates a difference, proving how one of the very best to ever do it is a cut above even his fellow elite peers.
Between 1999 and 2010, Woods dominated the sport, holding 683 career weeks at No. 1, including 264 consecutive weeks as he revolutionised preparation in golf.
After winning the 1997 Masters, he rebuilt his swing and adopted a rigorous training regime inspired by Navy SEAL workouts. He maintained his edge through relentless practice, never settling for what he had already achieved.
But recent years have seen him stuck in the wilderness due to severe fitness and health issues, meaning his last Majors win at the 2019 Masters tournament now feels a very long time ago.
Woods has returned to practising with a golf club less than two months after back surgery, yet he has not competed on the PGA Tour since The Open at Royal Troon in July 2024, as injuries continue to limit his schedule.
The 15-time major champion had intended to play throughout 2025, but a ruptured Achilles in March, followed by back surgery, forced him to miss the full season – so, easing back into training, Woods remains cautious.
“Well, it’s not as fast as I’d like it to be,” Tiger said. “It was a good thing to do, something I needed to have happen and it just takes time and dedication to the rehab process. I just got cleared last week to chip and putt so it’s good.
“I started to chip and putt, I just started to lift in the gym, I just started this process. A disc replacement takes time. It’s longer-not as long as a fusion, thank God, but it’s going to take time.”
“I’d like to come back to just playing golf again. I haven’t played golf in a long time. It’s been a tough year.
“I’ve had a lot of things happen on and off the golf course that’s been tough. And so my passion to just play, I haven’t done that in a long time.”
Read the full article here
