PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (BN24) — Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at the 2024 British Open drew renewed comparisons to Tiger Woods, but the world’s top-ranked golfer called the parallels “a bit silly” after clinching his fourth major title on Sunday.
Scheffler, 29, produced a clinical display at Royal Portrush, winning by four shots to secure the third leg of the career Grand Slam. The American expanded a four-stroke lead into seven within an hour during the final round, staying bogey-free for 32 consecutive holes before a double bogey at the eighth. Still, his par-saving 15-footer on the sixth hole ignited a fierce fist pump—drawing inevitable flashbacks to Woods’ iconic par putt at Pebble Beach in the 2000 U.S. Open.
The Super Bowl of comparisons was back on the tee box. But Scheffler was quick to downplay them.
“I still think they’re a bit silly,” Scheffler said post-round. “Tiger won, what, 15 majors? This is my fourth. I just got one-fourth of the way there. I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf.”
Scheffler’s Growing Major Legacy
Scheffler now holds four major titles: two Masters, one PGA Championship, and his latest Open Championship win. He claimed this year’s PGA by five strokes and the Masters by four. With 11 straight wins when leading after 54 holes, Scheffler’s consistency has made him the most formidable force in golf.
He joins Woods as the only player in the past 50 years to win multiple majors in a single year by at least four shots. Both players took exactly 1,197 days between their first and fourth major titles. Yet Scheffler insists his drive is internal, not historical.
“I’m not motivated by winning championships,” he said. “What motivates me is getting to live out my dream. I get to play professional golf, and I feel like I’m called to do it to the best of my ability.”
A Style All His Own
Unlike Woods, whose fire and flair captivated fans worldwide, Scheffler’s rise has been quieter and more methodical. He rarely finds himself in trouble—hence the lack of heroic recoveries—and avoids the limelight outside the ropes.
“He doesn’t care to be a superstar,” said Jordan Spieth. “He’s not transcending the game like Tiger did… but he wins. That’s what matters.”
Rory McIlroy, who briefly reigned as golf’s dominant figure a decade ago, admitted the current landscape belongs to Scheffler.
“He is the bar that we’re all trying to get to,” McIlroy said, though he noted his own trio of victories this year came when Scheffler “wasn’t quite on his game.”
Steady Dominance, Not Flash
Scheffler has now claimed four wins in 2024 and 20 worldwide career victories. His performance at the British Open highlighted the bedrock of his game: fairways, greens, and mental fortitude. Even his mishap at the eighth hole didn’t derail his path to the Claret Jug.
“To only have one double—really one over-par hole—in the last 36 holes of a major championship, that’s how you win these tournaments,” he said.
Golf’s Champion of the Moment
Scheffler’s Open title was sealed with the traditional announcement as “champion golfer of the year” by the R&A, a nod to a legacy that continues to build. Though comparisons to Tiger Woods persist, Scheffler is carving his own path—built on humility, precision, and unshakable focus.
As for flashy stories off the course? The season began with a bizarre hand injury from slicing ravioli with a wine glass. Now, it ends with yet another major—and a growing reputation as the most dominant player of his generation.
Credit: Yahoosports.com
