Scottie Scheffler has now entered the elite $100 million club alongside Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy following his impressive victory at The American Express to kick off his season. The current world No.1 has sent a clear message to the reigning Masters champion that he is a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming Major tournaments.
Last year, Scheffler faced an early setback due to a hand injury caused by a shattered wine glass during the Christmas season. However, he has started the current year on a high note by finishing with a remarkable six-under 66 in California, securing a comfortable four-shot win at 27-under par.
This victory marked Scheffler’s 20th win on the PGA Tour, all achieved within the past four years, granting him a lifetime membership. Notably, nine of these wins were by a margin of four shots or more. His latest earnings of $1.656 million have pushed his total on-course earnings to over $101 million, aligning him with Woods and McIlroy in surpassing the nine-figure mark on the PGA Tour.
At 29 years old, Scheffler has now joined the ranks of Woods and Jack Nicklaus as one of the few players to claim 20 PGA Tour titles and four majors before turning 30. Reflecting on his achievements, Scheffler humbly acknowledged the significance of being mentioned alongside such legendary players.
Since securing his first win at the 2022 WM Phoenix Open, Scheffler has clinched 11 more victories than McIlroy, with this recent win marking his seventh triumph in the last 13 stroke-play events. Maintaining an impressive streak, Scheffler has not finished lower than tied for 8th since his T-20 finish at The Players last March.
Jason Day, the joint runner-up and former world No.1, praised Scheffler’s consistent performance, likening his numbers to those of Tiger Woods. Despite his remarkable success, Scheffler believes he can further improve, aiming to build on his slow start from the previous season where he did not secure a win until May. The upcoming Masters tournament presents a new opportunity for Scheffler to continue his winning streak and elevate his game to new heights.
Additionally, the standout performance of teenager Blades Brown added excitement to the tournament. Brown, 18, expressed his awe at playing alongside Scheffler and witnessing his victory, emphasizing the surreal experience of being part of such a competitive field.