In 2025, the golfing world has yet to witness the best of Scottie Scheffler, the reigning world number one, who is yet to record a victory since the year commenced. The 28-year-old golfer’s chances of clinching a third Players Championship seem slim, given his current position – a daunting seven shots behind the leader, with a single round left to play.
Scheffler’s performance on Saturday was less than stellar, with a level par 72 leaving him trailing. However, TPC Sawgrass has borne witness to his miraculous comebacks before. The golfer, a two-time Masters champion, was eight shots behind the leader with just three holes left in his third round in 2024. Yet, he turned the tables and emerged victorious, becoming the first player to retain the title.
Despite his past glories, the task at hand seems Herculean for Scheffler. The form that allowed him to dominate in the previous year seems elusive, and his composure on the course is waning. Instances of his frustration were evident as he tossed his club at his bag after missing the green and expressed confusion due to the wind, which posed challenges for all players on the third day.
These actions led sports journalist Kyle Porter to label Scheffler’s antics as ‘tiresome’. Porter stated that while he is a fan of Scheffler, it becomes troublesome to watch him react as though he alone is facing bad breaks. Michael Kim, however, defended Scheffler, suggesting that there were worse behaved players on the tour who simply weren’t getting the same television exposure.
Scheffler’s outbursts on the course are somewhat surprising given his recent successes. Fans expect precision from him whenever he stands over a shot. Yet, his fiery temper has been on display before, startling fans at last year’s BMW Championship where he grappled with adjusting to the altitude changes at Castle Pines. His frustration was again visible at this year’s WM Phoenix Open when his slim hopes of victory were shattered by a 41 on the back nine on Sunday.
Despite these challenges, it’s vital to remember Scheffler’s relative youth in the golfing world. To put things into perspective, Phil Mickelson was nearly 34 when he won his first major. Scheffler, still in his twenties, might be grappling with some immaturity as he tries to regain the dominant form that led him to nine victories in 2024.
The fact that Scheffler’s decent start to the year is seen as a disappointment speaks volumes about the high standards he has set. Regardless of his current struggles, the golfing world eagerly awaits the return of the world number one’s top form.