It’s been more than a year since the world witnessed Scottie Scheffler’s golfing prowess, as he effortlessly swept through three events, including the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational, to claim his first victory of the season. However, the journey to the 2025 season wasn’t as smooth as Scheffler had hoped, with the golfer grappling with a hand injury that kept him off the green for several weeks during the Christmas period.
Despite this setback, Scheffler has proven that he is not one to be easily deterred. He has delivered stellar performances, finishing in the top 10 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational. Even at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he didn’t quite make it into the top 10, Scheffler’s performance was nothing short of impressive.
As the reigning world number one, expectations are high for Scheffler. He captivated audiences worldwide with his nine victories in 2024 and back-to-back wins at the Players Championship over the last two years. Not to mention, he’s also claimed the Masters title twice in the past three seasons.
However, despite his impressive track record, many believe that Scheffler has yet to show the full extent of his capabilities. Noted golf commentator, Rick Gehman, expressed this sentiment on RickRunGood ahead of the Players Championship. According to Gehman, Scheffler is yet to reach his peak, particularly when it comes to his performance from tee to green.
Gehman pointed out a recent trend in Scheffler’s game that he hasn’t seen in a while. Over the last 36 rounds, Scheffler has been losing about two-thirds of a stroke from tee to green to himself, a statistic that Gehman believes is noteworthy.
Despite this observation, Gehman remains optimistic about Scheffler’s prospects, citing that many indicators are still extremely positive. He acknowledges that while Scheffler’s tee to green numbers may have dipped slightly, his overall performance remains commendable. Gehman is not at all concerned about Scheffler, and believes that the golfer still has a lot to offer.
In 2024, Scheffler’s approach play was nothing short of terrifying. He was the best player on tour in that department, outshining even Tony Finau, who trailed behind in second place. The gap between Scheffler and Finau was so significant, it was bigger than the difference between Finau and 31st place holder, Chan Kim.
With only one finish below 11th place in four starts this year, Scheffler is proving that he is still a force to be reckoned with on the golf course. The 28-year-old seems to be on the verge of finding his best form, a prospect that is sure to unnerve his competitors in 2025. Whether or not he will be able to sustain this momentum and close the gap remains to be seen, but for now, all eyes are certainly on Scottie Scheffler.