The inevitability of Scottie Scheffler successful the 2024 Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sports activities typically produce among the greatest underdog tales. We gravitate to them with ease and cherish them whereas they final. However the not-so-secret reality about all of it is that nothing beats the innate want to observe and witness greatness.

The character of golf’s individuality facilitates this narrative. One participant is liable for each shot and the burden of each miss and make falls on his or her shoulders. This solely serves to boost the peaks and the valleys the perfect golfers on this planet will inevitably undergo. However from time to time, a determine arrives who appears to transcend the see-saw nature of sports activities and produce a dominance that leaves followers and friends in awe.

After successful his second Masters in three years at simply 27 years previous on Sunday — his ninth profession match win and third this yr — Scottie Scheffler has established himself as the game’s dominant power. The truth that it was extensively anticipated solely makes the accomplishment that rather more spectacular and cements Scheffler as somebody the game hasn’t had shortly: a Goliath.

“I feel his superpower is folks which are tremendous highly effective are good at every part,” Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, stated. “And he appears to be good at every part. He does not actually have a weak spot.”

Rather a lot has modified since Scheffler received his first Masters in 2022. He is older, is sporting a full beard and is about to be a father. On the golf course, nevertheless, he has solely gotten higher.

“I really feel like I am enjoying actually good golf proper now. I really feel like I am answerable for my feelings as I’ve ever been, which is an efficient place to be,” Scheffler stated. “I really feel like I am maturing as an individual on the golf course, which is an efficient place to be.”

Earlier than this match started, Scheffler’s inevitability might solely be mentioned in idea. His dominance had manifested itself in each statistics and outcomes, however gamers of his caliber are measured by majors and being the outright favourite earned Scheffler nothing however excessive expectations.

For 3 days, Scheffler showcased each a part of his full recreation — constant driving, improved placing, historic ballstriking and underrated quick recreation. Nevertheless it wasn’t till Scheffler’s ninth gap on Sunday, that the sensation of inevitability crystallized into actuality.

He was solely up by 1 stroke on Ludvig Åberg as he surveyed his quick method shot from the green. His lengthy limbs swung over his head as he struck the ball, a snapshot of the truth that no matter grace the aesthetics of Scheffler’s swing could also be missing are made up by the sheer precision it produces. The ball landed on the inexperienced, spun again onto the proper slope and almost went within the gap.

After watching Scheffler almost gap out for eagle and go away himself a tap-in birdie so quick he did not even take away his glove, the inevitable chants from the patrons at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership started.

“Scottie! Scottie! Scottie!”

The stroll from the ninth inexperienced to the tenth tee carried with it an vitality that Augusta Nationwide hadn’t had simply but. As patrons stated out loud, “It is over!” and “He’ll win!” what was within the air wasn’t simply an inevitability for the way the remainder of the day would unfold; it was the belief that these on the grounds have been witnessing greatness.

From there, each blade of grass Scheffler’s shuffling ft touched from tee to the inexperienced all the way in which up the 18th fairway, was accompanied by a serenade of cheers that acknowledged the magnitude of the second. Any want for an exhilarating end gave method to a coronation.

“I attempted to soak in stuff round me at this time,” Scheffler stated. “I seemed up on the bushes at instances. I seemed up on the followers sometimes to attempt to soak in a few of their vitality. However didn’t ever let myself get connected to the lead. I simply tried to maintain pushing.”

As his rivals crumbled round him, placing balls into the water on 11 or lengthy of the inexperienced on 12, Scheffler’s steadiness by no means faltered. And as soon as he made the flip, he solely accelerated, making 5 birdies on the second 9 and leaving everybody behind. It was a efficiency that acted as a reminder and a warning: That is the perfect participant on this planet and he could possibly be simply getting began.

“I am simply pinching myself actually. I do not actually know what I am seeing,” Scott stated. “The man is particular. He is a unique form of particular. I feel we’re all seeing it, and we’re all questioning, ‘The place did this come from?’ When he referred to as me, I had no concept he was that good.”

Scheffler is just not your typical dominant determine. He speaks softly and walks calmly. He talks about his religion as a lot as his recreation and believes in solely controlling what he can management. He is not afraid to be weak and share a time when he was confused or emotional. However Scheffler’s seeming affability typically camouflages the hyper-competitive mentality that lies beneath the floor.

“I used to be sitting round with my buddies this morning, I used to be a bit overwhelmed,” Scheffler stated. “I instructed them, I want I did not need to win as badly as I do. I feel it could make the mornings simpler. However I really like successful. I hate dropping. I actually do.”

Life is about to vary for Scheffler and his mornings are about to get a lot tougher. His spouse, Meredith, is anticipating their first little one and he is absolutely conscious that golf will take a again seat. However that does not imply he will not hold making an attempt to win each time he tees it up.

“Golf will most likely now be fourth in line,” Scheffler stated of his priorities. “However I nonetheless love competing and I do not plan on taking my eye off the ball anytime quickly.”

The game has by no means been as deep and gifted in its historical past as it’s at this second and but Scheffler feels up to now and away the perfect participant on this planet that friends making an attempt to beat him can not help however need to draft off his greatness.

“To have somebody beside you that has a terrific angle and type of does every part the suitable manner, it is good to attempt to feed off that,” World No. 2 Rory McIlroy stated of enjoying with Scheffler the primary two rounds. “Scottie does such a very good job of — it does not appear like it is 6-under par, after which on the finish of the day it is 6-under par. He is simply so environment friendly with every part.”

When Scheffler made that stroll from the ninth to the tenth gap Sunday, McIlroy, occurred to be developing 18. After beginning the week enjoying with the eventual champion, McIlroy would end 4-over for the match — 15 photographs behind Scheffler.

Scheffler returned to Butler Cabin for the third time in three years on Sunday, and this time it was final yr’s winner, Jon Rahm, who needed to place the jacket on Scheffler’s shoulders. Not too way back, Rahm was thought of to be Scheffler’s equal, preventing for the game’s prime spot with Scheffler. Now, Rahm has left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf and watched as Scheffler has received the tournaments he as soon as needed. This week, the Spaniard completed 20 photographs behind Scheffler, whose second Masters win places him in elite firm: Tiger Woods is the one different participant who has received a number of majors as World No. 1.

If it wasn’t the case earlier than, Sunday’s victory additional units the stage for the game’s future. Each participant, whether or not on the PGA Tour or LIV Golf, is chasing the seemingly unflappable Scheffler, who would be the closest factor the game has had since Woods.

Scheffler’s win offers golf not solely a far-and-away favourite at each occasion, but in addition two compelling chases: everybody else’s quest to beat him and Scheffler’s quest for extra.

“He makes us higher,” the runner-up, Aberg stated. “He makes you need to beat him.”

Because the solar washed over the 18th inexperienced Sunday whereas an impassioned Scheffler celebrated, his 6-foot-3 body created its personal lengthy Augusta shadow. After this week, that’s the place each different skilled golfer resides.