Scottie Scheffler dismissed comparisons to Tiger Woods as “silly” after sealing his first Open Championship title with a commanding four-shot victory at Royal Portrush on Sunday.
The world No 1 delivered a composed final round to post a 17-under-par total, claiming his fourth career Major – and moving to within a US Open title of the career Grand Slam.
While Rory McIlroy said Scheffler’s form over the past two years – which includes 10 PGA Tour wins and Olympic gold – has “only been matched by two or three players in the history of the game,” the 28-year-old wasn’t buying into the hype.
“I still think [those comparisons] are a bit silly,” Scheffler said. “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. He was inspirational for me growing up. He was a very, very talented guy, and he was a special person to be able to be as good as he was at the game of golf.”
Scheffler’s latest Major crown came just days after making headlines with his candid admission that his life “is not a fulfilling one” despite dominating the professional game.
Following Sunday’s triumph, he reiterated that his success on the course doesn’t define him.
“Just because you win a golf tournament or accomplish something, it doesn’t make you happy,” he said. “Maybe for a few moments, maybe for a few days, but at the end of the day, there’s more to life than playing golf.
“Am I grateful for it? Do I enjoy it? Oh, my gosh, yes. This is a cool feeling. I can’t wait to get home and celebrate this championship with the people that have helped me along the way. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t fulfill the deepest desires of my heart.”
Scheffler has now won four times in his last 11 starts, continuing a blistering run of form that has made the extraordinary look routine.
He made his intentions clear early on Sunday, birdieing three of his first five holes to stamp out any realistic threat to his four-shot overnight lead.
Even a rare lapse – a double-bogey at the par-four 8th after failing to escape a fairway bunker – didn’t derail his momentum.
“I felt a good amount of peace today,” he said. “I felt very in control of how I was playing. I was very comfortable with my game.
“Even after the little hiccup there on the 8th hole, we bounced back really quick with a birdie on nine and got things back in gear pretty quick.
“Playing this game, it’s a battle within yourself all the time to try and get the most out of your game and yourself. This week, I did a really good job of hanging in there mentally and playing some good golf.”
Scheffler described winning the Open as a childhood dream realised, having grown up setting his alarm to watch the action unfold on TV from across the Atlantic.
“I grew up waking up early to watch this tournament on TV, just hoping and dreaming I would get the chance to come play in this championship,” he said.
Now, with the Claret Jug in hand and a fourth Major secured, Scheffler stands as the clear leader in the game – even if he refuses to be drawn into the Tiger debate.
Photo: Kevin C Cox/Getty Images
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