There’s nothing as sweet as the taste of victory. And Scottie Scheffler will be able to tell you more about it as the golfer has just ended his winless drought in style, claiming the CJ Cup Byron Nelson title at TPC Craig Ranch with a historic 31-under-par score. “Yeah, this tournament means a lot to me,” he said, holding back tears. “My first start as a pro 11 years ago, I had my sister caddying for me too – she’s right back there – I mean it feels like a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice for little moments like these. And they’re pretty special.”
The golfer tied the PGA Tour record for lowest 72-hole score, finishing eight shots clear of runner-up Erik van Rooyen, in a performance that sets him up nicely for the PGA Championship this month, but the clouds of worry are still surrounding the golfer’s career.
On the latest Fore Play Podcast Plus on YouTube, golf analyst Frankie Borrelli compared Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, highlighting some key differences between the two golfers. Borrelli noted that while Scheffler has achieved incredible success, including winning the Masters, he still has a lot of work to do to match McIlroy’s resume. “He’s got a lot of work to do, what I mean is like he’s won two Masters but he hasn’t won any other majors, so it’s like I think in his own mind Scotty’s still getting going.” He further noted that McIlroy has won all four majors and numerous other tournaments, giving him a level of career accomplishment that Scheffler has yet to reach.
Well, it is true, despite his 14 PGA Tour wins, Scheffler has only been successful in majors twice, claiming the Masters Tournament titles in 2022 and 2024. Currently ranked as the world’s number one golfer, his impressive resume also includes multiple wins at The Players Championship in 2023 and 2024, as well as a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in the individual men’s tournament.
Borrelli believes that Scheffler is still driven by the hunger to win majors, having only won one major so far, whereas McIlroy has already achieved so much. He thinks Scheffler still has a lot to do in his career, while McIlroy has reached a point where he can feel free to enjoy the game without the same level of pressure.
“I mean, I know we all think he’s freed up now, maybe he’ll just go nuclear, maybe he’ll get to 10 majors, who knows? But he’s got five majors, he’s got all four of the majors, he’s won every tournament you could possibly win. Scotty’s not there yet.” Well, don’t know about the 10 majors, but McIlroy has surely positioned himself in a position where winning the Truist Championship this week is crucial if he wants to dethrone Scottie Scheffler as world No.1 at the PGA Championship next week. If he misses out on a win here, he’ll likely have other chances in the coming weeks to take the top spot.
250413 Scottie Scheffler of the United States during the final round of the 2025 Masters Golf Tournament on April 13, 2025 in Augusta. Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRAN / kod PA / PA1010 bbeng golf masters the masters augusta us masters *** 250413 Scottie Scheffler of the United States during the final round of the 2025 Masters Golf Tournament on April 13, 2025 in Augusta Photo Petter Arvidson BILDBYRAN kod PA PA1010 bbeng golf masters the masters augusta us masters PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: PETTERxARVIDSON BB250413PA021
“He’s won the Masters, he’s still got to win the PGA, still got to win the US Open, he’s still got to win the British Open, he knows that, and so I think like from the hunger standpoint Scotty, Scotty is going into the PGA like he’s never won a major before, right?” said Borrelli, speaking of Scheffler and well, Scheffler is definetly riled up for the upcoming major.
Scottie Scheffler is locked in for the PGA Championship
Scottie Scheffler has sent a clear warning to Rory McIlroy ahead of the PGA Championship with a masterclass win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. His impressive performance saw him top 14 statistical categories, including strokes gained tee to green and putting average. “I think we’re all fired up to come out here and compete,” Scheffler said, hinting at his competitive spirit. “This week I was the best player. I have the week off, and we’ll see the week after who is the best player at the PGA.”
Bryson DeChambeau’s timely victory at LIV’s Korea event has added to the anticipation for the PGA Championship. DeChambeau silenced his critics with a convincing win, his first since last year’s US Open. “There’s a lot of star-studded talent out there right now that’s going to be in the PGA Championship,” DeChambeau observed. “We’re going to be battling it out.” With Scheffler, DeChambeau, and McIlroy all in top form, the upcoming PGA Championship at Quail Hollow promises to be a thrilling contest. Jordan Spieth could also add intrigue, having closed with a bogey-free 62 at the Byron Nelson, but the golfer has his doubts.
“I mean, it wasn’t that long ago I was definitely better than him, and now I’m definitely not right now,” Spieth said after watching Scheffler’s dominant win. Spieth, who has a long-standing connection with Scheffler, having grown up in each other’s orbits in Dallas and played at the University of Texas, found Scheffler’s performance inspiring. Spieth admitted that Scheffler’s current form has motivated him to improve, saying, “I hate admitting that about anybody, but I just watched it those first two rounds, and like — I’ve got to get better. It’s very inspiring.”
If Spieth’s words tell us anything, it’s the fact that the second major of the season is going to be a fierce competition with every golfer hungry for the win. So, who do you think will take home the trophy? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
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