Tiger Woods comparisons ‘silly’ for dominant Scottie Scheffler

PORTRUSH – Scottie Scheffler dismissed comparisons of his grip on golf to Tiger Woods’ prime as “silly”, after storming to his first British Open win on July 20.

The world No. 1 took his overall Major total to four, three of which have come in the last two seasons, as he moved to within a US Open victory of completing the career Grand Slam.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy said Scheffler’s dominant run during this period, which now features 11 PGA Tour wins and an Olympic gold medal, has been matched only by “two or three players in the history of the game”.

However, the American insisted he has a long way to go to match 15-time Major champion Woods.

“I still think they’re a bit silly. Tiger won, what, 15 Majors? This is my fourth. I just got one-fourth of the way there,” said Scheffler after his three-under final round of 68, finishing on 17 under for the British Open after shooting in the 60s on all four days.

Harris English was in a distant second place on 13 under, courtesy of a closing round of 66.

Scheffler said: “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 began the week at Royal Portrush by surprising reporters with comments that his life is “not a fulfilling one” despite his standing in the sport. But he eventually celebrated another dominant performance with his wife Meredith and one-year-old son Bennett.

And the 29-year-old doubled down that winning tournaments is not what defines him.

“Just because you win a golf tournament or accomplish something, it doesn’t make you happy. Maybe for a few moments, a few days, but at the end of the day, there’s more to life than playing golf,” he added.

“Am I grateful for it? Do I enjoy it? 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 fulfil the deepest desires of my heart.”

Scheffler is making the extraordinary look serene as he won his fourth PGA Tour title this season.

However, lifting the Claret Jug held a greater significance after his memories of waking up early to follow the British Open across the Atlantic Ocean as a child.

“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.

Scheffler birdied three of his first five holes to snuff out any possibility that he would not convert his four-shot overnight lead into victory. Even an uncharacteristic misjudgment when he failed to get out of a fairway bunker at the eighth, which led to a double-bogey, could not derail his charge.

“I felt a good amount of peace today. I felt very in control of how I was playing. I was very comfortable with my game,” he said.

“Even after the little hiccup there on the eighth 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.”

Meanwhile, it was not quite the glorious homecoming McIlroy had dreamt of on his return to Royal Portrush, but it felt like redemption for Northern Ireland’s favourite son after missing the cut in 2019.

He finished tied-seventh after a 69, seven strokes behind Scheffler.

“I tried as best as I could to keep my emotions in check, especially walking up the last there and that reception,” said McIlroy, who briefly threatened to make a charge before a double-bogey on the 10th ended his hopes.

“It’s been an awesome week. I’ve gotten everything I wanted out of this week apart from a Claret Jug, and that’s because one person was just a little bit better than the rest of us.” AFP, REUTERS