The tradition of presenting the green jacket on the 18th green’s lawn at Augusta National is a long-standing ritual indicating an exceptional achievement in golf. This ritual witnessed a new participant, Scottie Scheffler, who was honoured by Jon Rahm as the 88th Masters champion. This is likely not the last such honour that Scheffler will receive, the narrative suggests.
Transfiguring from a golfer unsure of his finish line to one who appears to be on a relentless winning streak, Scheffler’s prowess and dominance looks increasingly comparable to that of Tiger Woods, a past master of the sport. This comparison is bolstered by Scheffler’s present number one rank in the world.
Solidifying his lead even further, Scheffler’s triumph on Sunday widened the gap between him and Rory McIlroy in the official golf rankings, a distinction previously seen only during Wood’s prime time. To bridge this gap, as per the calculations by golf ranking expert @VC606 (Nosferatu), McIlroy would have to claim victory in three Majors amongst other tournaments, whilst Scheffler takes a break.
Currently set to participate in the RBC Heritage Classic this week, Scheffler has personal commitments to look forward to. More immediate than adding more major wins to his already impressive career, he and his wife Meredith are expecting their first child.
Speaking of his extraordinary victory at Augusta, along with his triumphs in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players, contemplation for achieving a calendar-year Grand Slam seems credible for Scheffler, a feat reminiscent of the golden era of Tiger.
“My priorities are soon to be reassigned. My new born will now take precedence, alongside my wife, demoting golf probably to the fourth place. However, I remain passionate about the sport and have no intention of losing focus anytime soon,” Scheffler proclaimed.
In comparison to the world’s second highest ranked golfer, the latter’s standing concerning the forthcoming summer Majors appears less secure. The disappointment of McIlroy’s 22nd-place tie at Augusta, given the high anticipation, was once again prevalent, and cannot be glossed over. Another instance of underperformance by McIlroy, reminding many of the time elapsed since his last Major win – the Wannamaker Trophy he secured at Valhalla’s twilight in 2014.
Ordinarily, returning to a favoured venue would instil some optimism. However, McIlroy’s performance in this season’s PGA Tour, underscored by his current 41st-place position in the FedEx Cup rankings, has been disappointing.
While McIlroy holds the title of world’s number two, his gameplay contradicts it. Intriguingly, emerging talent like Ludvig Aberg, who displays characteristics reminiscent of a young McIlroy, is perceived as a potential competitor to Scheffler in the coming time.
Nonetheless, prematurely dismissing McIlroy would be imprudent, to say the least. He is a golfer with undeniable talent, an unquestionable work ethic, and proven mental fortitude from past victories. Currently, however, these qualities seem to lack harmony.
Upon concluding his game on Sunday, Shane Lowry half-heartedly pondered if McIlroy would continue as his counterpart in the Zurich Classic’s two-man team event. It looks like McIlroy will indeed remain, as he plans to persistently participate in various tournaments with a view to strike form ahead of the summer Majors and the Olympics.
The stark contrast in the current state of McIlroy and Scheffler is primarily the undoubted control the latter has over his game, a characteristic absent in McIlroy. Even the Northern Irish golfer acknowledged the American’s clutter-free style of play.
McIlroy aptly captured it when he said: “When you’re on a good run, golf seems almost effortless. However, when you’re not performing well, it becomes a constant quest and a psychological challenge. When in great form, it just comes naturally, without a thought. Therefore, it’s about achieving that equilibrium.”
Currently, one possesses this equilibrium while the other lacks it. They may be one and two, but they’re poles apart.