{"id":1250505,"date":"2024-04-09T19:52:22","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T19:52:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/?p=1250505"},"modified":"2024-04-09T20:12:18","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T20:12:18","slug":"scottie-scheffler-seismic-surge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/scottie-scheffler-seismic-surge\/","title":{"rendered":"Scheffler’s seismic surge"},"content":{"rendered":"

AUGUSTA, GA<\/strong><\/em>. When the baton at the top of golf’s pecking order is passed there is generally no one single moment that provides the rightful coronation. Yes, there have been clear isolated moments such as when a 22-year-old Jack Nicklaus bested Arnold Palmer for the 1962 U.S. Open at Oakmont. In 1997 Tiger Woods did similarly when winning his first major event at Augusta and doing so with a record 12-stroke margin.<\/p>\n

When Nicklaus and Woods each won it was clear a new pecking order was established. The seismic waves generated were that intense and meaningful.<\/p>\n

The ascension of Scottie Scheffler has moved upwards via a more incremental process The first came at the 2021 Ryder Cup matches when USA Captain Steve Stricker selected the rookie as a member of the American squad.<\/p>\n

The illuminating moment from that event in Wisconsin came when Scheffler was paired against Jon Rahm in the final singles matches.<\/p>\n

\"Sheffler's
Scottie Scheffler at the 2023 Ryder Cup (Zac Goodwin\/PA Wire)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many viewed the match as a one-sided situation for the gifted Spaniard. Stricker thought otherwise \u2013 birdieing five of the first six holes and cruising to what many saw as an unexpected win.<\/p>\n

Fast track matters to 2024 and you have a confident 27-year-old ready to cement his place at the top of the pecking order with a second major triumph this week at Augusta.<\/p>\n

The talented Texan \u2013 via New Jersey birth \u2013 has been number one for a total of 81 weeks and carries a streak of 47 weeks that started March 22, 2023.<\/p>\n

Questions started to mill around at the beginning of this season that Scheffler’s last win on the PGA TOUR had been at the 2023 Players Championships. Scheffler did play well in the 2023 majors with a runner-up at the PGA Championship and finishing in the top ten in two of the other three events.<\/p>\n