PONTE VEDRA, Fla. — Scottie Scheffler was not old enough to drive a cart on the island green.
He recalls being young, at the age of 10, 12, and playing the hole with his father. “Just us two, just going out there having fun,” he said.
Scheffler stated, “I think whenever you see something on TV, it always looks so big than life, whether it be a person, a hole, or a course.”
He is ranked second worldwide. In each of his eight PGA Tour events, he has finished in the top 12. He could jump to No. He could reach No. 1 by winning the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass this weekend.
The 26-year old reigning Masters champion is now starting this week’s Players Championship. But the best memories are often the most precious, such as that unofficial challenge at 17 with Scott.
Scheffler stated, “He’s done a great job of helping me have fun because I feel like I am very serious when it comes golf. And he does a great job of keeping it light. We went out and had some good times and it was definitely special memories.”
Players Championship Photos
Texas is experiencing rapid growth
He was a three-time Big 12 champion at Texas University, where he was accompanied by Ponte Vedra’s Taylor Funk. He made a quick start in the professional ranks in a Player of Year campaign on the Korn Ferry Tour, 2019.
He’s seen great success in the last year.
The WM Phoenix Open, February 2022 was his first win on the PGA Tour. Two months later, he won his first major title at Augusta National. An explosive rise to the top in the Official World Golf Rankings in two separate stints, starting last spring and ending with 31 weeks at No. 1.
He’s not going anywhere, even though Jon Rahm from Spain has taken his place at the top of the rankings.
Scheffler’s eight previous Tour events: tie for third; tie for ninth; second; tie for seventh; tie for 11th (a second WM Phoenix Open championship in February); tie for 12th during the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill last week.
He said, “Looking back at this year, definitely feel that I’m playing solid. Trending in the right direction.”
Rocky ride on Stadium Course
The Stadium Course is a rare exception. Scheffler’s stops at the Stadium Course have not been as smooth since that first visit.
He said that he had spoken to several guys about the course and they said that it was a thinking man’s course. I replied that it is actually quite the opposite. “You just have to hit really great shots if your goal is to play well.” You can’t scrape the place. It’s all about hitting fairways and greens, and then moving on.”
Scheffler hasn’t been able to hit enough. Scheffler missed the cut in 2021 when he made it to the Players. Although he did better in spring, a pair of 76s during the second and fourth rounds ended any hopes of winning the championship and left him tied for 55th, just 15 strokes behind the lead.
His troubles on the First Coast do not end there. He also played at the Junior Players as a youth, and was able to compete in each of the three visits. He was in deep trouble when he shot an opening 80. His 67-69 result only brought him fifth place. He shot 81-70-773 in 2012 and tied for 33rd. Scheffler shot 76-71-70 in 2013 and was sixth.
He was the University of Texas’ Hayt Collegiate Invitational winner in 2015. This was his most notable competitive success in Ponte Vedra. He is one of four Longhorns who are on this team with Doug Ghim and Kramer Hickok. Beau Hossler is the individual champion.
Scheffler stated, “It was a great privilege to be part of that team.” “I learned a lot from them guys.”
Scheffler says the 17th stirs his early memories. Scheffler cites the 18th, which “almost kind of teases” him, as his hardest.
He’s been doing this for more than a decade. He is motivated by his early experiences and is ready to take on the challenge.
He said that the finish is out here was so difficult with it being 16, 17 and 18, which are all great risk-reward holes. You’ll be rewarded for hitting good shots, no matter what the course looks like. It’s so wonderful to be able come out and play.
