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Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Scottie Scheffler v everybody: The Open champion is making his case among the greats
US golfer Scottie Scheffler with the Claret Jug after his victory in the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush on July 20. NEW YORK – As Tiger Woods wrapped up his eight-shot British Open victory at St. Andrews in 2000, his second consecutive blowout at a major, exasperation swept through pro golf. 'He's the best who ever played,' Mark Calcavecchia said that Sunday, 'and he's 24.' 'He is the best player in the world by a long, long way, and we have got to raise our standards to join his,' Colin Montgomerie said. 'He's got to leave a few for his friends, doesn't he?' Jean van de Velde said. 'He can't have them all.' Ernie Els said: 'The guy is unbelievable, man. I'm running out of words. Give me a break.' Oh, how eerily similar those sentiments sound after Scottie Scheffler's four-shot domination last Sunday at Royal Portrush Golf Club for his fourth major championship in four years and third in eight starts. 'Scottie Scheffler is – it's inevitable,' Rory McIlroy said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Thirty dead, over 80,000 evacuated, following heavy rain in Beijing Asia Thai army accuses Cambodia of violating truce Singapore NDP 2025: Enhanced security measures to be put in place around the Padang Business SIA shares tumble 6.8% after first-quarter profit slide Sport World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro among list of top names for Singapore football coach World Trump says many are starving in Gaza, vows to set up food centres Business BYD tops Singapore car sales in first half of 2025 with almost one-fifth of the market Singapore ST Explains: What we know about the Tanjong Katong sinkhole so far 'Four shots behind, kind of like playing for second,' Li Haotong said. It is time to have that conversation about where Scheffler belongs in golf history. First, it was only that he was the best ball striker since Woods. Then it was that his season was the best individual one since Woods'. But this is no longer simply a nice run or a great peak. We are now at four, steady, undeniable years of golf so much better than any peer. Scheffler is not only the best of his era; he is among the greatest to play the sport. With his fourth major championship, Scheffler earned the third leg of the career Grand Slam. But he is just the fourth golfer to win the Masters, the PGA Championship and British Open all before age 30. His company? Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Scheffler is one of three players since 1934, the year of the first Masters, to win four or more major titles by at least three strokes. The others are Woods (seven wins) and Nicklaus (six). DataGolf created a metric called DG Points that interweaves advanced statistics with tangible accomplishments to rank the best golf seasons since 1983. Scheffler's last four all rank in the top 20. Of the past 42 years in golf, 12 of the 20 best seasons are owned by Woods or Scheffler. Nobody else has more than two. Scheffler's career in totality cannot be properly judged until it is over. His current run may be far greater than any peak in Phil Mickelson's career, but we cannot argue against six majors, 45 PGA Tour wins and 21 1/2 Ryder Cup points. At least not yet. The pain and beauty of golf reside in the understood vulnerability that it could all end at any moment. Woods' career is primarily divided into two all-time three-year runs with relative lulls in between. McIlroy won four majors in four years. Brooks Koepka won four in three. Jordan Spieth won three in three. All of them experienced dramatic dips shortly after. Look at the timeline comparing McIlroy's and Scheffler's pace to winning four majors. McIlroy was four years younger, but the pace is identical in terms of major starts. It is a reminder that what feels inevitable rarely is. It took another 39 major starts for McIlroy to win his fifth. With that said, there is zero indication that Scheffler's pace will slow. He has won four of his last eight tournaments, including two majors, and has not been worse than eighth since March. He is no longer competing with the greats of this era. He is competing with the greatest in history. It can be unfortunate when we reduce golf greatness to major championships. It is the most important test of that greatness, absolutely, but it does not paint the entire picture. McIlroy's peak came the closest, winning four majors from 2011-14. He won 12 times worldwide, and his 2012 and 2014 seasons rank in the DG Points top 20. At the height of his 2014 peak, though, he was gaining 2.40 strokes on the field per round. Impressive, but Adam Scott, Jim Furyk and Justin Rose were right behind him at 2.23, 2.23 and 2.05. Scheffler is gaining 3.10 strokes on the field. Next best is McIlroy at 2.10, followed by Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. That is an average, with recency weighed heavier, across the last 150 rounds, so nearly the past two years of golf. These four years, Scheffler has won 20 times worldwide, and counting. McIlroy finished top five 37 times in those four years. Scheffler has finished there 48 times (and it is just July). Mickelson's longevity is his superpower, but he never had a single season rank in the DG top 30. His career peak was averaging 2.41 strokes gained on the field in 2000. Scheffler has been above that for three years straight. No, the actual comparisons for Scheffler's four-year transcendence are the names you are never supposed to compare anyone to. Tom Watson won five majors from 1980-83, easily the best run of anyone between Nicklaus and Woods. Watson finished in the top 10 an absurd 11 times in those 16 starts. Since the start of 2022, Scheffler has four wins with 12 top 10s. If we avoid going too deep into the quality of competition argument, those are remarkably similar runs. Watson finished with eight majors across nine years. Lee Trevino won four majors in four years from 1971-74 (despite skipping two Masters), but he had only seven top-10 finishes and plenty where he missed the cut or was outside the top 30. What will be interesting to follow, though, is Watson's best four-year run came right in the middle of an overall nine-year prime. He won majors before and after that run. This Scheffler four-year run is just the beginning. We do not even know if these will be his best four years. That's the thing about Scheffler. He has continued to get better. His 2023 season was the greatest strokes gained approach season since Woods. The next two years have been far better. For much of his rise, he was a below-average putter. He is now top 10 in the world on the greens. His 2024 season was rightfully called one of the four or five best seasons in golf history; he won nine times worldwide. But the point of this is all to say: Scheffler is no longer just comparing himself to his peers. His greatness has only the absolute pantheon left to chase. NYTIMES
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Tiger Woods' Ex-Coach Calls Scottie Scheffler 'More of Jack' Nicklaus
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Scottie Scheffler is in the thick of his golden era, and he doesn't seem to be blinking. Scheffler has now won 12 times since March 2024, including three of the four majors and an Olympic gold. His latest triumph came last week at Royal Portrush, where the World No.1 raised the Claret Jug after a commanding four-shot victory at the 153rd Open Championship. It marked the third leg of the career Grand Slam, leaving only the U.S. Open to complete the set. Woods' ex-coach Butch Harmon compares Scottie Scheffler to Jack Nicklaus Soon after his win, the golf world erupted with comparisons of Scheffler and 15-time major winner, Tiger Woods. Scheffler's dominance, especially his ability to stay focused, has drawn parallels to Woods' from quite some time. Even Xander Schauffele stated, "He's doing some Tiger-like stuff," per the PGA Tour. But amid all the comparisons with the Big Cat, one voice close to Woods offered a different take. Image Collage of Tiger Woods and his former coach Butch Harmon during the 1999 British Open and Scottie Scheffler with the Claret Jug at the 2025 Open Championship. (Image Credits: Getty Images) Image Collage of Tiger Woods and his former coach Butch Harmon during the 1999 British Open and Scottie Scheffler with the Claret Jug at the 2025 Open Championship. (Image Credits: Getty Images) Getty Images Butch Harmon, who coached Woods from 1993 to 2004, dialed into SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio on Monday to share his views. "In all the comparisons and stuff to Tiger and this and that, I think his greatest attribute that he has is he's the closest thing to Jack Nicklaus I've ever seen mentally," Harmon stated per video posted on X. "He makes no mental mistakes. He dumps the ball in the middle of the green when he has to. His iron control is beautiful. He reminds me more of Jack than he does of Tiger — Tiger in the winning ways, but Jack in the way he plays golf. I've never quite seen a guy that can mimic Nicklaus the way he does". Harmon's praise wasn't just about the stats but the similarity in their styles as well. Scheffler's strategic, mistake-free approach mirrors Nicklaus' famed course management. And Harmon, who's seen both legends up close, believes Scheffler's mental game is what sets him apart. Facts prove Scottie Scheffler's resemblance to Jack Nicklaus Back in May, after Scheffler won the Memorial Tournament, Nicklaus told reporters, "He plays a lot like I did." The Golden Bear emphasized Scheffler's ability to play smart with a lead, something Nicklaus mastered over decades. Not only that, but after clinching the Open, Scheffler's 15-month-old son Bennett crawled toward him on the 18th green. The toddler tripped, face-planted, and was scooped up by Scheffler as he balanced the Claret Jug in one hand, son in the other. Image Collage of Scottie Scheffler with son Bennett after his 2025 Open Championship win Vs Jack Nicklaus with son Gary after the 1973 PGA Championship victory. (Image Credits: Getty Images) Image Collage of Scottie Scheffler with son Bennett after his 2025 Open Championship win Vs Jack Nicklaus with son Gary after the 1973 PGA Championship victory. (Image Credits: Getty Images) Getty Images It was a scene reminiscent of Nicklaus at the 1973 PGA Championship, when his 4-year-old son Gary ran to him. The 18-time major winner also carried off Gary, per The Associated Press. Nicklaus later called that photo his "favorite photo in golf," later taking it to Facebook, captioning it, "Family first, golf second." Scheffler echoed that sentiment after winning the Claret Jug. "I would say my greatest priorities are my faith and my family," Scheffler said, per the AP. "Those come first for me. Golf is third, in that order." So while the Tiger comparisons with the World No.1 may be inevitable, Wood's former coach Harmon, and perhaps Nicklaus himself, see something deeper. What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below! More Golf: Phil Mickelson's Attitude Toward Scottie Scheffler Evolves After The Open
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside incredible five-star hotel Rory McIlroy stayed in for The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy was given a hero's welcome at Royal Portrush during The Open Championship, where he stayed at a brand new five-star hotel overlooking the famous course Rory McIlroy and his family enjoyed the luxury of a five-star hotel during this year's Open Championship at Royal Portrush. The golfing superstar, originally from Holywood just outside Belfast, opted to stay near the course rather than commute from home, which is roughly an hour away from the renowned Dunluce Links. McIlroy, the recipient of a career grand slam in April of this year, chose the Dunluce Lodge for its proximity to the action. Perched with views over the fourth fairway of Portrush, the Lodge opened its doors in time for the 153rd Open Championship - which was won by Scottie Scheffler. The lavish establishment, owned by a US investment group, boasts 35 suites, a cutting-edge spa, and even its own nine-hole putting green among other top-class facilities, reports Belfast Live. Room rates at the retreat range from £350 to £955 per night, varying with room selection and demand. The hotel also offers an exclusive private lodge with eight suites, believed to be where McIlroy and his family resided as he made an emotional return to his home. Constructed at a cost exceeding £14million, Dunluce Lodge is set to benefit from the recent boom in golf tourism spurred by the Open Championship. The Lodge shared a moment on social media, posting a picture of McIlroy with their staff that said: "What an unforgettable week. It was an incredible honour to host Rory McIlroy and his family at Dunluce Lodge during The Open." They added: "Welcoming one of golf's all-time greats, just steps from Royal Portrush Golf Club was truly special for our entire team. Thank you, Rory, for choosing to stay with us. We hope it felt like home." McIlroy was greeted with rapturous applause at Royal Portrush as he became the centre of attention, with massive crowds trailing him throughout the tournament. The Holywood-born star looked set to make a run for the Claret Jug once more, but despite his best efforts, he couldn't quite catch up to Scottie Scheffler, who led the major championship from the outset. Reflecting on the event, McIlroy, who finished tied for seventh, said: "It's been an awesome week. I've gotten everything I wanted out of this week apart from a Claret Jug, and that's just because one person was just a little bit better than the rest of us. "It's been an amazing week. I feel so thankful and just so lucky that I get to do this, I get to do this in front of this crowd. Hopefully I'll have one or two Opens left here, if the RandA decide to keep coming back, probably one while I'm still competitive and another one while I'm more grey than I already am. "It's just been incredible to come back here and to play and at least feel like I had a chance today going out there. Just an awesome week."
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 3M Open odds, picks: Is this the week Tony Finau turns it around?
Following the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the PGA Tour heads back to the U.S. for the 2025 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. The first round from Minnesota begins Thursday morning as players make one last push for the FedExCup Playoffs in the coming weeks. Below we look at 3M Open odds from BetMGM Sportsbook's odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions. Many of the game's top players are taking the next 2 weeks off ahead of the playoffs, resting and recovering from the trip to Europe for the Open. As such, Sam Burns (+1600), Maverick McNealy (+1800) and Chris Gotterup (+2500) are all among the favorites this week, with former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark (2500) and the always-popular Rickie Fowler (+4000) also teeing it up. Defending champ Jhonattan Vegas, who won at 17-under 267, opens at +6600. TPC Twin Cities (par 71) is 7,431 yards long and originally opened in 2000 but it underwent a slight renovation in 2024 when five tees were expanded and bunkers were rebuilt, according to the PGA Tour. It only features 3 par-5s so scoring opportunities will be a little bit limited, but players still tend to go low here; the winner has been 15-under or better each year since 2019. 3M Open – Expert picks Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 2:25 p.m. ET. Thompson missed the cut at the Open, but a few weeks ago he tied for 18th at the John Deere Classic and finished 34th at the Rocket Classic. Although he missed the cut here in 2023 in his tournament debut, he's a good fit for this course with his accuracy off the tee. He just needs to get the putter going before the playoffs. This is a short number for Burns, who's the tournament favorite, but he's the top player in the field and in excellent form. Since tying for 13th at the RBC Heritage, he hasn't finished worse than T-30 in a start in the U.S. This is a golden opportunity for him to nab his sixth career win after finishing 12th, 32nd and seventh here in his last 3 starts. Greyserman tied for second here in his debut last year and if not for a couple of missed cuts in the Scottish and British Opens, his odds would probably be shorter than this. But that just means this is a good time to buy some stock in a guy who's finished top 25 in 9 of his 22 starts this season, including a runner-up at the Rocket Classic in his last start in the States. 3M Open picks – Contenders Hoey tied for eighth at the Barracuda Championship last week, which was his third straight made cut and second top-11 finish in his last 3 starts. He made the cut and finished 67th in his tournament debut last year and will look to improve upon that this week. It's been a seriously disappointing year for Finau, who has just 5 top-25 finishes in 17 starts, but he showed signs of life at the Open Championship where he was in contention before fading on the weekend with rounds of 72 and 75. He won this event in 2022, finished third in 2020, seventh in 2023 and 12th last year, so he certainly knows his way around TPC Twin Cities. His worst finish here in 6 starts is a T-28 in 2021. Grillo was the runner up in 2022 after also finishing third in 2020, notching a T-10 in 2023 and T-24 in 2024. He appears to enjoy playing TPC Twin Cities, given his success here, and his game has been in good form for a while. He finished second at the John Deere Classic, losing in a playoff to Brian Campbell. Grillo also impressed with a T-19 at the U.S. Open in June. WATCH: Get ESPN+ 3M Open picks – Long shot Davis has missed 4 cuts and finished no better than T-57 in his last 6 starts, which makes it hard to feel very confident in him. But with such long odds at a course where he's come in 19th, 10th, 16th and 12th in 4 of the last 5 years, he's worth taking a shot on. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Golfweek: Follow @camdasilva on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler turn down chance to bank over £1million after The Open
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy will both be missing from the 3M Open field this week as they take some time off from the PGA Tour calendar following The Open Championship Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have both chosen to skip the 3M Open in the aftermath of the 153rd Open Championship. The PGA's regular season is nearing its conclusion, with only two tournaments remaining before the FedExCup Playoffs begin. While numerous big-name players who featured at Royal Portrush have made the journey back across the Atlantic for this week's event, Open champion Scheffler and Masters winner McIlroy, 36, have opted for a break. TPC Twin Cities will stage the 3M Open, where this year's victor will pocket £1.1million. Such are the substantial rewards available at the Minnesota venue that even the second-placed finisher can anticipate earnings of £676,000. Those completing the field in final position will still collect just over £12,000, reports the Mirror US. Scheffler claimed his second major title of the season at Royal Portrush, having also captured the PGA Championship in May, taking his career tally to four. Yet his decision to withdraw from the 3M might stem from , where the 29-year-old sparked minor controversy ahead of the tournament. During a media session that began to drift towards the philosophical, Scheffler openly acknowledged that golf wasn't "the be-all and end-all" and emphasised that his family was his priority. Following The Open, Scheffler acknowledged that he can still find pleasure in the sport. However, he returned to his previous remarks about how chasing fulfilment through silverware is ultimately a futile pursuit, meaning some time off after such a punishing schedule might serve him well – even if it costs him a substantial payday. "Am I grateful for it? Do I enjoy it? Oh, my gosh, yes, this is a cool feeling," Scheffler said after lifting the Claret Jug. "But having success in life is not what fulfils the deepest desires of your heart. Just because you win a golf tournament doesn't make you happy – but I'm pretty excited to celebrate this one." While Scheffler is now enjoying some well-earned rest and relaxation with his family, McIlroy also revealed he was keen to take a breather, having fulfilled his long-held dream of completing a career Grand Slam earlier this year. "I feel like being back in Europe for a bit was a nice reset," he said after his T7 finish in Northern Ireland. "I feel like I'm getting back to where I want to be, and we've still got a lot of golf left this year with obviously Ryder Cup being the big one in there in September. "And just make sure I'm – I don't want to play too much leading up to that because I want to be fresh. So I'm looking forward to a few weeks off here." McIlroy's brief break may also stem from his earlier remarks about tournament scheduling. Speaking to the media following the Truist Championship in May, the 36-year-old explained how he favours taking time off after competing in a major – potentially offering further explanation for his decision to give the 3M a miss. "Before, I'm all for [playing tournaments]. After, I wouldn't. I'm not a huge fan of it, but there's only so many weeks in the year," McIlroy said. "I really like playing the week before if it makes sense... but the weeks after majors are tough."
