Players: Scottie Scheffler still wants to improve after securing No. 1 with TPC Sawgrass victory | Golf News
Scottie Scheffler is still looking to improve after winning The Players five times and returning to world No 1; The 26-year-old says the collapse at last year’s Tour Championship made the Sawgrass win “much sweeter”; Jordan Spieth expects his compatriot’s performance to continue for a long time to come
Last Updated: 3/13/23 12:36am
Scottie Scheffler has issued an ominous warning to his opponents saying he still hopes to improve after winning at The Players.
Scheffler, whose Sawgrass win saw him replace Jon Rahm at world No 1, completed five shots against England’s Tyrrell Hatton as he claimed his sixth win in the past 13 months.
The 26-year-old’s title-laden year includes winning The Masters at Augusta National last April and winning the WM Phoenix Open twice.
He said: “I just hope to improve. I was just trying to be a little bit better at the time, not thinking too much about things and fortunately I was able to achieve some results. well and enjoy some wins.
“I think I’m comfortable with my position in the game. I feel like I’m improving. I’m definitely learning more and more from being in contention. I can say that perhaps I feel I feel a little more comfortable knowing what I’m doing.” need to do.
“I’m excited for a hard test. I feel like I can figure out how to get my analytical score and try to stay there. I like the challenge of more difficult golf courses. This tournament is like a tournament. big championship for me.”
Scheffler squandered a six-stroke lead with one round left at the Tour Championship last August and said the disappointment made his win at The Players “much sweeter”.
Scheffler added: “It’s a really hard sport. I put myself in a position all year for a chance to win the FedExCup and I wasn’t able to finish it. By the time I got home, I was worn out.
Scheffler: Tour Championship defeat left me ‘exhausted’
“I was exhausted mentally and physically, emotionally exhausted. East Lake was a pretty big challenge for me.
“Obviously it’s been very sad and difficult and I didn’t expect things to end that way. But the hard times make the good times so much sweeter.”
Of her success, Scheffler added: “I’ve never really thought about myself so much. I’ve always tried to stay in my own little bubble. I just keep trying to get a little better. I’ve never really looked too far ahead.
“I did well being a good student, then I was a pretty good player in college, then I played well on the Korn Ferry Tour.
“I always believed I could come here and play well on the PGA Tour but I never expected it. It’s hard to describe the feeling.”
Jordan Spieth, who finished the game in 19th place at Sawgrass by under six points, doesn’t expect Scheffler’s form to decline anytime soon.
He said: “I am naughty [Scheffler] a lot at home and constantly he shoots very low bullets. He is arguably the best player in the world right now. His golf is pretty incredible. His top 10 is off the charts. He just played so well.
“He’s extremely grounded. He’s got really good parents, a great family structure. [Scheffler’s coach] Randy Smith has been around for a long time, with him forever.
“I don’t see it changing. He’s in a good position to be able to keep doing this for a while.”
See more of the PGA Tour action live on Sky Sports Golf from Thursday as the Valspar Championship kicks off in Florida. Early coverage starts at 11:30 a.m.