In the world of golf, greatness is usually measured in decades, not seasons. Legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods didn’t just dominate for a year or two; they defined eras. But every so often, a player comes along who makes you wonder if you’re watching history unfold in real time. Right now, that player is Scottie Scheffler. And oh boy, he is playing well. He knows he’s the best. His peers do. And so do the fans who expect him to win or contend every week. Scheffler is #1, and it isn’t even close. Sorry Rory. You’re good. Generationally good. But the big boy ex-convict from Texas may turn out to be the best golfer ever. Yes, you just read that right. We think Scottie has the goods to go down as the best golfer ever possibly.
Today’s Undisputed No. 1
Scheffler has been the world’s top-ranked golfer for more than 117 consecutive weeks and 151 weeks total. To put that into perspective, the only players who have logged more weeks at No. 1 are Tiger Woods and Greg Norman. That level of sustained dominance in an era when golf is deeper and more competitive than ever is astonishing.
Since late 2022, Scheffler has finished outside the top 25 only once. That’s not just winning occasionally—that’s showing up every single week as the best or nearly the best player in the field. In a sport where even the greats miss cuts and slump for months, Scheffler has established a floor of excellence that no one else can match.
And then there’s his scoring average. At 68.74, he’s flirting with all-time records. For comparison, Tiger Woods’ legendary 2000 season produced a 68.17 average. Numbers like these don’t just happen; they signal a golfer performing at the absolute peak of the sport.
Victories that Matter
Of course, golf isn’t just about consistency; it’s about winning. And Scheffler has been piling up victories at a staggering rate.
In 2024, he put together one of the best seasons in modern history:
- Nine worldwide wins
- Olympic gold medal in Paris
- FedEx Cup champion
- Tour Championship winner
- More than $60 million in earnings
- He got arrested and got off with an apology from the sheriff
It was the kind of year that evoked comparisons to the peak of Tiger Woods’ career. No one had won seven PGA Tour events in a season since Woods in 2007, and Scheffler did it with a calm, relentless style that made it feel inevitable.
This season, he’s significantly enhanced his resume by winning a second green jacket and the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. He now has four major victories and 18 total PGA Tour wins—before turning 30. Only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods achieved that feat so early in their careers.
Last week he kept the train rolling with a FedEx Cup playoff BMW Championship victory, coming from four strokes behind Sunday to win and secure millions more in FedEx Cup points and $$$. He’s not just winning; he’s winning the tournaments that matter most.
What the Experts and His Peers Say
Numbers tell one story, but the respect of your peers and analysts tells another. And when it comes to Scheffler, the consensus is clear: he’s the man to beat. As we like to say: No shi* Sherlock.
Opiners across the globe, in every language known to man, call him the undisputed top golfer alive, based not just on trophies but on advanced metrics like strokes gained, where he routinely leads the field.
Even legends of the game are taking notice. ESPN analyst Andy North put Scheffler in his top three greatest golfers of all time, alongside Nicklaus and Woods. Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters champion, has said that Scheffler’s dominance reminds him of Tiger’s.
That kind of recognition doesn’t come lightly. Golf is notorious for its skepticism of “the next big thing.” But in Scheffler’s case, the respect for his steely focus and repeatable yet quirky swing seems universal.
Is He the Best of All Time?…
This is where things get tricky. On the one hand, Scheffler’s resume already looks historically significant. Four majors, an Olympic gold, a FedEx Cup, and 18 PGA Tour victories before turning 30—that’s rarified air.
But when we talk about the greatest of all time, we inevitably measure against Nicklaus and Woods.
- Jack Nicklaus won 18 majors and finished second in 19 others.
- Tiger Woods won 15 majors, 82 PGA Tour titles, and spent 281 consecutive weeks at world No. 1. Do the math: that’s nearly 5.5 years straight as #1 playing against the likes of Mickelson, Els, Vijay, Duval – hall of famers in their own rights.
By those standards, Scheffler has a long way to go. Four majors is impressive, but it’s not yet historic. He would likely need to win 10 or more to be considered in the same breath as Nicklaus and Woods.
Another complicating factor is the current landscape of professional golf. With LIV Golf pulling several top players out of the PGA Tour fields, some critics argue that Scheffler isn’t facing quite the same depth of competition that Tiger did in his prime. Whether or not that’s a fair argument, it’s a narrative that follows his rise.
What Sets Him Apart
Still, some qualities make Scheffler grandly unique—even compared to past greats.
First, his mental game. He rarely looks rattled, even in final-round pressure or in handcuffs. Where Woods relied on intimidation and Nicklaus leaned on experience, Scheffler’s weapon is a calm steadiness. He doesn’t overwhelm you with theatrics; he just plays nearly flawless golf until his opponents make mistakes. As diehard fans of golf, we wish he’d show more emotion, but we’ll take what we can get for now.
Second, his all-around game. Statistically, he has no weakness. He used to, somewhat, with his putting, but no more. He’s elite off the tee, world-class with irons, steady around the greens, and increasingly sharp with the putter. In an era when most golfers have strengths and weaknesses, Scheffler seems built without a flaw.
Finally, his consistency. It’s not just that he wins—he never seems to play poorly. His “bad weeks” are still top-20 finishes. That relentless pressure wears on his competitors, who know that they need to play their absolute best just to keep up.
The Future Outlook
So, is Scottie Scheffler the greatest of all time? Not yet. But he’s firmly on the path.
If he continues his current trajectory—adding majors at a steady pace, maintaining his ranking, and extending his prime into his mid-to-late 30s—the conversation will change quickly. Nicklaus and Woods built their legacies over decades, not just a handful of seasons. For Scheffler, the challenge will be sustaining this excellence year after year.
But if you’re looking for signs for future “Best of the Best” accolades, they’re everywhere. The record-breaking consistency. The historic earnings. The respect of legends. The sense that, right now, golf runs through him and him alone. And maybe that’s the real takeaway. Whether or not he ends up with 18 majors or 82 wins, Scheffler has already given us something rare: the chance to watch greatness in