Scottie Scheffler: Rested and excited about a tough challenge at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Matt Cooper
- 1 March 2022
The Texan did not go mad after his maiden win, instead he’s looking to taste success again soon.
It might have been understandable if Scottie Scheffler had celebrated in style when he landed victory in last month's Waste Management Phoenix Open.
He was, after all, the classic case of the golfer long deemed a winner in waiting who couldn't convert his chances.
In just two and a half seasons, he impressed in regular events, in the World Golf Championship and in the Majors.
Over half his starts in that period were top 20s and five times he finished top three.
The win though? It refused to come.
It would be easy to characterise him as a golfer who was not so much as knocking on the door of that maiden victory as hurling himself head-first at it time and time again.
And yet, in truth, he always seemed very sanguine about the gap in his CV.
Turns out his response to the breakthrough was much the same.
"We didn't really do anything special," he explained ahead of this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational. "We had our family and friends come over a couple of nights last week, but other than that, not too much."
Many golfers splash out when they win, he was informed. Did anything like that happen when the cheque was banked?
"For me, winning is such a great feeling," he said. "It was so fun for me and my wife that the money earned rarely came into our head. It was just about competing and actually winning a tournament is pretty joyful."
"I'm well-rested," he explained. "We had some bad weather at home in Dallas, so I got a good amount of rest. It was pretty cold out, so didn't do too much."
Seven days after his success he responded with tied seventh at the Genesis Invitational and then took a week off, one in which, it turns out, he didn't do much.
He's played at Bay Hill once before, finishing T15th in 2020, and he liked what he saw.
"I like the course - it's pretty difficult, which I kind of like," he said. "It was extremely difficult with the wind two years ago. This year the conditions don't look as bad, but should be a good test.
"This is Mr. Palmer's legacy. He built a great golf course, so it's just nice to be here and enjoy it."
Scheffler on finally getting his first PGA Tour win
"I think being close to winning and not winning is extremely frustrating. There are really only a couple of tournaments where I felt like I really should have won the golf tournament.
"The ones I can remember off the top of my head are the Houston Open and the Austin WGC. Those two are golf tournaments where I felt like I should have won and didn't. They were extremely frustrating.
"You come out here to play and compete, and winning is a lot more fun than finishing second.
"It doesn't take me very long to get over things, though. For me, I kind of live week to week. Those things are frustrating and they motivate you a little bit, but overall I just like competing. For me, that's motivation enough."
Scheffler since graduating to the PGA Tour
Starts - 62
Cuts made - 51
Top 20s - 33 (53%)
Top 10s - 19 (31%)
Top fives - 12 (19%)
Top threes - 7 (11%)
Victories - 1
⛳ The course is ready. ⛳
— apinv (@APinv) March 1, 2022
Are you? #APInv pic.twitter.com/dx4nA1t6WO
Scheffler's Strokes Gained stats
This season he's not, actually, been hitting it as well as normal from the tee. But his putting has seen a big improvement.
The win in Scottsdale was notable for being his best performance on the greens this season and also his second-best driving effort (one at odds with his average for the campaign).
(Seasons 2019/20 - 2020/21 - 2021/22.)
Off the Tee: 10th - 17th - 73rd
Approach the Green: 33rd - 83rd - 34th
Around the Green: 58th - 28th - 34th
Tee to Green: 10th - 21st - 22nd
Putting: 117th - 107th - 24th
