Congested Scottie Scheffler says 2024 ‘counts for nothing’ as he bemoans conditions ahead of Masters defence
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The World No.1 was in jovial mood ahead of his bid to join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back winners at Augusta.
Scottie Scheffler sounded like he was talking with a peg on his nose as the defending champion answered questions in his Masters press conference, but he insists he is fit and raring to go.
The World No.1 blamed the weather for his congestion, describing the Georgia spring air as “raining pollen” before assuring the media that it won’t impact his performance. “I’m ready to roll, the sniffles won’t stop me.”
Twelve months on from his second win here, it’s a very different run-up to the first Major of the year for the 28-year-old. This time last year, with just one Green Jacket to his name, he arrived at Augusta the clear favourite after a dominant start. He was also due to become a father and vowed to quit the tournament regardless of the circumstances if wife Meredith went into labour.
This year the Texan arrives with his wife and 11-month-old son Bennett by his side – in full Nike scripting, no less – and having experienced a much slower start to the season which sees him winless in 2025. But becoming a father has given him new perspective and with two wins in just five starts around Augusta, he knows what it takes to get the job done.
“When you get home at the end of the day, Bennett is still going to do pretty much the exact same thing he always does when I get home. My work is definitely not going to affect him and definitely going to give a bit of perspective.
“But it (being defending champion) counts for nothing come Thursday. I start the tournament even par just like everybody else. Last year doesn’t have a lot to do with this year, outside of I can go back on some of the experience that I’ve had playing well on this golf course and reflect on that.”
The start of Scheffler’s season was delayed by a freak injury suffered when while making ravioli on Christmas Day – something he’s made light of with the inclusion of the dish in his Champions’ Dinner menu… not that he’ll be making it.
“In terms of if I was trying to take out the competition, I would definitely do a demonstration,” he laughed. “But yeah, hopefully I’ll avoid the injuries. Maybe they’ll cut up my steak for me, I won’t have to use a knife or anything like that!”
One man who won’t be at risk from Scheffler’s culinary skills is Rory McIlroy, who arrives at Augusta in Scheffler-2024-esque form and is desperate to book his place as the host of next year’s Tuesday night gathering.
The American admitted he’d love McIlroy’s distance off the tee, but it’s another part of the Northern Irishman’s game he’d most like to add to his armoury.
“Rory, I always like how he plays freely. It’s real easy for me to notice that. It’s a lot harder to go out there and say, hey, I’m going to play freely, then actually do it. I think in golf a lot of times it’s easier said than done. So, when you look at the historically great players that have won major championships, guys like the Rory McIlroys and Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelsons and all those guys, they were really good at noticing things they could improve at and actually being able to do it is really the thing that they were best at.”
McIlroy and the other 93 players in the field just need to hope Scheffler doesn’t find that freedom this week. With two wins in his last three starts, he doesn’t need any more help around here.
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Scottie Scheffler is congested but raring to go ahead of Masters title defence.
