2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler: “No one knew who I was not too long ago!”

2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler reflects on his incredible rise and first Major victory.

For a brief period last spring, Scottie Scheffler was riding a wave we hadn’t seen since Tiger’s heyday. He won his first PGA Tour title in February and added two more over the next 42 days. By the time he arrived at Augusta National last April, he did so as the World No.1. And as we all recall, he left wearing the Green Jacket. 

A come down was to be expected, but it never really materialized. Though the wins dried up, he still came second four times, including at the US Open. He set a new record for the most money earned in a single season on the PGA Tour and would have won the FedEx Cup (and the $18 million bounty) had he not surrendered a six-shot lead to an inspired Rory McIlroy at the Tour Championship.

It seems laughable to suggest that he was in danger of becoming yesterday’s news, but the presence of LIV and the form of Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm meant he was heading that way until he returned to the top of the Official World Golf Rankings with his first victory in 10 months at the Phoenix Open.

He finished T12 in his next start at The Genesis Open and was T4 in his attempt to defend the Arnold Palmer Invitational, before a dominant five-shot win at The Players Championship and a fourth-place finish in the WGC Dell Matchplay.

The 26-year-old will now head to Augusta with an even greater target on his back as he bids to become the first man to go back-to-back at the Masters since Tiger Woods in 2001. Find out if we think he’ll do it in our guide to who will win the Masters. If he does accomplish that it would complete a remarkable year for a player whose career has only just begun…

How has life changed for you over the last 12 months?

Life on the course is a bit different, more stuff going on and people know who I am compared with a year ago. Maybe a few people knew me from the Ryder Cup, but going back to 18 months before that, pretty much nobody knew. It’s been fun trying to manage that and find more efficient stuff to do at the course with my time, just because there’s more that comes with showing up at events. But I’m very grateful for it.

How different do you feel as a player compared to this time last year?

I feel like I’ve improved a lot, like I’ve added new things to my game and I’m continuing to improve. And I’ve seen some results, which is exciting. 

Are the changes more physical or mental?

It’s just fine-tuning stuff. I guess you could say it’s physical, trying to become more consistent. That’s probably the biggest thing. Last year, I played pretty consistent golf throughout the season. I missed a handful of cuts, but I was in a position to win numerous tournaments. That was nice.

A lot of guys go on little streaks where they play great for a month or so, but you were there for the entire year. Was that testament to your mentality?

I’m not sure. When you see guys who spend a bit of time at the top of the World Ranking, whether it’s Rory or Jon, most of those players are pretty consistent. That was an area I was trying to improve last year. I think my approach stats last year jumped pretty high, I was maybe top five in approach. Whereas in years past I was maybe 60th or 70th.

You actually led the Tour in greens in regulation last year…

Well, I didn’t know that until now, so that’s a good stat. I don’t like missing greens! From 2021 to 2022 I really improved my iron play. I was a really, really good driver my first two years on Tour. My driving stats actually went down slightly last year. I hit it further, and with that, the dispersion gets a little wider. But obviously, I was able to take advantage.

Hitting a lot of greens is part of playing consistent golf. The best players in the world are very, very consistent ball strikers, and so I was able to make that jump from ’21 to ’22 and, hopefully, I’ll continue to improve.

What did you learn about yourself and your game when you won four times between February and April last year?

I’d worked really hard to get to a point where I had opportunities to win, so it was definitely nice to capitalize all at once. There was a span of two months where I was winning a bunch, which was a lot of fun. I had some good stuff I was working on in the off-season that really clicked.

You were ranked No.1 in the world for the most weeks last year. Did you ever feel like it?

No, not really. I think I’m always trying to improve. I feel like when you’re at the top, if you feel like you’re at the top, you’re not really motivated to continue to work. For me, I never felt like No.1 in the world.

Because everything happened so quickly, do you think people maybe looked at you differently compared
to when Rory became World No.1?

It doesn’t affect me. But I would say that I think you’re right. Since I maybe got to the top so quickly, maybe people didn’t perceive me as being the best player in the world, whatever that means.

You did go 10 months without a victory before the Phoenix Open. Was that starting to weigh on your mind at all?

Not really. It’s not easy to win out here. I did a good job last year of putting myself in position a bunch of times.
I think I had four wins, but I also had four runner-ups. The ones that quickly come to mind are Colonial and the US Open being just a shot away. I think what frustrated me more was kind of being on the outside looking in on Sundays, not being in a position to win in the fall and the start of this year. 

It’s not that long ago that you were starting out on Tour, probably wondering whether you were going
to make it or not. Do you still think back to those difficult moments to keep you grounded?

Nothing really changes for me. This is my third year on Tour. I haven’t really been out here that long. Of course, I remember the times when I had to get up and down at Q-School to get my Korn Ferry card, and trying to chase my first win on the Korn Ferry Tour, then going from chasing my first win to trying to be No.1. There’s more pressure when you’re fighting for your career. There’s less pressure now I’ve had some success.

I’d say there’s more pressure going into the final round of Q-School than there is on a Masters Sunday because,
if I fail at Q-School, I’ve got another year where I don’t have anywhere to play. I did Monday qualifiers on the Korn Ferry Tour for seven or eight events. That’s a tough life. You go out and shoot six-under, and you still don’t get to play in the tournament.

I look back on those because I performed under the most immense pressure I could have had, and now that I’m out here, it’s not like there’s less on the line, but it’s definitely simpler. 

How big a goal was it to get back to No.1?

I like being No.1 in the world. I think Rory and Jon are pretty much neck-and-neck for playing the best golf in the world right now, so the ranking is funny. It’s just an algorithm. You don’t get any extra trophies for having it, it’s more a reflection of other things. But I don’t like being No.2.

The Masters dinner will be the first time everyone has been together in a long time. Have you given much thought to that? 

Yeah, I haven’t seen many of the LIV guys. I saw Bubba on vacation, and I told him that I was just going to have a separate table for him in the corner by himself! I think it’s definitely a little sad what’s happening. But golf will move on. Things will heal.

Find out what is on Scheffler’s Champions Dinner menu and how it compares with menus from the past.

How do think this year’s Major venues set up for you?

So, I haven’t played Hoylake. I haven’t played Oak Hill. I’ve played LA Country Club, so I’ve got an advantage there because not many people have played LACC. That was a fantastic course. It was a lot of fun to play. I had a great time playing the Walker Cup there.

I think Majors set up well for me. I like the aspects of those tournaments where they’re very challenging. I like the grind of those tournaments where a par is a great score. Whereas on easier courses, I don’t think mentally I get as excited. In the Majors you feel like you’re going into a boxing match.

How do you prepare for the Masters? 

The four Majors are the tournaments we prepare for the most and when I’m at home practising, I’m preparing for those high-pressure situations – and there’s no bigger pressure than playing in a Major championship.

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About the author

Michael Catling
Features Editor

Michael Catling is Today’s Golfer‘s Features Editor and an award-winning journalist who specializes in golf’s Majors and Tours, including DP World, PGA, LPGA, and LIV.

Michael joined Today’s Golfer in 2016 and has traveled the world to attend the game’s biggest events and secure exclusive interviews with dozens of Major champions, including Jack Nicklaus, Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Gary Player, and Justin Thomas.

A former member of Ufford Park and Burghley Park, Michael has been playing golf since he was 11 and currently plays off a handicap of 10.

Away from golf he’s a keen amateur chef and has his own healthy recipes website. He also loves playing squash, going to the gym, and following Chelsea FC.

Michael uses a Ping G driver, Ping G 3-wood, Ping G Crossover 3-iron, Ping G Series irons (4-PW), Ping Glide wedges (52º, 56º, 60º), TaylorMade MySpider Tour Putter, and Srixon AD333 golf ball.

Get in touch with Michael via email and follow him on Twitter.