Ted Scott: The four-time Masters winning caddie taking Scottie Scheffler to new heights

Ted Scott wins a fourth Masters title, and second with Scottie Scheffler.

The Louisianan looper added a second Green Jacket with Scottie Scheffler at the 2024 Masters, taking his tally to four titles at Augusta National.

The red-hot favorite stormed to Masters glory for a second time, out-shooting his rivals with an assured four-under-par 68 to demonstrate why very few could see past him at the 88th Masters.

Navigating him through a week of treacherous conditions at Augusta National was Scheffler’s trusted looper since 2022 – Ted Scott – who has hit the ground running, or more like sprinting, since taking over the responsibility.

Four wins in six starts culminating with Scheffler’s first Green Jacket in 2022 was just the beginning of a dominant era for Scheffler. A Players Championship marked the highlight of a less fruitful 2023, although his strokes-gained superiority was still there for all to see.

Ominously for the rest of the tour, 2024 has seen Scheffler kick on again, becoming the first to defend at the Players before going on to secure a second Green Jacket.

Unlike his putter, Scott has been a 16th club Scheffler can rely on, and such is the World No.1’s respect for his right-hand man, that he insisted Scott make the victory walk with him coming off the 72nd hole on Masters Sunday.

“Ted, it’s going to be hard to catch up with you on all these Masters titles. I couldn’t do this without you. What a guy,” said Scheffler of his caddie.

“Teddy did a great job of making sure that we kept the golf course in front of us. I didn’t get off to the best start, but I had some key up-and-downs, and Teddy once again did a great job of keeping me in it.”

Scott has now guided two players to two Masters wins a-piece having also been on the bag for Bubba Watson’s triumphs in 2012 and 2014. The 50-year-old’s tally of four Green Jackets puts him tied second in the Augusta history books with Steve Williams (Tiger Woods – 01, 02, 05; Adam Scott – 13) and Nathaniel Every (Arnold Palmer – 58, 60, 62, 64).

He overtakes Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay (Phil Mickelson – 04, 06, 10) with only William ‘Pappy’ Stokes (Henry Picard – 38; Claude Harmon – 48; Ben Hogan – 51, 53; Jack Burke Jr (56), and Willie Peterson (Jack Nicklaus – 63, 65, 66, 72, 75) ahead of him on five Masters wins.

“Honestly, I’m just pinching myself. I don’t know how I get to do this. When I was 19 years old, a guy by the name of Ryan Smith told me, if you want to get better at something, find people who are better at you and spend time with them. That’s kind of been my motto in life, said Scott following Scheffler’s victory.

“I’ve just been very fortunate that great people will take me on as their caddie as other parts of my life. I’ve worked for some incredible golfers. Scottie is just added to the list, and now it’s just incredible to be a part of it. I’m just very fortunate.”

As expected, Scheffler ranked top of the pile for SG: Tee-to-Green at Augusta, but less expectedly finished 22nd for SG: Putting, across the week and 14th in round 4, batting well above his 2024 PGA Tour raking of 96th.

The narrative around Scheffler for quite some time now has been that if he putts well he wins. The flat stick is clearly not a strength, but neither is it a weakness in the eyes of Scott.

“I think people created a weakness in his putting. He’s not a weak putter. He’s a good putter. He’s a very good putter.”

Key to helping Scheffler raise his game when it matters lies in the experience Scott brings to the bag. Yes, he’s been there and done it, but more importantly, Scott recognizes that you’re not going to have everything your own way over 72 holes, but one thing you can’t compromise on is being yourself.

Reflecting on Scheffler playing to his superstrengths and not the scoreboard, Scott said: “He wasn’t looking at the board. I was certainly looking at the board in case he asked me. He just seemed focused on doing Scottie Scheffler things.

“That’s what he said on 13. He goes, should we go for it? I said, absolutely. Why don’t we do what we do and what we’re good at? He’s the best ball striker in the world. He hit an unbelievable 4-iron, which is just incredible to that small target. Those targets seem big when you’re caddying for Scottie Scheffler. That’s how good he is.”

After finishing with Bubba in 2021 after 15 years, plus four handicapper Scott was set on a career in coaching before agreeing to strap up again with Scheffler. Not before he made the prestigious talent promise to work on his on-course temperament, however, which he duly did.

Financially, the move has paid off too. Scheffler’s winnings from the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship, and Masters totaled over $12 million, not to mention a string of other top 10 finishes this season that takes his 2024 earnings beyond the $15 million mark.

And with caddies typically taking a ten percent cut, well… let’s just say he would have needed to be an exceptionally sought-after coach.

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About the author

Ross Tugwood

Senior Digital Writer

Ross Tugwood is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

He has post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.