TROON, Scotland – Possibly it was all too new – the clutchness, the aid, the trophy. However minutes after successful the PGA Championship in Might, Xander Schauffele wanted no assist placing his achievement within the correct perspective.
“All of us are climbing this huge mountain,” he stated, “and on the prime of the mountain is Scottie Scheffler. I gained this at present, however I’m nonetheless not that near Scottie Scheffler within the huge scheme of issues.
“I’ve received one good hook up there within the mountain up on that cliff, and I’m nonetheless climbing. I might need a beer up there on that facet of the hill and revel in this, nevertheless it’s not that arduous to chase when somebody is to date forward of you.”
Two months later, and the vantage level has modified.
Together with his emphatic victory Sunday at Royal Troon, Schauffele simply planted one other hook and elevated even larger. Look once more – to some, he’s now eye-to-eye with Scheffler.
No, the highest of the world rankings nonetheless isn’t shut; the hole between Scheffler and Schauffele is about 6.8 factors, or the distinction between Nos. 3 and 49 on this planet. That math may take months, if not years, to reshape. However on the finish of this main season, there’s now not less than a compelling argument to be made that it’s Schauffele – not Scheffler – who’s the participant of the 12 months for 2024.
That discourse would have appeared preposterous on the finish of April or Might or June. However not anymore.
Sure, Scheffler is the primary participant since Arnold Palmer in 1962 to win six instances earlier than the calendar turned to July. Sure, within the first 15 occasions of the 12 months, he in contrast favorably to Tiger Woods’ 2000 season by way of wins, runners-up, top-10s, rounds within the 60s – and that legendary season is supposedly the gold customary for excellence within the fashionable period. However now, improbably, it’s an open debate whose 12 months has truly been higher.
On Sunday, Schauffele joined Woods and Jordan Spieth as the one gamers since 1980 to complete within the prime 8 in all 4 majors, together with a number of wins. Schauffele posted – by 15! – the most effective cumulative rating within the majors, which is critical as a result of, on this fractured panorama, they’re the one 4 occasions a 12 months when all the finest gamers are collectively.
“Clearly Scottie has six wins and a significant, however what Xander has carried out this 12 months, the consistency he performs with, he’s taken his recreation to a different degree,” stated Billy Horschel, who tied for second at Troon. “He deserves to carry that claret jug proper now.”
There’s now a logjam as these tweeners (ages 26-32) attempt to stake their declare as the most effective participant of the subsequent era. Of this crop, Spieth is the present chief with three main titles, however he’s been caught on that quantity since 2017 and hasn’t been a constant pressure within the recreation’s greatest occasions for years. Schauffele’s triumphs in speedy succession at Valhalla and Troon have vaulted him into the two-major membership, together with (on this age division, not less than) Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Scheffler.
Now that he has caught up, Schauffele truly boasts probably the most spectacular and well-rounded main file of the group. Getting into the 12 months, he had 11 main top-10s; his 15 complete now are as many as Thomas and DeChambeau mixed.
All of a sudden, for the 30-year-old, the profession Grand Slam is a chance.
“Earlier than I had any majors, it’s one thing I’ve at all times needed,” he stated. “I’m one step nearer and nonetheless have a protracted approach to go. However should you don’t see your self doing it, you’re by no means going to do it.”
For years whereas assuming the undesirable title of finest participant but to win a significant, Schauffele appeared the one one who remained affected person about his main near-misses. Working in his favor was that he by no means actually kicked away a significant down the stretch and accrued scar tissue; he merely didn’t rise to the second. However Schauffele preached course of and now has two main titles as proof, every after a final-round 65 – a feat that solely Jack Nicklaus may beforehand declare.
“He’s clearly now studying that the successful is straightforward,” stated Justin Rose, who was paired with Schauffele within the last spherical. “He has a variety of horsepower. He’s good with a wedge, he’s nice with a putter, he hits the ball a good distance, clearly his iron play is robust – so he’s received a variety of weapons on the market.
“One in all his most unappreciated ones is his mentality. He’s such a peaceful man on the market. I don’t know what he’s feeling, however he actually makes it look very straightforward. He performs with a freedom, which tells you as a competitor that he’s most likely not feeling a ton of dangerous stuff. He’s received a variety of runaway forward and a variety of thrilling stuff forward.”
It’s a quiet confidence, solid over the previous few years, that now underpins the prime quality of Schauffele’s recreation. He’s the one participant on Tour who ranks within the prime 40 in each main statistical class (driving, strategy, across the inexperienced, placing). That completeness was on show at Royal Troon, notably on the weekend, when he gutted out a 69 Saturday within the worst of the climate after which carded a 6-under finale that he known as the most effective he’d ever performed. For the week, he was even higher than his season averages, rating inside the highest 20 within the subject in each aspect.
“That form of all-around actually good will get it carried out within the greatest occasions,” Adam Scott stated. “The greats of the sport did that, particularly Tiger.”
Scheffler possesses an identical aggressive make-up as Schauffele however with totally different bodily attributes. He’s shorter however straighter off the tee. He’s peerless together with his irons. He’s tidier across the greens. However he’s streakier – a lot streakier – on the greens. At The Open, Scheffler ranked 136th in placing, his three-putt from 8 ft on the ninth inexperienced Sunday denying him an opportunity to stamp this as a 12 months for the ages. After double-bogeying his last gap to drop right into a tie for seventh, Scheffler declined all post-round media, leaving everybody else to place into context his dramatic main season.
Scheffler claimed his second inexperienced jacket and, if not for an early-morning run-in with Louisville police exterior the Valhalla gates, might very have gone back-to-back on the PGA. As an alternative, he tied for eighth, after which he was by no means comfy off the tee at Pinehurst, tying for 41st.
In a vacuum, it’s one other profitable main marketing campaign. And mixed together with his dazzling Tour file this season – a come-from-behind Gamers title (over Schauffele); 4 different signature-event wins towards the most effective Tour fields on its most exacting programs; a litany of top-10s; and strokes-gained numbers we haven’t seen since Woods’ prime – it’s undoubtedly the most effective seasons in latest reminiscence.
It simply may not be the most effective this 12 months, a state of affairs that appeared unimaginable simply two months in the past.
After all, Participant of the Yr voting doesn’t start at present. It doesn’t even begin after the Tour Championship. The ballots exit in December, permitting the Tour membership to contemplate these two stars’ complete physique of labor in 2024. That may embody the Olympic competitors, despite the fact that it’s not an official Tour occasion. It’ll most actually issue of their respective playoff efficiency. And it might even – recency-bias alert – consider a participant’s output in a crew occasion just like the Presidents Cup in late September.
It guarantees to be a captivating vote, a referendum on how at present’s professionals view main glory versus weekly dominance.
Following the summer season of his life, Schauffele would possibly quickly sit on that mountaintop, in any case.
