The next Tiger Woods? History suggests Scottie Scheffler must do this to stake claim as all-time great

Scottie Scheffler is quickly creating a Hall of Fame career.

With elite golf in more turmoil than ever, Scheffler is now the standard-bearer on the PGA Tour and the man everyone else wants to beat.

The 27-year-old has already added two more prestigious titles to his haul this year and is the hot favorite heading to Augusta National.

Such is his dominance right now that the chances of a Scheffler victory this Sunday are lower than anything we’ve seen in years and almost reach Tiger Woods levels of one-sidedness.

Scheffler is of course already the proud owner of a Green Jacket following his commanding victory at the 2022 Masters.

He won that week by three strokes, overtaking a field of stars to cement his place as the best around.

While big headlines have followed, Scheffler has curiously yet to add to his major track record, something he will surely rectify this summer.

And adding another Masters trophy to his cabinet will be a good start as he continues to build his claim to being the next all-time great.

After his stunning back-to-back wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players earlier this spring, Scheffler drew comparisons to the iconic Tiger.

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He was quick to rebuff such compliments, but you can be sure he would love to honor this highest honor by emerging victorious again in Georgia.

And maybe he’ll need it if he wants to be considered among the greats once he finally hangs up his glove.

Over the 87 years of this great tournament, 17 players have won the title a total of 48 times.

Among these multiple champions are the true legends of the game and the roll call is something: Woods, Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Nelson, Hogan, Ballesteros.

To say you’re successful at golf, it seems you need to claim at least TWO green jackets.

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Scheffler is more than capable of joining this list and few are looking elsewhere for the 2024 Masters champion.

Regarding the inevitable comparisons to Woods after his recent victory at TPC Sawgrass, Scheffler said: “Any time you can be compared to Tiger, it’s really special, but, I mean, the guy stands alone in our game. He really does.

“This is my eighth tournament victory here, tying it in the Players Championships. Apart from that, I have 14 other majors and some 70 PGA Tour events to catch up on.

“So I think I’ll stick to my routine and keep plotting, try to stay as balanced as possible.”

It was a very Scottie Scheffler response to such questions.

But these eight victories have all come at major events and have all taken place since February 2022.

The world number one will only turn 28 in June and can rack up wins for years to come.

Scheffler swings his own swing but it works. Just ask Butch Harmon, who has worked with the best, including Tiger himself, as well as Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler.

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Speaking to talkSPORT on the eve of the tournament, Harmon said: “If you watch Scheffler’s swing and film it in slow motion, at impact, he’s in a perfect position.

“What you see with the feet is because of the momentum and speed of his exit after impact and his follow through is what pulls his feet, slides the back foot, spins the left foot.

“But if you look at the impact, in the film, his footwork is perfect, which is the important position. He’s just going at it really hard.

“And I have to admire his coach, Randy Smith, who is a good friend of mine, who has been Scottie’s coach since he was a teenager, that this is his golf swing and they have never changed this part.

“They just made what he does better.” And right now he’s doing it better than anyone in the world, that’s for sure.

So, as the betting odds continue to drop on him winning the Masters this year, it appears he’s already not far from legendary status.

Golf needs a superstar, someone players can target and fans can rally behind.

Woods held that role for years during his prime and Scheffler is now looking to take on the role.

Listen to commentary from all four days of the Masters on talkSPORT 2 HERE