Augusta Masters: the unchallenged reign of Scottie Scheffler

Special envoy to Augusta

By making four putts on hole 18 for an inconsequential double bogey, the American Scottie Scheffler was probably overtaken by emotions and pressure when winning his first green jacket and his first Major, two years ago. On Sunday, just one putt was enough for him to win his second Masters. Once triumphant, he finally allowed himself to smile, raising his hands in the air and shouting towards the sky. Always very calm on the pitch, the new master of the place generally does not display his emotions much.

On Sunday, although he embraced his faithful caddy Ted Scott, he was not able to savor and measure the scope of his feat in the arms of his wife, Meredith. About to give birth to their first child, she had not made the trip to Augusta. Moreover, the big favorite of the bookmakers before the tournament (4.5 to 1), could not have scrapped on Sunday. In the event of his wife's premature birth, he had warned that he would leave the premises immediately: “I stick to my word. A first child only comes once in a lifetime. »

During a final day that was less crazy than expected, he won the Masters tournament with a total of -11 for the second time in three years with a fairly comfortable lead of four shots over Swedish prodigy Ludvig Aberg, 24 years old, second at -7 for his first participation in Georgia. Scheffler showed incredible composure and total control of his nerves on the field unlike his opponents who scuttled one after the other during the final sprint. “On this course, you must not be too defensive or too aggressive. You just have to play the right shots.” Golf seems simple with Scheffler... The only player to play his four rounds under par, on a course more selective than ever due to the very windy conditions of the first three rounds, the undeniable best player of the moment took control of the tournament during the 3rd round and held his leadership until the end.

He is not the most charismatic or the most aesthetic on the pitch. But what efficiency... A professional since 2018, this large size (1.91 m; 90 kg; shoe size 46), has forged since his youth a very particular swing which is characterized by a controlled lateral slide of his right foot at the moment of the strike. His little game is also admired by his peers. His putting, his only relative weakness in recent months, was perfect this week. Advised since September by Phil Kenyon, a reference in this area of ​​the game, the world number 1 adopted a mallet putter. And the results are there. He only needed 109 putts over 72 holes, an average of 1.51 per hole, to tame the devilish greens of the Augusta National Golf Club. “I would say the two aspects of my game that have probably worked the best are short game and driving. I think the little game here is probably the most important. »

A practicing Christian, Scottie Scheffler prays often. “I hope golf doesn’t define me too much as a person. I believe in Jesus. I feel like I was given the chance to showcase my talent. I have been called to do my best and glorify God. » Carried by his faith, he is currently in a full state of golfing grace. In 2024, there is him and the others. He has still not played above par in 2024 in 31 cards and has not finished a tournament outside the top 10 since last August. He notably went 28 rounds under par, a record on the American Circuit since 1983. The only player with Tiger Woods to achieve the Palmer-Players-Masters triple in the same year (Woods in 2001), he won his third tournament this season in nine tests. “I can't tell you how much I hate going over par. I'm playing really good golf right now and I'm controlling my emotions like I never have, which is a good thing. I feel like I’m maturing as a person on the course. It is difficult to dispute the results of recent weeks. I will continue to work as I have done so far and keep my head down. »

With this second green jacket in two years, the world number 1 becomes at 27 the 4th youngest double winner at Augusta behind Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Seve Ballesteros. All after only five participations. He stands out as the only player to have won his second Masters in five attempts since a certain Horlon Smith… in 1934 and 1936.

Like Fred Couples in 1992, Ian Woosnam in 1991, Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002, Dustin Johnson in 2020, and himself in 2022, the world number 1 enforced his rank in Georgia. “I hate losing. I feel like this is how I was designed. I've been like this since I was little. It’s always been a part of me and I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon. »

Born in New Jersey, he grew up in Texas where he studied at university and won two national university champion titles in 2014 and 2018. Although he listens more readily to country than to Bruce Springsteen (also from New Jersey), he has established himself more than ever as the Boss of world golf.