World number one Scottie Scheffler believes he faces a “very tall task” to enjoy a sustained period of dominance despite seemingly finding the solution to his sole weakness.
Scheffler compiled one of the best ball-striking seasons ever seen in 2023, his adjusted scoring average of 68.63 being the seventh-lowest in PGA Tour history and the best by anyone not named Tiger Woods.
In total Scheffler was ranked first in nine different categories, including greens in regulation and strokes gained off the tee, but was ranked 162nd out of 193 players in putting.
World number two Rory McIlroy recently suggested that Scheffler should change to a mallet putter to cure his problems on the greens and the former Masters champion duly did so before strolling to a five-shot victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
That has given rise to speculation that Scheffler could be on his way to dominating the game for a number of years as he prepares to attempt to become the first player to successfully defend the Players Championship in its 50-year history.
“I think it would be good for the game,” Scheffler told a pre-tournament press conference at Sawgrass.
“I think anytime you have a figure that kind of dominates… like I think of the NBA, you look at Steph Curry for those years where the [Golden State] Warriors were winning a bunch, people would say they got tired of it but at the end of the day, people were still showing up and watching because he was incredible to watch, and you want to watch greatness when you’re out there.
“So I think it would be good for the game of golf, and we’ll see what happens with the sport in the next few years.
“It’s a pretty challenging game and we’ve got a lot of talent out here, so being that dominant figure I think is a very tall task to ask of anybody, but we’ve got some guys out here that I think can definitely pull it off.”
Asked to name a player, other than Woods, who had dominated the game recently, Scheffler added: “Well, you kind of put me in a little corner here by taking Tiger away.
“As far as I’m concerned and in my lifetime, Tiger’s really been the guy that’s dominated basically since 1997 up until about 2020, whenever he really got hurt. I don’t know if we’ll ever see anything like that again in the game of golf.
“As far as who else has been dominant, I think you’ve had a lot of guys that go through stretches where they are. You had Jordan [Spieth] go through his stretch, you had a year where JT [Justin Thomas] won five times, you had those years where Rory was winning majors by a bunch of shots.
“Nobody’s really been able to have the longevity that Tiger had.”
'I have to take care of myself' – McIlroy to play reduced schedule in 2025
Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will play a reduced schedule of 22 or 23 events in 2025, acknowledging he must take care of his body after a challenging year.
McIlroy endured a series of agonising near misses in 2024, most notably when losing to Bryson DeChambeau at the U.S. Open in June, when he made three bogeys in his last four holes to relinquish the lead.
While the Northern Irishman has not won a major crown since 2014, he is closing in on a sixth Race to Dubai crown, holding a lead of 1,785 points over Thriston Lawrence ahead of this week's DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
As McIlroy prepares for his 18th season as a professional, he has revealed his intention to skip a series of events, mostly those staged in the United States.
"If I can trim it down to 22 or 23, that will be good for me in the long run," McIlory said in an interview with BBC Sport.
"I have to remember I'm 35, I'm knocking on a little bit – I have the grey hairs to prove it.
"At 35, I've been on tour for 17 or 18 years, I'm not slowing down but I just have to take care of myself and my body a little bit more.
"I'm not going to miss these tournaments in the Middle East, I'm not going to miss Wentworth, the Irish Open or the Scottish Open.
"There were a few events I played in America this season that I don't typically play, and I think that's where I'm going to have to trim a little bit."
McIlroy has previously won the DP World Tour Championship on two occasions, beating Justin Rose by two strokes in 2012 and edging out Andy Sullivan in 2015.
Pain of U.S. Open defeat still 'stings', concedes McIlroy
Rory McIlroy said his heartbreaking loss to Bryson DeChambeau at the U.S. Open in June still "stings", after assessing his 2024 season.
McIlroy's campaign will come to an end in the Middle East this week, with the Northern Irishman closing in on a sixth Race to Dubai crown at the DP World Tour Championship.
He currently holds a lead of 1,785 points over Thriston Lawrence, and knows a top-11 finish on Sunday will guarantee him the season-long crown for the third year in a row.
Should McIlroy emerge victorious, it will also be his sixth Race to Dubai title and match Seve Ballesteros' total, just two away from record eight-time winner Colin Montgomerie.
But when reflecting on 2024, he said that after making three bogeys in his last four holes to lose the US Open to DeChambeau, the battle scars still remain.
"Incredibly consistent again. I've been really proud of that over the past few years," he said in Wednesday's pre-tournament press conference in Dubai.
"But then, at the same time, thinking about the ones that have got away.
"I should be sitting up here with a fifth major title and I'm not, so that stings and that's something that I've had to come to terms with. But at the same time, I've got plenty more opportunities in the future.
"But I really just tried to focus on the positives this year of consistently performing at the highest level. You know, still having three wins with an opportunity to get a fourth here this week, to win another Race to Dubai title.
"Did I achieve every goal I set myself this year? Probably not, but I still consider it a successful season."
McIlroy won once on the DP World Tour when he claimed the Dubai Desert Classic in January.
But he has also had four runner-up finishes, including the US Open, the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down and the BMW PGA.
Winning a sixth Harry Vardon Trophy and matching his father’s golfing hero, Ballesteros, still means a lot to him.
"I guess I am a little too young to remember a lot of Seve's career and things that he did. Seve is almost like, not a mythical character to me, but was just a little bit before my time," he said.
"But he was my dad's favourite player. The immense impact he had on European golf from a Ryder Cup and from what he did for the European Tour, he means a lot to the overall game of golf but specifically in this part of the world and on this tour.
"To draw level with him and to have a career that can somewhat stack up against his is very cool."
Trinidad and Tobago’s Benjamin Martin claims victory at 57th Jamaica Open Golf Championship
Benjamin Martin of Trinidad and Tobago clinched his first title at the 57th Jamaica Open Golf Championship, held at the scenic Tryall Golf Course in Sandy Bay, Hanover, from Sunday, November 10, to Tuesday, November 12. Martin, who held a shared lead on day two with Mac McLear, maintained his composure on the final day, ultimately pulling ahead to secure a one-stroke victory.
Martin’s final round featured five birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey, finishing with a one-under-par 71 for a cumulative three-day score of seven-under-par 209. Reflecting on his hard-fought victory, Martin said, “It was good. I didn’t quite have my A game today, but coming down the stretch, there was a good birdie on 16 and 17, so that was nice. I am very proud to be a champion here at the Jamaica Open. I came close twice with a third and a fourth, and I am happy to get it over the line and win this time.”
Close on Martin’s heels was Canada’s Jacob Lehman, who finished in second place with a score of six-under-par 210. The UK’s Mac McLear and France’s Pierre Viallneix shared third place, each ending with a five-under-par 211. Defending champion Andrew Arft of the United States struggled on the final day, finishing tenth at six-over-par 222.
Among Jamaican golfers, Justin Burrowes was the best-placed local pro, finishing ninth with a total score of 219. Burrowes expressed satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged room for improvement. “It was a good finish, but I would have wanted a better finish today. I shot three over but feel like I easily left three or four shots out there. Overall, I’d say it’s a pretty good performance—something to build on—and this is a tournament that I really want to win at some point in time,” Burrowes remarked.
Sebert Walker Jr., another top Jamaican finisher, placed 17th with a score of 229. Reflecting on his performance, Walker said, “It was a good event. Obviously, I could have played better. I wanted to be in the top 10 or whatever they paid out regularly, but it was a good finish nonetheless, so I can’t complain.”
In the senior categories, Canada’s Allan McLean led the senior pro division with a score of 212, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Wayne Baptiste emerged victorious in the senior amateur section with a score of 235.
Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) President Jodi Munn-Barrow was thrilled with the successful outcome of the tournament. “We are so grateful. We had more players than expected, and they all came down. It was three thrilling days of golf. Benjamin Martin, our winner, had to get up and down on 18 to win by a shot, so we could not have wanted a better outcome. We are very grateful that the weather held out as well, and we were once again able to stage a very successful Jamaica Open.”
Scott Summy of Aqua Bay, a major sponsor, along with new sponsor Vybwear, echoed the sentiments of excitement. “I think it’s been great. Obviously, this is our fifth year, and we are very happy with the tournament. We love the Jamaica Open Golf Tournament and part of what we like is the beauty of Tryall, the beauty of Jamaica, the beauty of the people, and seeing competitors from all over the world come and compete in the Jamaica Open.”
Martin’s victory, sealed in a thrilling final day, marks a memorable chapter in the storied history of the Jamaica Open and sets the stage for even greater achievements in the future.
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