NASSAU, Bahamas – Scottie Scheffler’s three-shot victory at the 2023 Hero World Challenge proved to be the perfect springboard into this season. The world No. 1 won seven times on the PGA Tour, including his second Green Jacket at the Masters and was the gold medalist at the Paris Olympics. He’s confident that this week at The Albany could spur another sublime season.
“It’s good being back here in the Bahamas, it’s always a fun tournament for us to come play in,” he said. “I think it’s a good warmup for the year, kind of see where everything’s at. Kind of come down here, compete, have some fun in the Bahamas and get ready for the next season to start.”
But after such a tremendous season, Scheffler was asked what he’s been working on during his off-season to get even better.
“Just the same stuff I’ve always been working on,” he said. “After I take a bit of a break it usually takes me a little while to make sure my swing is in a good spot. I wouldn’t say bad habits but just to make sure my swing is in a place that I like it and then to continue to just enhance the stuff that I’ve been working on the last couple of years.”
Scottie Scheffler tees off the seventh hole during a pro-am prior to the Hero World Challenge 2024 at Albany Golf Course in Nassau, Bahamas. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Last year, Scheffler added a new putter before the Hero and was in the early stages of working with putting coach Phil Kenyon. He topped the field in the putting stats at the Hero and his work with the short stick made great strides in 2024, improving from No. 162 in Strokes Gained: Putting last season to No. 77 this year. Will there be any equipment changes for next season?
“No, ’24 went pretty well,” Scheffler said. “Getting better isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes a lot of time and I still feel like there are areas that I can improve upon without making drastic changes to the DNA of what I do.”
Why mess with success?
Scheffler’s got jokes, too
During Scheffler’s pro-am round on Wednesday, tournament host Tiger Woods, who isn’t competing this week, popped out to watch Scheffler and the two chatted on and off between shots. Asked what the two discussed, Scheffler showed his humorous side and deadpanned, “Most of the time we just talked about money and how the purses need to be bigger. Today we really grinded on the Ryder Cup and how it’s just such BS that we’ve never gotten paid. Tiger was really frustrated, he feels like he hasn’t made enough money in his career. I feel the same way, I feel like last year I didn’t get paid enough for what I did. Mostly that, just a bunch of griping.”
Laughter ensued before Scheffler made the point that he’s never played golf for money.
“I played golf because I love the game, I love competition. My motivating factor has never been more money and I feel like I think there’s a lot of stuff in this life and in this game that you can do for money and I’ve never been one of those players that has gone out and seeked to try to build the best business brand for myself,” he said. “What I love is I love coming out here and competing and playing golf, I go home and love living my life. I play because I love the competition.”
Scottie Scheffler speaks to the media during a press conference prior ahead of the Hero World Challenge 2024 at Albany Golf Course in Nassau, Bahamas. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Could there be another successful title defense this week? He faces a 20-man field, which is weaker than in past years – just three of the top 10 players in the world are playing here this week (Scheffler, Ludvig Aberg and Wyndham Clark). Then there’s the fact that in his last 12 no-cut tournaments, he has five victories; no one else has more than one.
“His consistency has been absolutely absurd,” NBC Sports commentator John Wood said. “Sometimes that can take a lot out of you. When you’re there every single week the pressure builds and it’s exhausting.”
But given Scheffler’s other-wordly ball-striking it wouldn’t surprise him to see Scheffler remain the dominant player.
“That’s the one thing that travels,” Wood said referring to Scheffler’s precision in hitting fairways and greens. “The fact that he hits the ball so well makes me believe he can have as good if not a better year (in 2025).