An emotional Scottie Scheffler talks about Tiger Woods : “I just learned a lot by watching him”

Scottie Scheffler has had many opportunities to be close to Tiger Woods, even playing rounds with him in tournaments at the highest level. Now, as Woods’ competitive future grows more uncertain by the day, Scheffler reiterated his belief that he remains the most influential player he has seen on the PGA Tour.

Speaking to the press ahead of THE PLAYERS Championship 2024, Scottie Scheffler was asked for his thoughts on Tiger Woods’ absence from the event (for undisclosed reasons) and how it affects the quality of the event and the tour in general. Scheffler responded by sharing emotional memories of his opportunities to see Woods up close and learn from him.

“I just learned a lot by watching him” Scheffler said. “I mean the way he competes in this game is different than a lot of players, I mean, he puts everything he has into every shot that he hits on the golf course, which I think is a really underrated skill out here, like, when he steps over a ball at any moment in the golf tournament, whether it’s his first shot on Thursday or the last shot on Sunday, I feel like he is as into it as he could possibly be and I just learned that by watching him.”

The current No. 1 player in the world according to the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) recalled the opportunity he had to play with Woods in the final round of the 2020 Masters, when the 15-time major champion shot a 10 for one hole.

This is how Scottie Scheffler told it:

“He’s definitely the best player I’ve ever seen, and I think he’s the best player we’ve ever had. You can stand up there and and, you know, walk alongside him and compete in the same golf tour as him is really special. I’ve had the pleasure of playing with him at the Masters, a couple [of] years ago. It was the day he made the 10. That’s the thing, he’s just so much different, I think, than the rest of us, like, he’s won so many golf tournaments and, you know, he makes a 10 on number 12 at Augusta, and he birdies five of the last six.”

“And it’s Sunday, I mean, it’s completely meaningless to him at that stage in his career. What’s the point…? He hit three of the best iron shots I’ve ever seen hit, coming into those last few holes, it was just unbelievable to watch. Anytime that we can get him out here competing and playing I think is really special for all of us.”

Scottie Scheffler:  “If the fans are upset, then look at the guys that left”

At the same press conference, Scottie Scheffler offered his thoughts on how the current rift in men’s professional golf between the PGA Tour and LIF Golf is affecting fans. Scottie Scheffler didn’t hold back in stating that the people responsible for fan dissatisfaction are “the guys that left.

Scottie Scheffler put it this way:

“I think we’re trying to do our best to create the best product for the fans but we can’t control whether or not guys want to leave. If guys want to go, take the money and leave, then, that’s their decision. I’m not going to sit here and tell guys not to take hundreds of millions of dollars. If that’s what they think is best for their life, then go do it. I’m not going to sit here and force guys to stay on our tour.”

“But, at the end of the day, this is where I want to be, and we’re continuing to grow what we’re doing, and what they’re doing is not really a concern to me. If the fans are upset, then look at the guys that left. We had a tour, we were all together, and the people that left are no longer here. At the end of the day that’s where the splintering comes from.”