Scottie Scheffler reaffirmed his status as the top-ranked player in the world with a commanding performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday, clinching his seventh PGA Tour victory in style.
His final round 6-under 66 propelled him to a remarkable 15-under total, a five-stroke lead over his nearest competitor, Wyndham Clark.
What set Scheffler apart this week was his precision on the greens, a facet of his game that saw a significant improvement after he made a switch to a mallet-style putter. His consistency with the putter was evident as he steadily climbed up the ranks in strokes gained putting throughout the tournament.
Remarkably, Scheffler holed all 16 of his putts within 15 feet on Sunday, a performance that left spectators in awe. Gone were the days of missed opportunities; Scheffler’s newfound prowess with the putter transformed him into a formidable force on the course.
His ability to combine exceptional ball-striking with a hot putter makes him a daunting opponent for any competitor, as echoed by golf enthusiasts worldwide.
Trevor Grinzel aptly summarized Scheffler’s impact, highlighting the significant challenge he poses to his peers when his putting game is firing on all cylinders.
Despite claiming titles outside of the PGA Tour, including last year’s Hero World Challenge, Scheffler’s victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational marks his first sanctioned tour win in almost a year. Yet, his opponents now face an even more daunting task with Scheffler’s putting the game back in top form.
An apt comparison drawn between Scheffler and Happy Gilmore illustrates the sheer dominance he exuded on the greens. Shane Bacon’s humorous take on simply checking the leaderboard later in the day to see Scheffler’s margin of victory resonates with the sentiment shared by many golf fans.
As discussions humorously turn to Scheffler’s prowess extending beyond the golf course, with suggestions ranging from a potential presidential bid to an unbeatable reign atop the Official World Golf Ranking, it’s clear that Scheffler’s recent performance has left a lasting impression.
With Scheffler’s commanding display at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, it appears unlikely that anyone will dethrone him from the No. 1 ranking anytime soon.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
