AUGUSTA, Ga. — For the primary time since 1994, each Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will miss the Masters. Woods is reportedly present process remedy and dealing with authorized points following a latest automotive accident. Mickelson is engaged on “private well being points.”
The golf world has had loads of time to regulate to a post-Tiger and Phil future, with new stars and new storylines. Neither of the gamers of their 50s would have been thought-about favorites right here this week had they superior.
Nonetheless, they’d have drawn the largest galleries and the loudest cheers.
Patrick Reed mentioned this week: “Actually, with out Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson being at occasions and {golfing}, I truthfully suppose it may damage the sport in the event that they’re each separated.”
They’re charismatic, generally chaotic, and at all times very aggressive. They helped make the game, and definitely this event, extra significant than ever earlier than.
Now, Scottie Scheffler, golf’s greatest title and finest participant, is one thing else fully.
To various levels, Tiger and Phil introduced a win-is-all ethos to the game, creating loads of off-the-track melodrama and scandal. Scheffler, a Texas native, seems to be a well-adjusted, soft-spoken, household man with a very good stability of religion.
He additionally mentioned this week that he would not wish to outline himself by wins and losses. He mentioned he did not know find out how to use Instagram, explaining that his posts had been sporadic. On Wednesday, he walked alone via the group to the observe inexperienced along with his putter in hand, and not using a caddy, entourage or safety. Maybe he thought nobody would discover him.
He is extra snug speaking about his household (nearly 2-year-old son Bennett and new child Remy with spouse Meredith) than his golf swing. For instance, Meredith is coping with waking up in the course of the night time to get some sleep as a result of it is Masters Week.
“My spouse is within the theater,” Scheffler mentioned.
He appears like an outdated suburban dad. It is simply that he has been ranked No. 1 on the planet for 186 consecutive weeks with a document of 9 wins and 5 losses.
“Generally it seems like we nearly dwell two separate lives,” Scheffler mentioned.
Golf star round right here used to have a special that means.
Do not get me improper, there is not any lack of competitiveness. The 29-year-old has gained 4 majors, together with the Inexperienced Jacket in 2022 and 2024, and that is no coincidence.
Nonetheless, he would not prefer to overemphasize it, not to mention focus on it.
“I might say it is at all times been a battle for me to search out the stability between persevering with to work onerous, staying aggressive, and never defining myself by how good or dangerous I’m at golf, as a result of it could actually go in one in every of two instructions,” Scheffler mentioned.
“If I outlined myself by my dangerous golf, I might be a reasonably depressing individual. If I outlined myself by my good golf, whether or not it was the Inexperienced Jacket or the Open Championship, I might at all times stroll round with a reasonably conceited perspective. And I would not be very good to folks as a result of I might win a number of golf tournaments and suppose I used to be a star.”
It has a way of perspective and is cool in its casualness.
Golf continues to be nice.
Scheffler might be what the game, or society as a complete, wants proper now. He’s a champion who desires one thing larger than himself and takes pleasure in additional than simply accolades and accomplishments. He could not present the plain punch of previous greats, however anybody who would not perceive what he is doing is lacking out on the story.
He makes a very good impression by not making an attempt to impress and exhibits confidence by talking humbly. When it comes time to play, he will probably be totally centered. “When you drive down Magnolia Lane, all the pieces else simply melts away,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, he vows to not let the ultimate end result outline his week.
“On the finish of the week, you are in all probability going to be a bit upset, simply because in golf there’s nearly at all times just one winner, and there is much more losers,” Scheffler factors out.
Plus, parenting makes you humble.
“(Monday) night time, we had been coming residence from a Nike social gathering,” Scottie Scheffler mentioned of making an attempt to corral Bennett. “And in some way he ended up consuming two sugar cookies and he hadn’t eaten dinner but. I used to be like, ‘Okay, buddy, in case you eat this sausage, I will provide you with this cookie.'” He is like, ‘Cookie.’ It is like, “If you happen to eat this.” ”
he shrugged.
“My mates are sitting there watching it and going, ‘Oh, I’ve seen this film earlier than,'” Scheffler mentioned with amusing.
It is a new period for Augusta. A brand new ambiance too.
