The inevitability of Scottie Scheffler winning the 2024 Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sports often produces the best underdog stories. We are easily attracted to them and cherish them for a long time. But the not-so-secret truth is that nothing beats an innate desire to see and witness greatness.

The nature of golf’s personality drives this story. One player is responsible for every shot, and the weight of every mistake and make falls on that person’s shoulders. This only intensifies the peaks and valleys that the world’s best golfers are sure to pass through. But every once in a while, someone emerges who transcends the see-saw nature of the sport and creates an edge that leaves fans and peers in awe.

On Sunday, at just 27 years old, Scottie Scheffler established himself as a dominant force in the sport by winning his second Masters in three years (his ninth career and third this year). The fact that he was widely expected to do so made his feat even more impressive, cementing Scheffler as someone the sport hadn’t seen in a while: Goliath.

“I think his superpower is that people with superpowers are good at everything,” Scheffler’s caddy Ted Scott said. “And he seems to be good at everything. He doesn’t have any weaknesses.”

A lot has changed since Scheffler won his first Masters in 2022. He is older, has a beard and will soon be his father. But on the golf course, he got better and better.

“I feel like I’m playing really good golf right now. I feel like I’m in control of my emotions as much as I’ve always been, which is good,” Scheffler said. “I feel like I grow as a person on the golf course. It’s a good place to be.”

Before this tournament began, Scheffler’s inevitability could only be discussed in theory. His superiority was evident in both statistics and results, but Scheffler could only have high expectations, as a player of his caliber is valued in the majors and is a complete favorite.

For three days, Scheffler showed every part of his full game: consistent driving, improved putting, historic ball strikes and an underrated short game. But it was on Scheffler’s ninth hole on Sunday that the feeling of inevitability became reality.

Staring down a short approach shot from the fairway, he was just one shot behind Ludwig Oberg. His long limbs swayed above his head as he hit the ball. It’s a snapshot of the fact that what Scheffler’s swing lacks in grace, it makes up for in the sheer precision it produces. The ball landed on the green and spun back onto a perfect slope, nearly hitting the hole.

After watching Scheffler nearly hole out, go for eagle, and leave a tap-in birdie so short he couldn’t even take his gloves off, the inevitable chants began from patrons at Augusta National Golf Club.

“Scotty! Scotty! Scotty!”

The walk from the ninth green to the 10th tee had an energy that wasn’t there yet at Augusta National. The guests shouted, “It’s finished!” and “He will win!” There was more than just inevitability in the air for how the rest of the day would play out. It was a recognition that those on the ground were witnessing greatness.

From there, from the tee to the 18th fairway, each time Scheffler’s dragging foot touched the green, a serenade of cheers rang out as he recognized the magnitude of the moment. The desire for a thrilling finish was replaced by a coronation.

“Today I tried to absorb what was around me,” Scheffler said. “I looked up at the trees every once in a while. I looked up at the fans every once in a while trying to absorb a little bit of their energy. But I never got attached to the front. I just tried to keep pushing.”

Even as his competitors crumbled around him, putting the ball into the water at No. 11 or the back of the green at No. 12, Scheffler never wavered. And out of the turn he just accelerated, making five birdies on the second nine and leaving everyone behind. It was a performance that reminded and warned. He’s the best player in the world and he might just be getting started.

“I’m honestly just pinching myself. I really don’t know what I’m looking at,” Scott said. “That guy is special. He’s a different kind of special. I think we all see that, and we’re all wondering, ‘Where did this come from?’ When he called me, I had no idea he was such a wonderful person.”

Scheffler is not your typical dominant figure. He speaks softly and walks softly. He talks about his beliefs as much as his game, and believes in only controlling what you can control. He’s not afraid to be vulnerable and share when he’s stressed or emotional. But Mr. Scheffler’s outward affability often disguises an overly competitive spirit beneath the surface.

“I was sitting with my friends this morning and I was feeling a little overwhelmed,” Scheffler said. “I told them I didn’t want to win this much. I think it would make the morning easier. But I love winning. I hate losing. I really do.”

Scheffler’s life is about to change, and her morning is about to get even more difficult. His wife, Meredith, is pregnant with her first child and is well aware that golf will take a backseat. But that doesn’t mean he won’t continue to strive for victory every time he tees it up.

“Golf would probably be No. 4,” Scheffler said of his priorities. “But I still love to compete, and I don’t plan on taking my eye off the ball anytime soon.”

Never in the history of the sport has it been as deep and talented as it is at this point, but Scheffler feels he is far and away the best player in the world, and his peers trying to beat him are just as excited about his greatness. I can’t help but try to take it away.

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy said of his play in the first two rounds against Scheffler: “When you’re next to someone who has a great attitude and does everything the right way, you try to feed off of that. That’s great,” he said. “Scotty does a very good job. He doesn’t look like he’s 6 under, but he ends up being 6 under. He’s very efficient at everything he does.”

McIlroy happened to be in 18th place when Scheffler hit that walk on the ninth and 10th holes Sunday. After starting the week playing with the eventual champion, McIlroy finished the tournament at four over — 15 strokes behind Scheffler.

Scheffler returned to the Butler cabin for the third time in three years on Sunday, but this time it was last year’s winner Jon Rahm who carried the jacket on Scheffler’s shoulders. Not so long ago, Rahm was considered Scheffler’s equal, competing with him for the top spot in the sport. Now, Rahm has left his PGA Tour and moved to LIV Golf, watching Scheffler win the tournament he once wanted. This week, the Spaniard finished 20 strokes clear of Scheffler, earning his second Masters victory and joining the ranks of the elite. Tiger Woods is the only player ranked No. 1 in the world to win multiple major tournaments.

Sunday’s victory further sets the stage for the future of the sport, even if it hasn’t been the case before. Every player, whether on the PGA Tour or LIV Golf, is following the seemingly unfazed Scheffler. Scheffler may be the closest thing the sport has had since Woods.

Scheffler’s victory not only made the sport by far the most popular in every event, but also created two fascinating pursuits: everyone else’s quest to beat him and Scheffler’s quest for more.

“He makes us better,” said runner-up Aberg. “He’s going to want to beat you.”

On Sunday, the 18th, as the sun turned green while an enthusiastic Scheffler celebrated, his 6-foot-3 frame cast a long shadow over Augusta. After this week, all the other professional golfers will be living there.