World No.1 Scottie Scheffler could etch his name into the history books this week at the Players Championship by doing something that no player has managed to do in the previous 49 editions – successfully defend the title.
The likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman have all got their hands on the game’s unofficial fifth Major Championship at the iconic TPC Sawgrass, but none of them were successful in their defence.
In addition to that, only six men have managed to hoist the trophy on more than one occasion, with Fred Couples, Steve Elkington, Hal Sutton and Davis Love III joining Woods and Nicklaus as the only multiple winners of the event.
“I just think it's a golf course where you don't see a lot of repeat winners in general,” said Scheffler, who beat Tyrrell Hatton by five strokes at last year’s edition.
“There's not a guy that you have seen win on this golf course a bunch. I think it's just the nature of the course, it doesn't really suit one type of player.
“It really is a Pete Dye, just kind of genius design, where you have to hit all different kinds of shots, and it tests you in a lot of different ways.
“That's why I think it's one of the best places we play on Tour, just because it really doesn't suit one type of player. Bomb and gouge doesn't really work out here, you kind of got to plot your way around.
“But then you even have the shorter hitters that plot it around that can struggle here, because you got to hit it exactly where you're looking or you're going to be punished pretty severely out here.”
While the course does suit many types of players, you’d be a brave man to back against Scheffler emerging victorious this week.
After having difficulties with his putter for almost a year, ranking 145th on the PGA Tour’s Strokes Gained: Putting this season, Scheffler looked to put things right at last week’s Arnold Palmer invitational.
The American cruised to five-stroke victory at Bay Hill, gaining more than 16 strokes on the field in the process, while also gaining an impressive 4.3 strokes on the green after taking Rory McIlroy’s advice and putting the mallet putter in the bag.
Scheffler has been red hot in all other aspects of his game in 2024, leading the way for Strokes Gained: Total on the PGA Tour, but his putting problems seemed to level the playing field.
Now it looks like he has fixed that, can he be stopped?
The Players Championship gets underway on March 14.
