As it turns out, the only thing better than winning is winning LOT.
Tiger Woods knows how that feels. Eighty-two times during his PGA Tour career, he ended a tournament week by hoisting the trophy — winning at a clip and with a gusto rarely seen since.
Scottie Scheffler may still have some work to do the “joyful” part. of the equation (even now, he wears his success with an understated, almost embarrassing finesse). But as for the “winning” part of the equation? Well, he is on a historic trajectory.
On Sunday morning, Scheffler will arrive at American Express as he often does on Sunday mornings during the golf season: As the betting favorite to emerge from Sunday afternoon as the winner. On the 54-hole course in Palm Springs, Calif., Scheffler is one shot out of the mark MISSIONhiding behind three days of the brand of spectacularly boring gameplay that has become his trademark. According to the insiders in Vegashe is (at worst) even money to win the entire tournament.
You don’t have to think too hard now to know what a Scheffler win would look like. Another flawless Sunday, another slow but deliberate accumulation of pars and birdies, another four- or five-shot lead, another post-game party with the family.
But the truth is that this victory for Scheffler would be significantly different from those that came before – because THIS the victory carries some historical significance. If Scheffler wins Sunday at American Express, he would reach 20 PGA Tour wins for his career. And, if he reaches 20 career PGA Tour wins on Sunday, he would become just that the third golfer in history to reach the 20-win mark before his 30th birthday, trailing only Jack Nicklaus and, yes, Tiger Woods. (These stats come to us courtesy of the always sharp Justin Ray.)
Of course, Scheffler wouldn’t be quite in “Woods Territory” with a win on Sunday. By the time of his 30th birthday, Tiger had already amassed an amazing 46 professional victories. If Scheffler were to play an event every week until his 30th birthday on June 21 and win every one, he would reach just 39 wins before 30 – still seven wins shy of Woods.
Still, to find yourself in the 20/30 club is to find yourself in rarefied air – next to two of perhaps the greatest players ever. Despite his brilliance, Scheffler’s storied trajectory has remained one of the underreported stories in golf over the past several years, a success likely owed to his low-key style both on and off the course.
Reaching the 20-earning mark before 30 would redefine that conversation as we know it — and it would begin Sunday at American Express.
