Scheffler: Concentration is on each shot rather than overall weekly results
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Scottie Scheffler remains unconcerned about his performance and believes others should feel the same.
Despite finishing tied for 24th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week—considered average only by the highest standards—and losing nearly three strokes to the field with his approach shots, the world No. 1 stated on Tuesday at The Players Championship that he does not evaluate his success based on weekly outcomes.
“If you reversed my season and it was like, OK, I finished 24th and 12th, and then 3rd and 4th, and a win [leading into this week], would your question be the same if I was coming from 3rd, 4th, win?” Scheffler responded when asked how he manages to avoid frustration when his performance is not up to par. “My point is, your expectations of me are based week by week. My expectations of myself are more focused shot by shot.”
After starting the season with a victory at The American Express, Scheffler experienced slow beginnings at his next three tournaments but still managed to secure two top-5 finishes and one top-15 result. However, last week at Bay Hill, he did not record a single round in the 60s.
This marked the first occasion since The Players in 2022 that Scheffler lost that many strokes to the field with his approach play. Currently, he ranks 88th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: approach, having held the top position in that category for three consecutive seasons.
“My perspective on stats usually aligns with my feel,” he noted. “My feel is what I trust the most. If I feel capable of hitting solid iron shots, then I won’t be overly concerned about my iron game. If I stand over the ball and doubt my ability to hit a good shot, that’s when I will start to worry.”
Scheffler described himself as his harshest critic and acknowledged that he was not striking the ball as precisely as he desired at Bay Hill, particularly during the first three rounds. However, the four-time major champion minimized any suggestion of being troubled by his recent performance and results.
“When you consider the perspective from the media, they are always looking to create a narrative. Which can be beneficial; I believe that’s part of your role,” Scheffler remarked. “But regarding my golf game and my expectations of myself, all my expectations revolve around what I seek for myself mentally on the golf course, focusing on being committed to what I can control. So far this season, I’ve excelled in certain areas, while in others, I feel there is room for improvement regarding my commitment to each shot.”
This week, Scheffler has the opportunity to become the first player to win The Players three times. He mentioned on Tuesday that he feels TPC Sawgrass complements his game because he enjoys executing various types of shots at different trajectories, which this particular course demands.
“I think that’s something I’ve always appreciated about golf is the ability to curve the ball in different directions and apply various spins,” Scheffler stated. “And this golf course, I believe, encourages that. It almost compels you to hit a variety of shots.”
