Scottie Scheffler, the current World No. 1, revealed how Tiger Woods left a lasting impact on his mindset and approach to professional golf. Speaking ahead of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, where Scheffler is set to defend his title, he reflected on a pivotal round with Woods that reshaped his perspective.
A lesson from Tiger at Augusta
Scheffler recalled the 2020 Masters, which was shifted to November and held without spectators due to the pandemic. He was paired with Tiger Woods in the final round, and what he witnessed became a turning point in his career.
On that Sunday, Woods endured one of the toughest moments of his career—a 10 at Augusta’s iconic par-3 12th hole. Yet, instead of giving in, Woods responded with birdies on five of the last six holes. For Scheffler, that display of relentless focus and competitiveness was unforgettable.
“I was like, what’s this guy still playing for? He’s already won the Masters five times. The best finish he could’ve had was maybe 20th,” Scheffler said. “But the intensity he brought to every shot blew me away. That’s when I realized—if I’m showing up at a tournament, I need to give it my all. Otherwise, I might as well stay home.”
Carrying Tiger’s mindset forward
Since that moment, Scheffler has modeled his approach around Woods’ never-quit mentality. He explained that every time he enters a tournament, his mindset is simple: no shots off, no rounds off, and no tournaments off.
“I don’t hit the ball the furthest,” Scheffler admitted. “What makes the difference is the consistency and intensity I bring to each round. That’s something I learned directly from watching Tiger.”
A Tiger-like season of his own
Scheffler enters the Tour Championship on the back of a phenomenal season. His victories at the BMW Championship, PGA Championship, and The Open Championship make him the first golfer since Woods (2006–07) to secure five or more wins in back-to-back seasons.
With 18 career PGA Tour titles, Scheffler has evolved from the 2020 Rookie of the Year into one of the most dominant forces in modern golf. Yet, he credits Tiger’s influence for instilling the discipline that continues to set him apart.
Chasing history at East Lake
Scheffler now has a chance to achieve what even Tiger Woods never did—winning back-to-back FedEx Cups. As he tees off in Atlanta, his focus and determination will once again reflect the valuable lesson learned from Woods: every shot counts, no matter the circumstances.
