blazing inner fire and confidence for golf. Schef- fler, who recently passed Faldo for fifth place in career weeks at World No 1, in the past two years has compiled ball-striking statistics exceeding even the best of Woods. At 28, he has won two of the past three Masters but seems equally well suited to capturing the other three majors with a temperamental putter seemingly his only hurdle. In 2021 he tried to explain to Golf Digest Senior Writer Matthew Rudy, his face no doubt fixed with the cheerful smile that undermines his case even as his achievements support it, that he has got a little something extra going on. “It doesn’t matter where I’m playing, I’m just an amped-up person. I can play this game.” As for Schauffele, his two major victories this year on the back of several high finishes in past majors have given the 30-year-old and his well-rounded game the consensus inside track to complete the career Grand Slam ahead of the play- ers who have each held three legs for several years – Spieth, McIlroy and Mickelson. Chris Como, who has taken over the coaching reins from Schauffele’s father, Stefan, says Xander is immersed in expanding a journey dedicated to finding out how good he can get. “He knows he has this aptitude for golf,” says Como, “and it’s become his fulfillment and his art, and it’s beautiful.” Another duo, quite different, is Koepka and DeChambeau. Although most of the top players
WITH THE ‘IRRATIONAL’ FINANCIAL OFFERS THAT HAVE DESTABILISED PRO GOLF, LIV HAS DRAINED THE SPORT OF SOME OF ITS PASSION AND INTENSITY.
power game that more forgiving equipment and faster swing speeds facilitate. Because the natural dissipation of youthful speed will become a great- er competitive disadvantage, players will age out sooner. The shorter careers will result in fewer players compiling historically great numbers. “It will be more difficult to become a superstar,” Beman says. “There will be fewer players consid- ered in that category, they won’t win as much as their predecessors, and they won’t be around as long – more good golf but less greatness.” Of course, a few rare players will have the talent and internal wiring to separate them from the pack, no matter how much the world changes. Currently owning the stage is the alliterative duo of Scheffler and Schauffele, currently in a race to be chosen PGA Tour Player of the Year. Both are intelligent, gracious, low key and conspicuously non-materialistic. Both possess a
ASCENDING Scottie Scheffler seems to have the inner fire and confidence to become great.
46 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024
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