Scottie Scheffler's Slow Starts: A Minor Blip or a Troubling Trend?
Even the world's No. 1 golfer, Scottie Scheffler, isn't immune to those dreaded slow starts! On Saturday at the Genesis Invitational, he found himself a 12-stroke deficit behind the leaders. While he didn't completely erase that gap by the end of the day, Scheffler certainly turned heads with a 5-under 66 at the iconic Riviera Country Club. This performance was a welcome sight, showcasing the 20-time PGA Tour winner we've come to expect, especially with three consecutive birdies on the back nine. It's a stark contrast to earlier rounds where he struggled to get going.
But here's where it gets interesting: Scheffler himself views these early stumbles as a "small sample size." He explained, "Some days it’s going to go well and other days it’s not going to go well." He pointed out that over the last few weeks, he's played 11 rounds, and while eight were solid, three were ones he'd prefer to forget. This perspective suggests that for a player of his caliber, a few off-kilter rounds don't define his overall game.
What's particularly impressive is Scheffler's ability to reduce his bogeys with each passing round at the Genesis, with only one bogey in the third round. This pattern, repeating for the third Saturday in a row, demonstrates his knack for building momentum and finding his rhythm on challenging courses. He still admits to a "weird relationship" with Riviera, even after his best round of the tournament. "At times it still felt weird," he commented, noting that the course is more forgiving in the morning when the greens are fresher. While he's pleased with a 5-under performance, he admits he was hoping for an even lower score.
And this is the part most people miss: Despite his incredible consistency, Scheffler, much like golf legends Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, has yet to conquer Riviera Country Club with a PGA Tour victory. This is a surprising statistic, considering his dominance elsewhere.
However, Scheffler is still on track to extend his remarkable streak of 18 consecutive top-10 finishes. This impressive run was bolstered by his stellar play at Pebble Beach last Sunday, where he achieved a personal best of three eagles in a single round. Currently, he's 14 strokes behind the leader, Jacob Bridgeman, but he's within three shots of the current top 10. It's fascinating how last week, the question of extending this streak seemed uncertain after 54 holes, yet this week, it's barely a topic of discussion.
Perhaps there's still too much golf left to be played on this final leg of the Tour's West Coast swing. Or, maybe, everyone in the golf world understands one undeniable truth: regardless of a slow start, Scottie Scheffler is not one to fade away quietly. What do you think? Are these slow starts a sign of something more, or just a minor blip in the radar for one of golf's greatest players? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
