Scottie Scheffler didn’t just win The Open Championship at Royal Portrush — he owned it. A four-shot victory on Sunday brought him his fourth major title, and it’s becoming increasingly clear: this isn’t just a hot streak.
This is dominance not seen since the days when only one name mattered in golf — Tiger Woods. And it’s not just fans or media making that comparison. It’s the guys trying to beat him.
Here’s what Scheffler’s biggest rivals are saying — and it’s sounding more and more like a coronation.
Xander Schauffele:
“He’s doing some Tiger-like stuff.”
That quote is simple, blunt, and weighty. Xander Schauffele has competed against Scheffler in majors, Ryder Cups, and elite fields — and when someone like Xander drops a Tiger reference, it’s no accident.
Shane Lowry:
“If Scottie’s feet stayed stable and his swing looked like Adam Scott’s, we’d be talking about him in the same words as Tiger Woods. I just think because it doesn’t look so perfect, we don’t talk about him like that. I think he’s just incredible to watch.”
Translation for Shane Lowry: don’t let the unorthodox swing fool you. Scheffler might not have the visual poetry of Adam Scott or the Tiger mystique, but the results are undeniable — and increasingly historic.
Rory McIlroy:
“In a historical context, you could argue that there’s only maybe two or three players in the history of the game that have been on a run, the one that Scottie’s been on here for the last 24 to 36 months. Incredibly impressive.”
Rory McIlroy has seen eras come and go — and he’s lived through the burden of comparisons. So when he says Scheffler’s stretch ranks among the best ever, it’s not just flattery — it’s a historical red flag waving high.
Jordan Spieth:
“He doesn’t care to be a superstar. He’s not transcending the game like Tiger did. He’s not bringing it to a non-golf audience necessarily. He doesn’t want to go do the stuff that a lot of us go do, corporately, anything like that. He just wants to get away from the game and separate the two… I don’t think anybody is like him.”
Scheffler’s persona might not resemble Tiger’s, but his focus might be even more tunnel-visioned. Jordan Spieth paints a picture of a guy who is dominating on the course while staying far away from the limelight off of it — a rare and terrifying combo.
Harris English:
“There’s no stat that he’s bad in. It’s like, how do you beat this guy?”
That’s not hyperbole — that’s math. Scheffler ranks at or near the top in nearly every measurable category. His putting? Fixed. His ball striking? Untouchable. His composure? Unshakable.
Tommy Fleetwood:
“If he keeps going the way he is, we’re all going to look back and talk about him in the same breath as some of the all-time greats, and he’s played in our generation.”
Tommy Fleetwood echoes what many are starting to feel: we’re already watching a legend take shape in real time.
Bryson DeChambeau:
“For him, I think it’s more important to take care of his family, which he’s done a great job and tremendous job of balancing the two, being the best golfer in the world and being a family man.”
Scheffler’s ability to separate his game from his identity is becoming as defining as his golf. He’s not chasing legacy — he’s chasing balance. And somehow, it’s making him more dangerous.
The verdict is that Scheffler is being compared to Tiger not because of his style, but because of his substance. Because when you win four majors, dominate every statistical category, shrug off pressure like it’s irrelevant, and do it all while barely acknowledging the noise — you stop being just a great golfer.
