Scheffler Is Making His Case As An All-Time Great

As Tiger Woods wrapped up his eight-shot British Open victory at St Andrews in 2000, his second consecutive blowout at a Major, exasperation swept through pro golf.

- Brody Miller

NEW YORK - As Tiger Woods wrapped up his eight-shot British Open victory at St Andrews in 2000, his second consecutive blowout at a Major, exasperation swept through pro golf.

"He's the best who ever played," Mark Calcavecchia said that Sunday, "and he's 24."

"He is the best player in the world by a long, long way, and we have got to raise our standards to join his," Colin Montgomerie said.

"He's got to leave a few for his friends, doesn't he?" Jean van de Velde said. "He can't have them all."

Ernie Els said: "The guy is unbelievable, man. I'm running out of words. Give me a break."

Oh, how eerily similar those sentiments sound after Scottie Scheffler's four-shot domination on July 27 at Royal Portrush Golf Club for his fourth Major championship in four years and third in eight starts.

"Scottie Scheffler is — it's inevitable," Rory McIlroy said.

"Four shots behind, kind of like playing for second," Li Haotong, tied-fourth six shots back, said.

It is time to have that conversation about where Scheffler belongs in golf history.

First, it was only that he was the best ball striker since Woods. Then it was that his season was the best individual one since Woods'. But this is no longer simply a nice run. We are now at four, steady, undeniable years of golf so much better than any peer. Scheffler is not only the best of his era; he is among the greatest to play the sport.

With his fourth Major championship, Scheffler earned the third leg of the career Grand Slam. But he is just the fourth golfer to win the Masters, PGA Championship and British Open all before age 30. His company? Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.