By Jeff Moeller
PONTE VEDRA BEACH (Florida Sports Wire) – On the golf course, Tiger Woods used to make it look easy. Off the course, he didn’t make it look easy.
These days, Woods still is having trouble getting his mojo back. It looks like he’ll soon be embroiled in a situation with his ex-girlfriend. Golf will be second nature.
The golf world has been seeking a replacement for Woods, and they may have found it in Scottie Scheffler.
Sunday afternoon at the Players Championship on a TPC Sawgrass course, Scheffler made it look easy.
He won the event with a 3-under 69 to pace the field by five shots. Scheffler had five straight birdies and built a six-shot lead. The only situation left to question was who was going to finish behind him.
His victory sent him back to the throne of being the No.1 player in the world and he took him a check worth $4.5 million. He capped the largest margin at the Players since 2006.
Scheffler was Woods’ like with his 17-under 271, becoming just the fourth player in the history of the tournament to shoot all four rounds in the 60s.
Scheffler now has six victories– four in a row– in his past 27 starts, and he will have the chance to defend his Masters’ crown in a few weeks.
He certainly has the talent and a calm, focused demeanor as well. Scheffler looks like he had the whole package to become the game’s next megastar. The 26-year-old University of Texas grad had six victories in the past 13 months.
The door is open for someone to step into the golfing spotlight, and Scheffler could be the guy. One can also make the point for Jon Rahm, Rory McElroy, and Jordan Spieth. But the trio and others have failed to hold their ground and reach the pinnacle that Woods once did.
Golf has been looking for the next Woods to step forward, but no one has consistently stayed on the stage.
Scheffler is currently on a fast track, and he can accelerate his presence with another strong showing at the Masters. His peers have recognized his accomplishments and have referred to him as being on a “Hall of Fame career.”
Over the past year, it has been pretty special for him. Sunday’s win at the Players accentuated everything another notch.
Golf may have its new superstar around the corner, while its last one seems stuck in the sand trap of life.
