At this time last year, Scottie Scheffler was already making waves in the golf world, having secured four top-10 finishes and two consecutive victories early in the season. His momentum only grew, leading to one of the most dominant seasons of his career, which included an impressive seven tournament wins and a gold medal at the National Olympics. However, this year’s start has been far from ideal, largely due to an unexpected and bizarre setback—an injury caused by Christmas ravioli.
Scheffler later disclosed that he had undergone surgery to remove glass fragments from his right palm, which forced him to withdraw from The Sentry. That absence extended into the new year, and the lingering wrist injury prevented him from starting his season as planned, leading to him missing two early events.
Struggles Upon His Return
When Scheffler eventually returned to competition, he struggled to regain his dominant form. So far, he has participated in five events, managing only one top-5 finish. This is a stark contrast to the elite performances he consistently delivered just a few months ago. Golf analyst Alan Shipnuck recently discussed Scheffler’s form on an episode of Dan on Golf, where he was asked to evaluate the top players ahead of the upcoming Masters. When it came to grading Scheffler’s recent performances, Shipnuck did not hold back, immediately giving him an ‘F’ rating.
“The guy, I’m looking at his results right now: T9, T25 at Phoenix, and he shot a gazillion on the back nine. He was up there on Sunday, T3 at Genesis, T11 at Arnold Palmer, and T20 at The Players,” Shipnuck stated. “Yeah, I mean, for a journeyman, that’s a pretty nice start. You’re talking about a guy coming off one of the greatest seasons in golf history. He’s been on a three-year heater. He is the best player since Tiger Woods. Uh, he’s been basically a non-factor.”
Although harsh, his assessment highlights just how much expectations have risen for Scheffler given his past dominance.
A Different Perspective on Scheffler’s Form
Another golf expert, Dan Rappaport, offered a slightly less critical evaluation. While he agreed with some of Shipnuck’s points, he felt a ‘B-minus’ rating was more appropriate. Rappaport pointed out that Scheffler had held the world No. 1 ranking for 130 consecutive weeks and had secured 13 PGA Tour victories in his career. Given his elite skill level, it’s natural to expect him to perform at the highest level.
With the Masters now just two weeks away, Scheffler is working to recapture his best form. He recently expressed optimism, suggesting that he has finally identified the root cause of his struggles and is on the verge of a turnaround.
Scheffler’s Confidence in a Comeback
Scheffler has made it clear that he is determined to bounce back and return to peak performance. He acknowledged that his right-hand injury had set him back, forcing him to take time off and adjust his approach. “I think it would be silly to say that it didn’t set me back a little bit because I had to take a good amount of time off,” Scheffler admitted, referring to the puncture wound on his palm. Given that he is a right-handed golfer, the injury and subsequent surgery naturally affected his swing.
Despite these setbacks, Scheffler believes he is making significant progress. “Each day, my hand continues to improve, my body is getting back to where it needs to be, and I think my swing is coming around as well. So I’m definitely excited about the improvements that I’m making,” he said. While his results so far have not been disastrous—posting two top-10 finishes in five starts with his worst result being 25th place—he is aiming for a much higher standard.
“I feel like I’m really close to playing some really nice golf again,” Scheffler continued. “I’ve got another good week of prep here at home, and I felt like we learned a lot last week at Sawgrass. I’m definitely excited about the things that we kind of figured out when we were in Jacksonville.”
Preparing to Defend His Masters Title
As he gears up to defend his Masters title next month, Scheffler also shared details about the menu for his Champions’ Dinner—a tradition where the defending champion selects the meal. He opted for comfort food inspired by his childhood favorites. “My dad’s meatballs made the menu—that was always my favorite thing growing up. Then my coach Randy makes the best chili, so I think they are trying to use his recipe. I think we’re doing ribeye again, some redfish, and tequila and bourbon this time,” he revealed.
With his game showing signs of improvement and his Masters preparations underway, Scheffler is focused on making a strong statement at Augusta. Whether he can successfully defend his title and reassert his dominance remains to be seen, but his recent progress suggests he is on the right path. The next few weeks will be crucial as he aims to return to the top of his game and prove that his early struggles this season were just a temporary setback.