Scottie Scheffler responds to comparisons with Tiger Woods: “They’re silly”
Scottie Scheffler is enjoying the best stretch of his career, and comparisons to Tiger Woods were quick to surface. After securing his fourth major title – the recent Claret Jug at Royal Portrush – the numbers started aligning in a curious way: it took him exactly 1,197 days to win his first Masters in 2022 and then his first Open, the same amount of time Tiger needed between his first two major victories.
Despite these parallels, Scheffler is firm and direct when asked if he sees himself as the new Tiger Woods. “I still think those comparisons are a little silly,” he said after his triumph in Northern Ireland. “Tiger won, what? 15 majors? This is my fourth. I’ve only made it a quarter of the way. I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf.”
Scottie Scheffler says: “There’s only one Tiger Woods”
During his appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, Scheffler revisited the topic. “Any time you’re mentioned alongside the greats of golf, it’s an honor. But I think the comparisons are silly. Tiger transcended the sport. He was the best we’ll see in our lifetime.”
The Texan added humbly: “There’s only one Tiger Woods, and the rest of us are just trying to do our best. I don’t think about that every day, but if people are comparing you to him, it means you’re doing something right.”
Scheffler isn’t the first to face that kind of media pressure. Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, and Rory McIlroy were also once labeled “the next Tiger,” though their careers took different paths.
Is Scottie Scheffler more comparable to Jack Nicklaus?
A comparison that seems to make more sense is the one that links him to Jack Nicklaus. The “Golden Bear” himself said during the 2025 Memorial Tournament: “He plays a lot like I did.” Both share a cerebral, precise style focused on strategic shots and a calm approach under pressure.
Scottie Scheffler is enjoying the best stretch of his career, and comparisons to Tiger Woods were quick to surface. After securing his fourth major title – the recent Claret Jug at Royal Portrush – the numbers started aligning in a curious way: it took him exactly 1,197 days to win his first Masters in 2022 and then his first Open, the same amount of time Tiger needed between his first two major victories.
Despite these parallels, Scheffler is firm and direct when asked if he sees himself as the new Tiger Woods. “I still think those comparisons are a little silly,” he said after his triumph in Northern Ireland. “Tiger won, what? 15 majors? This is my fourth. I’ve only made it a quarter of the way. I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf.”
Scottie Scheffler says: “There’s only one Tiger Woods”
During his appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, Scheffler revisited the topic. “Any time you’re mentioned alongside the greats of golf, it’s an honor. But I think the comparisons are silly. Tiger transcended the sport. He was the best we’ll see in our lifetime.”
The Texan added humbly: “There’s only one Tiger Woods, and the rest of us are just trying to do our best. I don’t think about that every day, but if people are comparing you to him, it means you’re doing something right.”
Scheffler isn’t the first to face that kind of media pressure. Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, and Rory McIlroy were also once labeled “the next Tiger,” though their careers took different paths.
Is Scottie Scheffler more comparable to Jack Nicklaus?
A comparison that seems to make more sense is the one that links him to Jack Nicklaus. The “Golden Bear” himself said during the 2025 Memorial Tournament: “He plays a lot like I did.” Both share a cerebral, precise style focused on strategic shots and a calm approach under pressure.
Even Butch Harmon, Tiger’s former coach, backed the idea on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio: “Mentally, he’s the closest thing to Jack Nicklaus I’ve ever seen.”
And the similarities go beyond the course. Scheffler had a touching moment after winning The Open 2025, lifting his 15-month-old son Bennett on the 18th green – an image that evoked Nicklaus’s iconic embrace with his son Gary after winning the 1973 PGA Championship. For both, family comes before golf.
Scheffler is building his own legacy
Scottie Scheffler doesn’t want to be the next Tiger or the next Nicklaus. He wants to be Scottie Scheffler. And with four majors, a firm grip on the world ranking, and a focused mindset, he’s already building a unique legacy that’s only just beginning to grow.
