Without getting carried away, it’s hard to compare Scheffler to anyone but Woods.
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HILTONHEADISLAND,S.C.–Withanyattemptatgenerationalcomparisons,contextisalwaysking.Forexample,anyconversationcomparingScottieScheffler’scurrentruntoTigerWoodsinhisprimewillbemuddiedbytheunrivaledbiasofWoods’accomplishments.
Formost,theconversationbeginsandendswiththesimplestofmath–15>2–that’showmanymajorsWoodsandSchefflerhavewon,respectively.ButinthewakeofScheffler’sfour-strokerompatAugustaNationalonSundayforhissecondgreenjacket,amorenuancedcomparisondoesseemapropos.
Statistically,SchefflerisonpacetorivalWoods’bestyearswitha2.812strokesgained:totalaverage,whichranksbehindTiger’splayin2006(3.442),’07(3.092)and’09(3.189).Althoughwiththreemajorsandmorethanhalftheseasonstilltoplay,thatanalyticaldatapointisstillverymuchaworkinprogress.
Woods’brilliancewasalsosustainedoverdecadescomparedtoScheffler’scurrentrun,whichisjustafewyearsold,butforthosewhofacedWoodsinhisprime,thosewhowerearound
