Scottie Scheffler 4/1 for PGA Championship after Masters win; 33/1 to win all four majors

Liam Williams Updated: 15 Apr 24 08:28

Scottie Scheffler is 4/1 for the PGA Championship at Valhalla after his runaway Masters victory.

Scheffler won by four shots in what became a procession by the second nine on Sunday.

Worryingly for his rivals, it was a week in which we saw the worst of Scheffler. The world number one made a dreadful double bogey on 10 on Saturday and followed with a bogey on 11.

Unfortunately for the rest of the field, that's as bad as Scheffler's worst got. He rode his luck on occasions; chipping in from the bunker on 12 in his first round, then somehow avoiding the water when coming short of the green on 13. Two birdies from what could've been two bogeys.

We also saw him chip in on the first hole, serving constant reminders throughout the week that he's the best golfer in the world, but not only that; nobody else is anywhere near him, and that there are no weaknesses in his game. The putter that held him back last year is in the bin, replaced by the mallet putt - as recommended by Rory McIlroy, in what must go down as the worst piece of advice imparted by a professional athlete - and Scheffler is competent on the greens and brilliant getting to them.

While Scheffler doesn't have a weakness in his game, what really sets the two-time Masters champion apart is his ball-striking. He hits the ball far and typically straight, he's got wonderful touch around the greens and even his old putting woes look to be behind him, but it's his ridiculously consistent iron play that sets up so many chances and keeps bogeys so few.

But it wasn't anywhere near Scheffler's best in terms of ball-striking this week. In terms of strokes gained, his ball-striking was about as good as that of Danny Willett, a golfer with one good arm who hasn't played for six months. Until his final few holes on Sunday, it wasn't much better than 53-year-old Phil Mickelson.

With the putter he was decent if unspectacular, but it was the touch around the greens that set him apart.

But all of the above is why he's the best player in the world. If Scheffler is near his best, you can't beat him; if Scheffler's playing well, you need to be at your best to even challenge him; if he's not playing well, you still need to be on your game to stay with him. Even Scheffler at his absolute worst is better than most players on an average day.

Conversations have been had about several players since Tiger Woods, about who the rightful heir to the throne is. There won't be another Jack Nicklaus and there won't be another Woods and it's unlikely anyone will get as far as 10 majors; the game is too competitive, but Scheffler has the game to get as close as anyone has.

First it was Rory McIlroy. He won four majors by the age of 25. Remarkably, he's not won one since.

Then there was the similarly prodigious Jordan Spieth, who raced to three majors in little over two years, now has none in six and may never win another.

Then came big-game hunter Brooks Koepka, seemingly uninterested in regular events - perhaps the most surprising stat about Koepka is that he's won just two full field PGA TOUR events and a WGC... and five majors. He bagged four in just over two years, went through a slump, then added a fifth. You wouldn't bet against him making six.

But in terms of dominating the game, Scheffler looks the best placed of anyone, and from 200/1, Scheffler is now 33/1 to win all four majors in 2024.

He won four events in 2022 and his first major. He won two events in a banner 2023 that included a first PLAYERS Championship. In 2024 so far, he has another major, another PGA TOUR win and another PLAYERS Championship. He's now the third golfer after Woods and Nicklaus to win the PLAYERS and Masters at least twice.

Of course, the greats of the game aren't measured by how good they are on their day. A total of 232 male golfers have won at least one major. Almost anyone who's been a professional has had the game to - on their day - win a major. The best are measured by their longevity. Spieth and McIlroy will always have their majors, but they came in a short space of time. Phil Mickelson for example, spanned a remarkable 17 years between major wins.

But talk of how great Scheffler could become will last until he's no longer great.

It could be a while.