What happened at Royal Portrush goes beyond just winning – it’s about entering golf immortality

It was exactly 1,197 days between Tiger Woods winning his first major championship and his fourth. On Sunday at Royal Portrush, Scottie Scheffler claimed his fourth major title – exactly 1,197 days after winning his first at the 2022 Masters. This isn’t the kind of coincidence you can script. It’s the type of statistical anomaly that makes you believe the golf gods have a sense of humor about greatness.

Scheffler’s wire-to-wire victory at The Open Championship wasn’t just dominant – it was surgical. He fired a final-round 68 to cruise to a four-shot victory, completing four rounds at Royal Portrush that seemed almost routine for the world’s number one player. But the ease with which he dismantled one of golf’s most prestigious fields tells only part of this story.

The Rarity of Sustained Excellence

NBC analyst Jim “Bones” Mackay put it best during the broadcast: “Having watched Tiger play in his prime – and I think Tiger is the greatest player I’ve ever seen – I never thought in my lifetime I’d see a player as close to Tiger as this man currently is. Scottie Scheffler just blows my mind every time I watch him play.”

Those aren’t words thrown around lightly in professional golf. When someone who spent years on Tiger’s bag starts making those comparisons, it’s worth paying attention.

The numbers are staggering when you dive deeper. From 2022-2025, Scheffler has played 81 events, won 20 times, captured 4 majors, and averaged 2.8 strokes gained per round. Tiger’s comparable peak from 2002-2005? He played 79 events, won 18 times, captured 4 majors, and averaged the exact same 2.8 strokes gained per round. They’ve been mirror images of dominance.

What Makes This Different

Scheffler is now the first player in the last century to win his first four majors by at least three shots. Think about that for a moment. In an era where the depth of talent is arguably the strongest it’s ever been, where anyone in the top 50 can win on any given week, Scheffler isn’t just winning majors – he’s winning them convincingly.

This marks his 11th straight time converting a 54-hole lead into victory. That’s not luck or good timing. That’s a psychological fortress that few players in golf history have possessed.

The Human Side of Greatness

Perhaps what makes Scheffler’s run most compelling is his perspective on it all. Before arriving at Royal Portrush, he questioned “the point” of all his success, saying “This is not a fulfilling life. Why do I want to win this tournament so bad? That’s something that I wrestle with on a daily basis.”

It’s a refreshingly honest take from someone who could easily get lost in the acclaim. He welcomed his first child, son Bennett, in May 2024, and has been open about how that changed his perspective: “No matter what happens, we’re always on to the next week. That’s one of the beautiful things about golf, and it’s also one of the frustrating things.”

The Historical Context

Scheffler is now the third-youngest player to win 15 PGA Tour events as well as four majors, joining a list that includes only Tiger Woods (who did it at age 24) and Jack Nicklaus (age 25). He’s also one of four players in history to win the Masters, Open Championship and PGA Championship before turning 30, joining Woods, Nicklaus and Gary Player.

These aren’t just impressive statistics – they’re the building blocks of legendary careers. When your only company in achievement lists includes the Golden Bear and the most dominant player of the modern era, you’re doing something special.

Looking Forward

When asked about the Tiger comparisons after his Open victory, Scheffler characteristically downplayed them: “I just got 1/4 of the way. I don’t focus on that type of stuff. That’s not what motivates me.”

But whether he focuses on it or not, the conversation has shifted. As Rory McIlroy said after his round: “He is the bar that we’re all trying to get to. In a historical context, you could argue that there’s only maybe two or three players in the history of the game that have been on a run, the one that Scottie’s been on here for the last 24 to 36 months.”

What This Means Going Forward

With this Open Championship victory, Scheffler needs only the U.S. Open to complete the career Grand Slam. At 29 years old, he has what could be a decade or more of prime golf ahead of him. The question isn’t whether he can maintain this level – it’s how long he can sustain it.

Xander Schauffele, himself a major champion, summed up what many in the golf world are thinking: “I don’t think we thought the golfing world would see someone as dominant as Tiger come through so soon, and here’s Scottie sort of taking that throne of dominance. You can’t even say he’s on a run. He’s just been killing it for over two years now.”

Sunday at Royal Portrush might have looked like just another Scottie Scheffler victory to the casual observer. But for those paying attention to the broader narrative of golf history, it was the day the conversation about modern greatness took a significant turn. The numbers don’t lie, and sometimes they tell stories that are almost too perfect to believe.