Scottie Scheffler Nearly Misses Cut At Players Championship

This past week, during the Players Championship, fans, commentators, and players noticed something was off with Scottie Scheffler.  The world’s No. 1 was not swinging like he normally does.  This difference in performance nearly led to Scheffler missing the cut for the first time since the 2022 FedEx Cup.  He managed to keep his streak going, netting in 70 consecutive tournaments, but fans are still wondering what’s happening.

Brandel Chamblee Takes Note On Scheffler

While observing the tournament, Brandel Chamblee kept an eye on Scottie Scheffler.  During his observations, Chamblee noticed how Scheffler’s swings looked shorter than usual.  By a foot and a half, to be specific.  Paul McGinley, who was on the same show, agreed with Chamblee and began theorizing about what was happening.

“It’s quite clear how much shorter his swing is now,” McGinley said. “Generally, in my experience, when your swing gets shorter, it has to do with anxiety. You’re not free-flowing. You’re trying to poke it down there. You’re afraid to miss it.”

During the broadcast, Chamblee and McGinley were trying to figure out where the change was.  His shoulder turn was the same, so the problem could be in the wrist.  It’s a simple change, but it can make the difference of a few shots.  Luckily for Scheffler, it’s a mistake that can be corrected with ease.

Other Players Take Note

On the field, players like Justin Thomas have also taken note.  Thomas would describe the course as naturally more difficult than other courses on the Tour schedule.  

“No, you can just tell,”  Thomas said about Scheffler.  “It’s just timing and trying to match [the swing] up. He’s still hitting shots that not many people on planet earth can hit in the same rounds. It’s just golf. … He’s still had a pretty damned good year. I know I’d trade with him, but I’m probably not the person to ask.”

This isn’t the only tournament Scheffler has had an off day in.  During the Genesis Invitational, Scheffler broke his top-10 streak.  During the Arnold Palmer, he missed a par by what looked like a couple of inches.  A missed opportunity that left him frustrated.

Scheffler Still At The Top

Scottie Scheffler may be having a bit more of a difficult time of late, but he is still the world’s No. 1.  He has the record to back up his skill, and he’s far enough ahead that a couple of bad games aren’t going to sink him.  That does come with the caveat of everyone having the highest standards for him.  Because of Scheffler’s standing, he is compared to Tiger Woods, who made a deep impact on the sport while he was growing up.  Fans and commentators are looking towards him for the next career grand slam, as well as maintaining his position on the OWGR.  Despite the trouble, he has kept his cut streak going for over three years.  The pressure is on, and despite all the praise, he will face scrutiny with any misstep.