The biggest difference between Scottie Scheffler and Tiger? Tiger's competitors wilted. Scottie's competitors still play professional golf. We won't ever see a guy win 82 and 15 again. The field is too good now.

I might argue that Tiger's competitors weren't as close to him in skill as Scottie's competitors are to him, that it's not a matter of Tiger's competitors wilting. They just weren't nearly as good.

I accept this argument.

Hold on, hold on: Tiger wasn't playing the JV team. He competed against the world's best, just as those before and since have done. With the exception of maybe 2-3 others, Tiger did it better than everyone else.

I'm not saying he was playing against bad players, but how often did Tiger shoot a final round 69 and everyone around him shot 73-75? Scottie just shot 65 and saw Wyndham Clark shoot 60. A few weeks ago Matt Fitzpatrick stared him down and made birdie in a playoff against him. That stuff rarely happened against Tiger. And honestly pro golfers today are who they are because of the way Tiger played the game.

Tiger's competition tended to fold, but some stood up better than others. Tiger had that extra gear that is so rare, pulling out his best when he needed to.

He did have a gear. Not many guys in his era had that gear. And those who did couldn't summon it vs Tiger. Phil Mickelson even acknowledged it took him a while to figure out how to play well with Tiger. Today, guys aren't afraid to go low, and it doesn't matter who they're playing.

This is Vijay and (to a lesser degree) Duvall erasure... Phil also holds the record for most weeks at #2 FWIW. I get the desire to anoint Scottie, and he deserves his flowers... But Tiger beat 100+ pro golfers over 80 times (15 times in majors) and I'd suggest none of them were afraid to go low, or win... They just had a giant red shirted barrier in the way. You don't get to the point where you are in the top 100 of anything in the world by wilting or being afraid. Just my .02... YMMV

Vijay has his best years when Tiger was switching from Butch to Haney. Duval had his best years, largely when Tiger was doing his first build with Butch. And my point is, when Tiger was lurking like Scottie was today, especially pre 2009, nobody went out and shot 60 on him. How many times did Tiger fire final round 69 and win by 3 bc his closest competitors all shot over par? Maybe if truly is intimidation and Scottie doesn't scare guys. Or maybe it's that golfers are better now, as much mentally and physically.

Tiger made putts

True, Tiger is the greatest clutch putter of all time. That said, in his career he won 3 times where the winning score was -25 or lower. Scottie has already won 2 such events. Maybe it's a setup issue...too many weeks are just putting contests these days.

Well said. The depth of professional golf is - to me - at a historic high. And I only see it getting deeper.

There are so many good players now. It's crazy how good they are.

It’s why I believe Tiger’s 15 majors are more impressive than Jack’s 18, and if anyone got to 12 majors now, it would be more impressive than Tiger’s 15. For exactly what you’re saying. The Tour was infinitely deeper in Tiger’s era compared to Jack’s, and now the Tour is was deeper than it was for Tiger’s era.

Not sure I understand this stance. Tiger objectively and consistently averaged lower scores with less forgiving equipment. Field is irrelevant. You average 67 and you’re going to win a shit load of tournaments lol

And more TOUR golf course setups like this week are so soft and forgiving for more golfers keeping more within range of the top.

Very true. Easy setups turn every week into a putting contest.

Go watch entire tournaments tiger played and entire tournaments Scottie plays. I’m sorry man, Tiger was all over the place. Scottie pumps fairways and greens at a ridiculous rate.

And the field is watered down because of LIV… Scottie would still be elite but he prob would have fewer trophies if LIV remained an idea

Back when Tiger was winning, Europe's best didn't play the US full-time. So I agree with you, but this paradigm is not new.

@Stetson_GBR The European Tour was much stronger in Tiger's day than LIV is now.

@MidwestGolfJake Live took nearly 50 of the top 100 players in the OWGR, I disagree with your statement.

Tiger’s competition included that guy that won the PGA in 2021 at 51! (20 something days shy of 51). So 51 year old Phil Mickelson was good enough to beat them 5 years ago but Tiger’s competition was trash. BTW, 24 year old Scottie finished T8, losing to the 51 year old.

Phil was better than any nearest competitor Scottie has had to face, yes that includes Rory.

Tiger also has another gear that he was able to turn on when blood was in the water. Scottie plays smooth and waits till others make mistakes. Tiger didn’t care, he went out to destroy.

That, and Tiger was way better than Scottie, at like everything

Feels like we are at an “end of history” when it comes to pro golf. There’s not really mystery on how to best play the game anymore maybe? It’s a matter of executing better than other guys trying to execute the same thing.

You ever think those competitors wilted bc they were up against Tiger? The fear he strikes in them bc he can hit any putt or shot when it mattered. Where with Scottie, you know he will make mistakes to shoot himself out of tournaments now. 2024 you saw ppl wilt bc he was surgical

Improvements in equipment and training have closed the gap in the top levels of the field. Modern advancements can cover up skill gaps and makes big mistakes more rare. Tiger was just that much better than his competition using more difficult equipment

Cause Scottie not Tiger. I like him, but it’s media who say others are intimidated by Scheffler…with Tiger the PLAYERS said they were. Hell, sometimes in his heyday I was intimidated just watching Big Cat

Tiger Phil Els Furyk Singh Omeara Funk Freddy Daly Weir Boo Dimarrco Leonard Zach J Davis L Lehman Pavin Seve Janzen Duval Ian Olazabal Sergio Norman Colin Westwood Padriq Price Faldo I know im forgetting some. Fields now are pathetic in comparison.

Disagree. The biggest difference between Tiger and SS is Tiger was the 2nd best player ever and SS can’t sniff the top 10. And until he figures out how to putt, he can never be compared to Player, Trevino, Mickelson or even Johnny Miller.

There's no way you're saying this with a straight face. Tiger’s field had longer peaks, more majors, and far more top‑10 longevity than today’s players. Norman, Faldo, Singh, Els, Mickelson — all elite for a decade or more. Modern No.1s rotate constantly. Google is free bud.

Scottie is a great player but he just seems human and relatable. Tiger seemed like you were in his kitchen trying to steal food from his personal fridge when you were competing against him in a major.

The difference between Scottie and Tiger is from 6 feet in on the greens. Basically that’s it. Plus’s today player is better and not intimidated by anything. And the kids coming up as a whole will be better

Brilliant observation. Tiger forced the sport to rebuild its foundation from scratch. Scottie is dominating a field of highly insulated, elite athletes who simply refuse to wilt

Agreed. Guys in the Tiger era had to hit every shot perfect to compete with him. Whereas Tiger won with his C game most the time.

They widen the fairways, soften the greens, and turn it into this pathetic thing we watched this week, and it the set up is hard , they cry!, give me golf 20-30 years ago, all day everyday, this stuff now is unwatchable

I mean 2 of his best competitors are in LIV in Rahm and Bryson that skews the wins for me, Rahm would be going at it with Scottie

When you rage bait it needs to have a modicum amount of truth to get people. Complete bs is too obvious

Generally, your competitors wilt when you seemingly have magical powers and insane aura. Ik this sounds like glazing but you can watch videos of the best pros in the world talking about him being unbeatable when he’s on in 2006. 2006 American Express championship on YouTube

Tiger played exciting golf, most players are so boring these days

@McClain_on_NFL I think it’s also an attitude thing, remember Curtis Strenge comment to Tiger; “ you’ll get it kid” it had to do w trying to win every week. I think more guys each week are trying to win and don’t give up on a rd or a tournament no matter what.

Why I hate the Jack goat argument. Fields not comparable. And I can’t beleive Scottie has 81 top 10s in 162 starts. That’s insane

we may some day Scottie is still playing great he simply got out putted this week Clark SG Putting 12.573 that's insane.

I didn't watch as much golf in the tiger Era as I do today... BUT some of these events like yesterday's cj cup being a birdie fest doesn't help. Clark and si woo had -11 under rounds at some point. Scottie still had bogey free -7s or so

Or, hear me out, Tiger and Scottie aren’t in the same stratosphere (they’re not). Tiger made his competitors wilt because they had no chance, scottie just isn’t that far ahead of the competition

Scottie has been great for a few years. Let’s calm down.