Featured Image Credit: Richard Heathcote / Staff via Getty
Topics: Tiger Woods, Golf
James Taylor
Open champion Scottie Scheffler has addressed growing comparisons with Tiger Woods as the debate of the greatest-ever golfer heats up.
Scheffler dominated at Royal Portrush, winning by four shots from Harris English as he secured a second major of the year to add to the PGA Championship.
The 29-year-old has already won two Masters titles, meaning he only needs the US Open to complete a career grand slam.
His success has invited comparisons with Woods from across the golfing world.
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Interestingly, there were exactly 1,197 days between each player's first and fourth major wins and it has prompted plenty of discussion about Scheffler's place alongside Woods in the sport's GOAT debate.
"I still think they're a bit silly," Scheffler said when asked what he thinks of the comparisons.
"I just got one-fourth of the way there. I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf."
The comparisons began after Scheffler's PGA Championship triumph.
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ESPN's Andy North suggested he stood alongside Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as "the three best ever."
His colleague Marty Smith put the comparison to Scheffler.
"I try not to think about that stuff," Scheffler responded.
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"Any time you can get compared to those guys is pretty special. I'm always trying to stay in the present.
"I don't think about career goals or anything like that. I'm just trying to come out here and compete be and the best that I can be."
On Reddit, many fans were quick to defend Woods.
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User @zRouth said Scheffler is not yet in the same ballpark as Woods.
He highlighted the 2000 US Open, which Woods won by an astonishing 15 shots, before going on to win four consecutive majors.
In his career, the American won 15 major championships and 82 PGA Tours, spending more than 13 years as world number one, breaking numerous records in the process.
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@Cory_justgolf wrote: "It really is a testament to how incredible Tiger was that we see Scottie’s current amazing run and have to think 'oh if he keeps this up for almost a decade he’ll reach Tiger”.
Other fans pointed out Woods' transformative impact on the sport.
"It'd also be a testament to how athleticism became a thing in golf," wrote @fivegallondivot.
"Tiger working out to maintain his game is what changed the sport."
Although nobody was claiming Scheffler has done more than Woods, some fans compared their styles.
@Nick8346 said: "I think Tiger is better but it's still fun comparing.
"Scottie is pretty clearly the best since tiger and has some Tiger like stats when you look at strokes gained and adjusted scoring average."