Scottie Scheffler Poised to Match Tiger's Dominance at PGA Championship

In the storied history of golf, few players have ever matched the sheer dominance of Tiger Woods in his prime. Yet as the 2024 PGA Championship approaches, all eyes are on Scottie Scheffler, whose recent tear has sportsbooks installing him as a heavy favorite reminiscent of the Tiger era.

Scheffler’s path to potential golf immortality runs through Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky from May 16-19. After a scintillating win at The Masters, the 26-year-old Texan has sportsbooks like DraftKings listing him at +400 to capture his second career major. No golfer has had such prohibitive odds for a major since Woods himself at the 2013 PGA Championship.

The numbers are staggering – Scheffler has won 3 of his last 4 starts, including the prestigious PLAYERS Championship widely considered the “fifth major.” In the one tournament he didn’t win, he tied for second. His combination of consistency and brilliance has put the golf world on notice.

“You can’t help but be awed by what Scheffler is doing right now,” said longtime CBS analyst Jim Nantz. “The last time we saw this level of sustained excellence was Tiger in his prime. If Scheffler wins the PGA, we’re entering rarified air in terms of historical greatness.”

Woods famously won the “Tiger Slam” by holding all four major titles simultaneously after the 2001 Masters, though he never actually won the Masters and PGA in the same year. Scheffler has a chance to check off that elusive box with a win at Valhalla.

The young phenom is already drawing lofty comparisons to Woods’ 1997 “Tiger Proofing” season that ushered in a new era of golf course design to counteract his prowess. Scheffler’s combination of length off the tee and precision iron play has rendered certain tournament setups virtually obsolete.

“Scottie is hitting clubs into holes that we never intended,” said one longtime PGA Tour setup official who requested anonymity. “Like Tiger, he’s tearing up well-designed golf courses. We may need to ‘Scheffler Proof’ tournament setups if he keeps this up.”

While such praise is certainly premature for a player with just one major title, Scheffler seems poised to rewrite the record books should he maintain his torrid pace. And his competitors are certainly wary – players like Jon Rahm (+1200), Rory McIlroy (+1400), and defending PGA Champion Brooks Koepka (+1800) have sizable odds despite their own considerable resumes.

“You can’t let a guy like Scottie get hot and seize control of a tournament,” said Koepka. “Once he gets rolling, he’s nearly impossible to catch from behind. We know what we’re up against.”

All eyes will be on Valhalla next month as Scottie Scheffler attempts to add another chapter to his swelling legend. A PGA Championship victory could signal the true changing of the guard, anointing the next face of golf supremacy. For perhaps the first time since Tiger’s peak, fans may be witnessing the rise of a new era-defining superstar.