Scottie Scheffler, once again champion of the Augusta Masters: the giant who didn’t know how to play basketball and today is the lord and master of golf

If there was a great candidate to win the 88th edition of Masters of Augsburg era Scottie Scheffler. The American arrived at the first Major of the calendar with an impressive seasonal record: he had played eight tournaments, finished in the top 10 in seven and won two of the last three played. The expectations for participating in one of the most challenging courses in the world of golf were high, but his favoritism did not weigh on him. On the contrary.

The New Jersey native had a very solid performance, completing the final round with 68 shots, four under par, and winning with a score of 277 (-11) and a four-point lead over the Swede. Ludwig Aberg, his surprising escort. Thus, for the second time, she wore the coveted green jacket that the champion wears (and which he had already won in 2022) and, in doing so, wrote his name among some of the great references of the sport.

With the victory he was second in the list of players who had the fewest appearances to celebrate the double in Augusta. He achieved it in his fifth appearance in the tournament, played for the first time in 2019. The only one to have achieved it in fewer editions was his compatriot Horton Smithwho was the first champion in history in 1934, finished 19th in 1935 and repeated the celebrations in 1936. Scheffler surpassed three other Americans in that statistic, Jimmy Demaret, Arnold Palmer AND Bubba Watsonwho were consecrated for the second time in their sixth participation.

At 27, the New Jersey native also became the fourth-youngest golfer to repeat the Masters victory after Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus is Spanish Severiano Ballesteros. And the second, after Woods, to become champion twice despite being number one in the world.

“I can’t put into words what it means to win this tournament again,” he said emotionally.

His second Augusta trophy allowed him to take his personal championship tally to eight titles. PGA Tour, all won in the last three years. The fact is that despite today being “the player” of the most important circuit and the undisputed leader of the world ranking, it took Scheffler a long time to inaugurate his record at the highest level. And he had had a great amateur career and had made a name for himself as an aspiring legend from the start.

His history with golf began when he moved to Dallas. His height – he measures 1.91 meters – led him to try his luck in basketball in high school. However, once you reach the University of Texas He opted for golf. In 2013 he was crowned American junior amateur; He shone in the university championship between 2014 and 2018; He was recognized in 2015 as the best player of his age; In 2016 he played his first US Open and in the following edition of that tournament he was the best amateur.

Driven by his interesting amateur career, in 2019 he earned a place in the Web.comcalled today the second tier of American golf Korn ferry, in which he added two titles. And in August of that year he got a card for the PGA Tour.

Already on the major circuits, Scheffler began to demonstrate that he would be a fierce competitor, with exceptional performances in the most important events and an unforgettable celebration in the Ryder Cup of 2021. But he had unfinished business: a crown.

The inauguration took place in 2022. On February 13th it took over WM Phoenix Open. Three weeks later, she got the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida. And at the end of March he stayed with Match in Austin and rose to world number one, becoming the sixth youngest player to reach the top of the rankings. At 25 years, 9 months and days, they were only surpassed in precociousness by their compatriots Woods, Jordan Spieth AND Justin Thomasthe Northern Irish Rory McIlroy is Spanish Jon Rahm.

He thus arrives at Augusta as one of the big favourites, despite all the rumors pointing to the return of the legendary Tiger Woods. And he ended up winning his first Major, after calmly closing the last round, becoming the fifth number 1 to wear the green jacket.

After a 2023 in which he won two trophies (Phoenix open in the month of February and The players in March) and was second in PGA Championships and third in US Openhe started this season with everything and everything and arrived at Augusta in a scenario very similar to that of 2022: as a great candidate – with recent celebrations at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players and a second place at the Houston Open – and with Woods stealing attention from him for a new comeback.

The result was the same: unstoppable, Scheffler shone, shouted champion once again and once again wrote his name in the great history of golf.

Meredith, the three sisters and cancer

A practicing Christian and super believer, Scheffler has been married since 2020 to Meredith Scudder, his high school sweetheart, the same one in which the world number one in golf was still debating between basketball and golf.

Once they ended up in Highland Park, the university removed them, but didn’t separate them. While Scheffler entered the University of Texas, Scudder began studying at Texas A & M University, Contra, where he concentrated on communications.

The couple remained close even when Scudder spent time in Zambia, where he did an internship. Once they returned to the United States and into Scheffler’s first year as a professional, they decided to get married.

“YES! I can’t believe God gave me my best friend to spend the rest of my life with. I can’t wait to be your wife, Scottie!!!! Impressed by the Lord’s faithfulness and kindness in “Let’s do this!!!” Scudder wrote on her Instagram account the day Scottie proposed to her.

Scudder, who is often seen at her partner’s tournaments, has worked for several humanitarian organizations, such as Family Legacy and Live Beyond. She was also an event organizer for her university charity, With Purpose.

Scheffler also has three sisters: Callie, Sara and Molly. Callie played golf at Texas A & M, Meredith’s college, and was her caddy when she competed as an amateur in the US Open.

In his spare time he is actively involved in Triumph Over Kid Cancer, an organization created by his childhood friend, James Ragan, who died at the age of 20. Now, with a double green jacket, this noble giant who left basketball to make golf history will be able to help many others.