Scottie Scheffler Defends Title, Extends World No. 1 Reign

Scottie Scheffler further solidified his position as the best golfer in the world with a dominant six-stroke victory at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. The 28-year-old American emerged from a two-month break to defend his title, finishing 25 under par. Although the field was small with only 20 players and three top-10 golfers, Scheffler’s performance was still impressive. It was his ninth win in 2024 and he tied Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh for the most victories in a single season.

Scheffler’s year was extraordinary, finishing 293 under par for 21 starts, a remarkable feat that placed him in rare company with Woods. His 727 world ranking points in 2024 were the highest in the sport surpassing the 444 points of second-ranked Xander Schauffele. Woods, who observed the final round, praised Scheffler’s precision, calling his ball striking exceptional and highlighting his consistency. Scheffler’s ability to avoid mistakes—no doubles or loose bogeys—was reminiscent of Woods’ own disciplined play.

One area of improvement for Scheffler has been his putting. After struggling on the greens, he switched to a mallet putter and later adopted a ‘claw’ grip for shorter putts which showed early promise. Woods acknowledged his incredible feel and control, adding that Scheffler would remain a top contender every week with consistent putting.

While the victory added 30 world ranking points, the limited field at the Hero World Challenge raised questions about the fairness of the world rankings system. Nonetheless, Scottie Scheffler’s continued dominance in the sport, alongside the ongoing debates about LIV Golf and the official rankings ensures that he remains the man to beat in 2024.