Scottie Scheffler on course to land PGA achievement never managed before

Callum Vurley
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:58:41 +0000

Scottie Scheffler heads into this week's Cadillac Championship as the bookmakers' favourite, despite failing to secure a victory since late January.

The tournament marks the PGA Tour's return to Trump National Doral Miami after a decade-long absence, with the 72-player field competing on the challenging Blue Monster course without a cut.

Several elite players have opted to sit out the signature event. Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Ludvig Aberg are among those taking the week off, with another signature event and the PGA Championship following in quick succession.

Scheffler is priced at +300 to claim victory at the 7,739-yard, par-72 layout featuring water hazards on ten holes.

The 29-year-old American arrives at Doral in encouraging form, having posted back-to-back second-place finishes at Augusta National and Hilton Head.

His performance at the Masters proved particularly impressive from the fairways, where he gained 6.5 strokes through approach shots alone.

The Blue Monster's demanding layout appears well suited to Scheffler's strengths. The course rewards exceptional long-iron play due to its considerable length, while its greens demand precise short-game execution, particularly when winds intensify.

Scheffler ranks among the finest long-iron players in the game, making him an ideal candidate for success at the Florida venue.

His 72-tournament streak without missing a cut also remains intact heading into the week.

Beyond his strong positioning at Doral, Scheffler is pursuing a statistical milestone that no golfer has previously achieved on the PGA Tour.

The world number one currently averages 5.06 birdies per round during the 2026 season, placing him 0.12 clear of McIlroy and Akshay Bhatia in second position.

Should he maintain this pace, Scheffler would become the first player in tour history to average more than five birdies per round across a full campaign.

His scoring average of 69.3 through 32 rounds leads the tour this season.

The Texan's birdie rates over his previous six seasons ranged from 4.35 to 4.88, demonstrating his elevated production in 2026.