Scottie Scheffler receives 'unfair' comment from golf rival ahead of The Players Championship

Scottie Scheffler receives 'unfair' comment from golf rival ahead of The Players Championship

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Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 12/03/2024

- 08:11

Updated: 12/03/2024

- 08:19

The 27-year-old stormed to victory in emphatic style in Florida on Sunday

Wyndham Clark admits it would be 'borderline unfair' if Scottie Scheffler starts putting well after the world No 1 won the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Scheffler finished five shots clear of Clark in Florida on Sunday after carding a final-round six-under 66.


He was the only player to go bogey-free in the final round to put in the largest margin of victory at Bay Hill since Tiger Woods in 2012.

It was Scheffler's seventh career win on the PGA Tour as he prepared in perfect style for the Players Championship this week.

Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler put in a stunning display to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Getty

His putting has often been the one aspect of his game that has come under scrutiny but he silenced many of his critics in Florida.

Clark says it will be hard for anyone to beat him if he keeps up that form on the green.

The 30-year-old said of Scheffler: "It would be borderline unfair if he starts putting really good.

"I never want to wish ill on anybody, but if he starts putting positive each week it's going to be really hard to beat.

"But that's good. It's just going to push me to get better in my ball-striking and every part of the game.

"He's kind of the barometer right now and I've got a lot of room to catch up and get better."

Scheffler will be aiming to retain his Players Championship title at TPC Sawgrass this week.

He admits he sometimes even surprises himself with some of his performances.

Scheffler said on the Sky Sports Golf podcast: "Do I surprise myself? I'm sure occasionally you know, sometimes!

"I put a lot of work into the game, so it's nice to see those [consistent] results.

"That's something that I take a lot of pride in and I think that's why you've seen such consistent results out of me the last few years.

"I put a lot of work into it [his game], but yeah, sometimes I surprise myself.

"I think that it's exciting when I know that we're getting all the best players together and I think mentally it takes me to a little bit of a different place.

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Wyndham Clark

Wyndham Clark says it would be 'borderline unfair' if Scottie Scheffler keeps up his putting form

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"I think it's a little bit of a different feeling and it's something that excites me as a competitor.

"I think that's why you see some good results from me in the bigger events and that's something that I'm obviously going to hope to continue on as my career moves forward."

World No 2 Rory McIlroy suffered a nightmare final round on Sunday, carding a four-over par 76 to finish tied 26th.

The Northern Irishman was in awe of Scheffler, insisting he is 'on another level' to his rivals.

McIlroy said: "Anyone can pop up and win an event here or there or get on a good run, but the consistent performances that Scottie's been putting in week-in and week-out every time he tees it up, it is incredible.

Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler finished five shots clear at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Getty

"His ball striking is, honestly, on another level compared to everyone else right now. We knew if he started to hole putts, then this sort of stuff would happen.

"Then what he's doing this week, I mean, this is a super tough golf course and to be 6-under today going out with the lead and just sort of lapping the field is, it's super impressive.

"The play on the golf course has sort of taken a back seat to everything else [because of the divide in golf], which is a shame.

"I'd say if we were in a different place in the world of golf, Scottie's golf would probably be getting a lot more applause and praise."

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