Scottie Scheffler's recent PGA Tour victory and surpassing $100 million in career earnings have sparked renewed comparisons to Tiger Woods, a topic that has been a subject of debate and fascination in the golf world.
Scheffler's impressive start to the 2026 PGA Tour season, marked by a four-shot victory at The American Express, has drawn attention to his rapid rise in the sport. This win was particularly significant as it was his first career victory at the beginning of a calendar year, and it extended his lead at the top of the world rankings. Moreover, it made him the first player since Woods to reach 20 PGA Tour titles before turning 30, all achieved within a four-year period.
The time between Scheffler's first and most recent wins is just 91 days, which is remarkably close to the time Woods needed to reach the same milestone. This early success has earned Scheffler the second-fewest starts in history to reach 20 wins (151 starts), trailing only behind Woods. Despite this, his wins have all come in an 81-tournament stretch after a winless start to his PGA Tour career.
Rob Lee, a golf analyst, praised Scheffler's consistency, stating that his ability to maintain a high level of performance is remarkable given the difficulty of the sport. Lee noted that no one masters golf and that it often comes back to bite them, but Scheffler has been able to keep up a very high standard of play.
Lee also drew a comparison between Scheffler and Woods, suggesting that Scheffler is starting to emulate some of Woods' achievements. However, he acknowledged that it's unfair to directly compare the two, as Woods is a phenom in the sport. Despite this, Lee believes that Scheffler's current run of success is starting to resemble Woods' dominance.
Scheffler's recent success has also led to him becoming just the third player, after Woods and Rory McIlroy, to pass $100 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour. This achievement is even more impressive considering the increased prize money on offer. However, Lee pointed out that while Woods' goal was to dominate and win, Scheffler's approach to the game is different, focusing more on personal growth and the human aspect of the sport.
Despite the comparisons to Woods, Lee believes that Scheffler's success is a testament to his own abilities and that he is a dominant player in his own right. The question remains as to how long this dominance will last, but with Scheffler not yet turning 30, there is a sense that his current form will continue for the foreseeable future.
