Tiger Woods’ former coach says he’s changed his mind about Scottie Scheffler after what happened at the Olympics

Hank Haney has recently revisited his perspective on Scottie Scheffler, particularly in light of Scheffler’s recent triumph at the Olympic Games, where he clinched the gold medal in the men’s golf event. This victory has prompted Haney to reassess Scheffler’s standing in the Player of the Year race, significantly altering his previous viewpoint.

 

Heading into the Olympics, the significance of winning a medal in golf was somewhat ambiguous. The sport had faced challenges and controversies in both the 2016 Rio and 2021 Tokyo Games, making it difficult to gauge how meaningful a medal would be for the players involved. Despite these uncertainties, Xander Schauffele emerged as a strong favorite. Having secured gold in Tokyo and adding a second major title of the season at The Open Championship, Schauffele appeared poised to make a strong case for the Player of the Year award.

 

Prior to the Olympics, many speculated that Schauffele could potentially overshadow Scheffler’s impressive year. Scheffler, who had already accumulated six victories by the end of June, was seen as a leading contender for the Player of the Year award. However, Schauffele’s recent successes, particularly his two major wins, made it conceivable that he could vie for the top honors, especially with his potential to secure a second gold medal.

 

As Schauffele entered the final round at Le Golf National tied for the lead, it seemed he might be on course to enhance his chances of clinching the Player of the Year title. Haney, who had initially leaned towards awarding Schauffele the accolade due to his major victories, has since revised his opinion following Scheffler’s Olympic success.

 

In his podcast, Haney expressed his changed perspective, suggesting that Scheffler’s Olympic gold medal significantly bolstered his credentials for the Player of the Year award. “Scottie Scheffler’s victory at the Olympics propels him to a landslide Player of the Year award in golf, not just for the PGA Tour but across all relevant bodies, including the PGA of America,” Haney stated. He had previously been inclined to award Schauffele the honor, particularly because of Schauffele’s two major titles – the PGA Championship and The Open Championship. Haney argued that a major win generally outweighs multiple PGA Tour victories in the Player of the Year discussions. “It’s not a simple matter of comparing numbers; many players would trade a significant number of their PGA Tour wins for a major championship,” Haney noted.

 

However, Haney acknowledged that Scheffler’s achievements this year – including his wins at The Masters, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players Championship, the RBC Heritage, the Memorial Tournament, and the Travelers Championship – have been remarkable. Scheffler’s victory in these elevated events, coupled with his Olympic gold medal, solidified his extraordinary year. Despite the gold medal not being officially counted on the PGA Tour, Haney emphasized its substantial impact on Scheffler’s overall performance evaluation.

 

Scheffler’s remarkable performance at Le Golf National, where he dramatically overcame a four-shot deficit to Jon Rahm in the final round, showcased his exceptional skill and determination. Over the final eight holes, Scheffler outscored Rahm by a staggering ten shots, demonstrating an impressive display of resilience and skill. This extraordinary comeback and ultimate victory likely left a lasting impression on fans and observers, highlighting Scheffler’s dominance and endurance.

 

Given these accomplishments, some believe that even if Schauffele were to win the Tour Championship, it might not be sufficient to surpass Scheffler’s overall achievements for the Player of the Year award. The manner in which Scheffler secured the gold medal, along with his significant victories throughout the year, has made a compelling case for his recognition as the standout player of the season.