PGA Tour stars reveal they would rather have Xander Schauffele’s season, not Scottie Scheffler’s

In a recent discussion among PGA Tour stars, it was revealed that many players would prefer Xander Schauffele’s 2024 season over that of Scottie Scheffler, despite Scheffler’s remarkable achievements this year. The preference for Schauffele’s season highlights the significant value placed on major championships in the world of professional golf.

 

Historically, major championships have been the benchmark of success in golf. Players like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are celebrated as the greatest golfers of all time largely due to their records in these prestigious tournaments. The four majors—the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open—are considered the pinnacle of the sport. These events not only test players on some of the most challenging courses but also carry immense prestige and influence in defining a player’s legacy.

 

In 2024, Xander Schauffele achieved a notable milestone by winning two of these majors: the PGA Championship and The Open. His impressive performances in these tournaments have drawn significant attention and praise from his peers. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler has also enjoyed a historic season, winning seven tournaments, including prestigious events like The Masters and The Players Championship. Additionally, Scheffler captured the gold medal at the Olympics in Paris, where he delivered a spectacular final round of 9-under 62 to secure the top spot on the podium.

 

Despite Scheffler’s exceptional year and multiple notable victories, many players have expressed a preference for Schauffele’s season. This sentiment underscores the revered status of major championships in professional golf. Viktor Hovland, for instance, emphasized the long-term value of winning two majors over a collection of other titles. At the BMW Championship, Hovland reflected on the significance of majors, stating, “I think in 20 years’ time, I would probably rather have two majors, what Xander had, and obviously Scottie winning The Players and The Masters is pretty good, too. With some of the other wins, as well, he’s definitely had the better season. But I think 20 years in the future, looking back at the year, I think I’d rather have won two majors, just personally.”

 

Jason Day, another prominent player, also highlighted the importance of major championships in his response. While acknowledging Scheffler’s remarkable achievements, Day noted his own aspirations to add more majors to his career. “I’m definitely not knocking Scottie’s year because it’s tremendous, it’s phenomenal. I think he is the Player of the Year right now. Even though Xander has won two majors, I would probably go more towards the majors just because I want to add more majors to my career.”

 

Justin Thomas, who has previously won two PGA Championships, echoed a similar sentiment. He acknowledged the impressive nature of Scheffler’s season but ultimately leaned toward the allure of multiple majors. “I’ve had this conversation with a couple of different group texts. It’s tough. I think it’s very situational of where you are in your career. For me personally, two majors sounds a lot cooler than one,” Thomas said. “But then again, winning six times, all of which were elevated events, The Players, and a gold medal sound nice, too. It might be better to answer that question if something happens in the next couple of weeks. Personally, I would — I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I would take Xander’s just because of two majors. But yeah, talk about a no-lose situation. Those are two pretty good ones.”

 

However, not all players shared the same perspective. Billy Horschel, who led at Royal Troon in July but did not win, took a more inclusive view. “Which season would I rather have? I’m going to be that guy and say I’ll take both of them because I don’t have a major. I don’t have a gold medal. I don’t have a Players Championship, so either one of them works for me,” Horschel said. He further explained, “It’s literally comparing apples to apples. Xander has got one more major than Scottie, but I consider The Players Championship a major. So Scottie has got two majors, Xander has got two majors, and Scottie has got a gold medal. They’ve had unbelievable years. They’re great players. They go about it I think a little bit differently but very similar. I respect guys out here who work really hard. I respect guys who are always checking all the boxes and trying to continuously just get better. They do that.”

 

Wyndham Clark, another player, shared a similar perspective to Horschel. Clark recognized the extraordinary nature of both players’ seasons but could not choose between them. “They both are so good,” Clark said. “It’s hard to argue with how good Scottie is playing right now and what he’s done this year. I know Xander has had an amazing year, and most years that’s the best year anyone will ever have, but Scottie is on a run that we haven’t seen since Tiger. I don’t know if that answers your question, but I would choose both of them if I could.”

 

Ultimately, the debate underscores a fundamental truth about professional golf: while numerous accomplishments and victories are noteworthy, major championships hold a unique and unparalleled significance. Both Schauffele and Scheffler have had phenomenal years, each achieving remarkable feats that contribute to their legacies. However, the preference for Schauffele’s season among many players highlights the enduring prestige and importance of winning majors in the sport of golf.