2022 Charles Schwab Challenge: Top 10 power rankings at Colonial
Unless Scottie Scheffler was planning to morph into 2000s-era Tiger Woods, his magical run had to come to an end at some point.
The world No. 1 missed the cut at last week’s PGA Championship. I’m here to tell you the sky is far from falling for him.
For one, Scheffler drew the short end of the stick weather wise being in the late/early wave of tee times that averaged nearly two strokes more over the first two rounds.
Those two shots were costly as that was the difference between him playing the weekend.
It ended a streak of 12 made cuts in a row dating back to October. In that span, he went from one of the best players on the PGA Tour without a win to having four of them, including a green jacket.
It’s feasible Scheffler arrived at Southern Hills running on fumes. He didn’t quite look himself despite grinding out a T-15th finish a week prior at the AT&T Byron Nelson.
It may be in his best interest to rest this week, but at 25 he’s still plenty spry. Not to mention, the Dallas native would hate to miss an event in his home metro.
Scheffler fired three rounds in the 60s en route to T-55th in his Charles Schwab Challenge debut in 2020. Scores of 70-73 led to an MC by two last year.
His course management and overall game have always been solid.
It’s gone to another level this season, which leads me to believe the big hitter will be better equipped to handle a tactician’s course like Colonial.
Scheffler ranks 12th on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained (1.467). He’s lauded for wielding all 14 clubs in the bag with success. He’s gaining strokes in every category and is 32nd or better everywhere except off the tee.
While he can’t flex his distance as much this week (19th, 311.1), Scheffler will still find opportunities to strike and rack up birdies as he’s prone. Scheffler is third in birdie average at 4.96 per round.
Having last weekend off was absolutely not in the plan. On the bright side, two fewer days on a windswept Southern Hills can only help him be ready to go this week in Fort Worth.