Should Scottie Scheffler's historic 2024 have an asterisk next to it?

Scottie Scheffler is on top of the world of golf right now. He already has 5 victories on the PGA Tour this season and won the Masters. However, some might argue that his season should have an asterisk next to it. Are they right?

Should Scottie Scheffler's historic 2024 have an asterisk next to it?

Scheffler has been dominant this season. He already has 5 wins on the PGA Tour: the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players, The Masters, the RBC Heritage, and the Memorial. He has looked unbeatable at times during this stretch. It is made all the more remarkable by the fact that this is really a continuation of his success in 2022 and 2023.

There is an argument to be made that Scheffler's impressive display should come with at least a tiny asterisk next to it. This is not through any fault of his own, but due to the current fractured state of men's golf. With several of the world's best players joining LIV Golf, one might say that Scheffler has not faced the absolute stiffest competition on the PGA Tour.

This is not to suggest that Scheffler is beating a bunch of nobodies in PGA Tour events. He has had to stave off incredible players like Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa to win his titles. Plus, he won The Masters where he was competing against the best players from both tours.

If this schism in golf had never taken place and everything else remained the same, Scheffler very well could still have 5 wins this season. It is also possible that perhaps in just one of those weeks, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, or any number of LIV golfers might have edged him out.

For comparison, what if Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Vijay Singh had left the PGA Tour in 2000 or 2001 when Tiger Woods was enjoying his dominance? Would we judge Tiger's dominance from that period differently?

It is unfortunate that the greed of LIV players makes this even a question, but there will be some outside of Talor Gooch who may think Scheffler's success this season is slightly tainted.

No matter what one believes, nothing can change the fact that Scheffler is having an unbelievable season. He enters the U.S. Open as a clear favorite and can prove once again that he can beat the best players in the world no matter what tour they may play for.