The Open: Scottie Scheffler Plays Down Tiger Woods Comparisons After Sealing Fourth Major Win

Scottie Scheffler believes comparisons between himself and Tiger Woods are "silly", despite his commanding success at The Open edging him closer to a career grand slam.

Having entered Sunday's final round at Royal Portrush with a four-shot lead, Scheffler carded a three-under 68 to fend off a late charge from Harris English.

A double bogey at the eighth was the only misstep from Scheffler, who posted five birdies with four of them coming down the front nine, triumphing by four shots at 17 under.

The world number one is now up to four major successes, having also won the PGA Championship earlier this year to add to his Masters victories in 2022 and 2024.

He is only the fourth man to win the Masters, the PGA Championship and The Open before turning 30, after Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

At his post-tournament press conference, Scheffler was informed that his fourth major win came 1,197 days after his first – the exact amount of time that passed between Woods' first and fourth victories, at the Masters in 1997 and The Open in 2000. 

But Scheffler knows he has a long way to go to match Woods' achievements, with the American winning 15 major titles, second only to Nicklaus' 18.

"I still think they're a bit silly. Tiger won, what, 15 majors? This is my fourth. I just got one-fourth of the way there!" Scheffler told reporters.

"I think Tiger stands alone. He was inspirational for me growing up. He is a very, very talented guy, and he was a special person to be as good as he was.

"I don't focus on that kind of stuff. That's not what motivates me. I'm not motivated by winning championships. I don't look at the beginning of the year and say, 'Hey, I want to win X amount of tournaments.'

"I don't do that. I have dreams and aspirations that I think about, but at the end of the day, when I wake up to practice, what motivates me is just getting out and getting to live out my dream. 

"I get to play professional golf, and I feel like I'm called to do it to the best of my ability.

"When I wake up in the morning, I try and put max effort into each day I get to go out and practice. When I'm working out, when I'm doing the cold tub, doing recovery, I feel like I'm just called to do it to the best of my ability.

"Outside of that, I don't place much emphasis on winning tournaments. I don't place much emphasis on things that I can accomplish. It's just mostly about putting in the proper work and coming out here and competing."

Next year, Scheffler will get the opportunity to become just the seventh player to win a career grand slam at the U.S. Open.

Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Player, Nicklaus and Woods had previously accomplished the feat, and Rory McIlroy joined the exclusive club when he triumphed at Augusta National in April.

Asked if he had given any thought to that, Scheffler said: "No, I just got off the golf course a few minutes ago. 

"That's one of those funny things that I think, since Rory accomplished that this year, it's in the front of everybody's mind.

"It is such an historic accomplishment in the game of golf. What a tremendous thing for Rory to be able to accomplish. To win all four major championships is pretty dang special. It's a career achievement, for sure.

"Like I said, I don't focus too much on that stuff. When this season ends after the Ryder Cup, I'll get home, and I'll assess where my game's at and things I can improve on and then go from there. 

"I don't think about winning tournaments. I just look at the body of work I have and just think about ways to improve."