Scottie Scheffler’s Dominance at the Memorial Sparks Controversial Praise From Jack Nicklaus
Scottie Scheffler’s victory at the 2025 Memorial Tournament was met with applause from many—especially golf legend Jack Nicklaus. Known for his admiration of Scheffler, Nicklaus has often drawn comparisons between himself and the current world No. 1, particularly regarding their similar strokeplay styles. In his prime, Nicklaus mastered fade shots, and now Scheffler is making headlines with the same technique. After winning the Memorial for the second time, Nicklaus heaped praise on Scheffler—but his comments came with some criticism of the other top finishers.
“Ben Griffin’s a nice player, Sepp Straka is a nice player, Nick Taylor is a nice player … [Scottie Scheffler] knows those guys are not in his league.”
Jack Nicklaus did not hold back. pic.twitter.com/jgZbeNJU74
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) June 2, 2025
Scheffler clinched the win with a four-stroke lead over Ben Griffin, Sepp Straka, and Nick Taylor. During a discussion about the final leaderboard, Nicklaus stated that while Griffin, Straka, and Taylor are “nice players,” they don’t match the elite level of Scheffler. He went on to suggest that if someone like Xander Schauffele had been in contention, Scheffler might have faced a more serious challenge. But in this case, Nicklaus felt Scheffler didn’t need to push himself as hard to secure the win.
This clear distinction between top-tier players and those Nicklaus deemed less competitive struck a nerve with many fans. Some perceived the remarks as dismissive and disrespectful to Griffin, Straka, and Taylor, who have each delivered strong performances this season. Griffin, for instance, drained a 12-foot eagle putt on the 15th hole and followed it with a 28-foot birdie on the 16th, finishing just behind Scheffler. His recent track record includes a T8 finish at the PGA Championship—further evidence that he’s not just a “nice player,” but a real competitor.
Nicklaus’ comments triggered strong reactions from fans and golf watchers online. Some laughed off the remarks, attributing them to the bluntness of age. One comment humorously noted, “Old people just seem to lose their filter.” Others felt Nicklaus was simply voicing what many insiders believe but wouldn’t say aloud, referring to it as “saying the quiet part out loud.”
Not everyone agreed with Nicklaus’ perspective. Many stood up for Sepp Straka in particular, highlighting his two victories this season and top-10 finishes. One fan emphasized that Straka had outplayed major stars like Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, proving his elite status. Meanwhile, others speculated that Nicklaus intentionally avoided mentioning McIlroy, possibly because the Irishman skipped the Memorial to play in the RBC Canadian Open.
The reaction wasn’t entirely negative—some people acknowledged that Nicklaus was simply being honest about the competitive landscape. However, many felt the remarks lacked the grace expected from someone of his stature. One fan expressed disappointment by stating, “For a guy who made a career being mostly all class, this stinks. Needlessly belittling guys that are really damn good.”
Overall, while Jack Nicklaus’ admiration for Scottie Scheffler is widely understood, the way he framed his opinion—by downplaying the efforts of Griffin, Straka, and Taylor—sparked a wider debate about how golfing legends should talk about today’s rising stars.