“Relentless”: How Scottie Scheffler’s Calm Focus Made Him a Back-to-Back Memorial Champion
Sepp Straka summed it up best after finishing third at the 2025 Memorial Tournament: “The guy’s relentless.” That guy was Scottie Scheffler, who claimed his third victory in four PGA Tour starts, walking away with a $4 million payday from the $20 million Signature Event hosted at Muirfield Village. Coming off a strong showing at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he finished tied for 4th, Scheffler once again proved why he’s the world number one.
Scheffler’s dominant run has fans and experts drawing comparisons to golfing legends like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. In 2024 alone, he captured seven PGA Tour titles, including The Masters, The Players, the Tour Championship, and four Signature Events. With his recent win at The Memorial, he joined elite company, becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back titles at the tournament. He shot 10-under 278 across 72 holes, a performance that wore down the field with clinical precision and consistency.
Back-to-back at Jack’s Place 🏆🏆
Scottie Scheffler joins @TigerWoods as the only consecutive winners @MemorialGolf. pic.twitter.com/YE1plAMl4O
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 1, 2025
<strong>The Power of Presence: Scheffler’s Mental Game</strong>
Scheffler’s success isn’t just physical—his mental discipline plays a huge role. After a slow start to 2025, his season turned around with a win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, followed by the PGA Championship. Much of his strength lies in a lesson he learned back in college, thanks to his coach, John Fields. Scheffler recalled how he used to get distracted during practice, often preoccupied with trying to impress his now-wife, Meredith. That’s when Coach Fields advised him to be fully present in everything—whether at the golf course, in class, or in his social life.
That advice shaped Scheffler’s career. He now emphasizes mindfulness and being present, knowing that distractions can sabotage both focus and joy. “If I’m at the golf course thinking about being at home, I’m probably not going to be focused in my practice,” Scheffler shared. The same goes for family time—being mentally elsewhere would rob him of those precious moments. His ability to stay grounded and present is a major factor behind his continued success.
<strong>Patience as a Weapon</strong>
Scheffler also credits patience for helping him rise to the top. Golf isn’t a sport where brute force guarantees results. As he puts it, “You can will yourself to hit and execute the right way, but you can’t force the ball to go into the hole.” That understanding has matured over time, and it showed at The Memorial.
After a steady start with back-to-back rounds of 70, Scheffler made his move with a bogey-free 68 in the third round, overtaking Ben Griffin, who had lit up the leaderboard with a 65 in the opening round. Heading into the final day with just a one-stroke lead, Scheffler’s calm approach and ability to recover—despite a rare bogey on the 10th—helped him seal the deal with two late birdies.
Jordan Spieth perhaps described it best: “He loves competition, and he doesn’t like giving up shots.” Scheffler’s ability to stay composed, grind through tough holes, and execute when it matters has made him nearly untouchable.
<strong>The Verdict: Next Tiger or a New Legend?</strong>
With 16 career wins and counting, including majors and Signature Events, the debate is heating up—is Scottie Scheffler the next Tiger Woods? Some say it’s too soon to tell, while others argue he’s carving his own legacy with a uniquely calm and mindful approach. What’s certain is that Scheffler’s rise is no fluke—he’s earned every bit of it through discipline, presence, and unshakable patience.