WYNDHAM CLARK ON SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: “NEVER WANT TO WISH ILL ON ANYBODY, BUT…”

Wyndham Clark says it would be ‘borderline unfair’ if Scottie Scheffler starts putting really good after his latest PGA Tour triumph.

Wyndham Clark on Scottie Scheffler: “Never want to wish ill on anybody, but…”

Wyndham Clark says he doesn’t ‘wish ill on anyone’ but it would be ‘borderline unfair’ if Scottie Scheffler really turned it on with the putter.

World number one Scheffler sent an ominous message to his PGA Tour rivals ahead of the Players Championship and the major season.

Scheffler’s victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational was the American’s seventh win since his breakout victory in Phoenix two years ago.

In the time that has elapsed the now 27-year-old has added a green jacket to his wardrobe and pocketed nearly $50,000,000 in prize money.

Tiger Woods comparisons have been made repeatedly given Scheffler’s ability to keep hitting fairways and greens with alarming regularity.

For example, Scheffler’s margin of victory last weekend was the largest ever since Woods won at Bay Hill in 2012.

It hasn’t all been rosy for Scheffler, though. He endured a miserable Ryder Cup and in recent months has been off the boil with his putter.

The Players Championship prize money, payout information
The Players Championship prize money, payout information
“There had been a lot of chatter about my game,” a delighted Scheffler said in his news conference on Sunday night.

“So it was nice to come in here with a good mental attitude and perform well under pressure.”

He was referring to the fact that his putting has been, for lack of a better term, simply atrocious.

“It’s not like I’ve been a bad putter my whole career,” Scheffler added. “I’ve just gone through a stretch where it’s been tough.”

It could be argued Scheffler has turned a corner. His final round at Bay Hill saw him have 16 putts from inside 10 feet. He drained them all.

And the aforementioned Clark had a few things to say after watching Scheffler’s clinic.

“It would be borderline unfair if he starts putting really good,” Clark told reporters.

“I never want to wish ill on anybody, but if he starts putting positive each week it’s going to be really hard to beat.

“But that’s good. It’s just going to push me to get better in my will ball striking and every part of the game.

“He’s kind of the barometer right now and I’ve got a lot of room to catch up and get better.”

Rory McIlroy offered a similar view of Scheffler after his angry week at Bay Hill.

As far as McIlroy is concerned, Scheffler’s consistency is ‘incredible’ and he’s ‘on another level’.

McIlroy said it was ‘a shame’ that the protracted schism at the top of the men’s game with LIV has detracted from Scheffler’s achievements.

“I’d say if we were in a different place in the world of golf, Scottie’s golf would probably be getting a lot more applause and praise,” he said.