Scottie Scheffler had a phenomenal season 2024 – seven wins, including at Masters Tournament, Paris Olympics and Tour Championship. And the first victory came to Arnold Palmer Invitational in March last year.
He enters the tournament at Bay Hill Club and Lodge this week in the suburb of Orlando as the defending champion. After a hand injury delayed its season start until AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at the end of January, Scheffler has appeared in three events, with two top-10 finish.
So when he was asked Wednesday if he needed a start of his season, the world was deceiving the No. 1 player to a large extent.
“No. I’m here, am I not? Do you know what I mean? It’s always nice to play well, and I try to go away from good rounds and good tournaments, and there is no better speed than you can have than to be able to show tied for the lead on Sunday and have a good round and kind of putting away the tournament and being able to coast down the last few Hollen. “Do I feel that I need a jump start? No. Would I like to have one? Definitely. Yes, why not.”
Scheffler has been free since February 16, when he shot one last round 66 to finish in a T3 on Genesis Invitational.
Now Scheffler said that, despite the shorter prep time because of the injury, he is ready to go for the season.
“I would say I feel caught,” the 28-year-old said. “It was a really nice load couple week in Had at home to get ready for this week. It was, not rushed to start pebble, but it was defitely quicker than my offseason prep usually is, just by nature of the injury. So have a couple week at home Where I Can Continue to Work Out, Continue to Work on My Body and Get Ready to Come Back Out and Play, It was defitely very helpful to have a couple week at home, for Sure. “
At Arnold Palmer last year, Scheffler finished at 15 under 273, five strokes before Wyndham Clark. Scheffler started the fourth round tied with Ireland’s Shane Lowry, but Schefflers 66 left him alone on top and Lowry in third place after shooting a 72.
Scheffler also won at Bay Hill in 2022, and he said he is looking forward to the challenge the course holds.
“I feel that if I’m in a good place with my game,” he said. “If my swing feels good, I should have a decent chance of winning the tournament. There are some golf courses that I love to compete with their history – it’s one of them. I’m definitely excited for this week. I’m happy to try to deal with this golf course again this year. It is usually one of the most brutal tests we see all year.
“And this one’s funny because I feel like if you came here and played a month later and the rough was shorter and the greens were soft it would feel like an easy golf course. But with the way they set it up for this tor Difference on this course Between Normal Play and the Way We Play It. So it’s just an interesting place to play and it Challenges US in a variety of way for Sure. “
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