Between 2000 and 2001, Tiger Woods won 14 PGA Tour events. Scottie Scheffler has won 13 overall in the last two seasons. The comparisons were to come, obviously, yet these golf maestros leave no chance to praise each other, and get a reality check, too, sometimes.

“When he [Tiger] was in the field, he was a guy that would always give himself a chance to win, and there were very few spurts throughout his career when he wasn’t the best player in the world. I would say that’s one thing I admired about him,” Scheffler said of Woods when asked what he liked in the latter’s game in his prime at the HWC pre-tournament press conference. “He could hit many types of shots and worked extremely hard on his game. He was never complacent or satisfied with where he was with his game, and always kept working. I’ve admired that about him.”

Scheffler identified what set Tiger Woods apart. It wasn’t just peak performance—it was sustainability. That’s the trait Scheffler admires most. And the one he’s still chasing. The #1 has made it clear that he really doesn’t care about winning; Woods did. Scheffler’s priority is his family and faith. The stark confession came ahead of this year’s The Open when he dropped a truth bomb.

“What is the point? Why do I want to win this tournament so badly? That’s something that I wrestle with daily,” Scheffler said then.

The question followed Scheffler’s recent run, which drew inevitable parallels. Seven wins in 2024, including the Masters and Olympic gold. Six more in 2025, including the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. He’s accumulated 169 weeks at World No. 1 and holds a points gap over Rory McIlroy that nearly doubles the competition.

Golf analyst Justin Ray noted Scheffler led the Tour in scoring average for all four rounds in 2025—a feat only Woods accomplished in 2000 over the last 40 years. Trey Wingo pointed out that Scheffler’s 68.131 scoring average ranks fifth-best in PGA Tour history, but the four ahead of him are all Woods’ from different seasons.

The numbers suggest proximity. But the timeline tells a different story.

Woods didn’t just occupy the top spot. He stayed there. Between 1999 and 2010, there were only brief windows when Woods wasn’t the best player in the world. His 683 career weeks at No. 1 remain untouchable. His 264 consecutive weeks during the early 2000s redefined what dominance meant.

Woods rebuilt his swing after winning the 1997 Masters by 12 strokes because if the process was flawed, winning wasn’t enough. He introduced the era of the golf athlete—four-mile runs, Navy SEAL-inspired training, and practice sessions that lasted until sunset. He was never satisfied with where his game stood.

Just as Scheffler praised Woods’s relentless drive, Woods returned the compliment, highlighting crucial aspects of Scheffler’s game like his attitude and iron play.

“There is nothing that you can not like about Scottie. He is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. What he is doing on the course is incredible. The consistency day in and day out,” said the 82x Tour winner. “It’s truly amazing how thoughtful and how strategic he is throughout the entire round. He is there, present, for all 18 holes and all shots played, and that’s hard to do.”

“I truly love watching him hit irons. The shots that he hits, the trajectory and the window changes that he has. The distance control and miss in the proper spot. The proper spin to certain pin locations. These are subtle things that mean a lot over the course of 72 holes. That to me is impressive. If you don’t have trajectory control, then you can’t have distance control,” Woods said of Scheffler’s game. “To see him move it up and down in different windows and use wind, fight wind and control spin is fun to watch.”

Overall, a relentless work ethic, combined with sustained excellence over extended stretches, is what separated Woods from everyone else. It’s the trait Scheffler identified as aspirational. And it’s the standard he’s still chasing.

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Can Scottie Scheffler sustain what Tiger Woods made look inevitable?

Scheffler’s current reign spans 169 weeks at World No. 1. Impressive by modern standards. A fraction of Woods’ cumulative total. His approach is different but no less disciplined. He uses the GolfForever fitness system, a regimen focused on mobility and longevity rather than bulk. His practice sessions are structured and clinical—20 minutes on the range, 20 minutes putting, and precise chipping drills.

But discipline in preparation doesn’t guarantee longevity in dominance. David Duval reached No. 1 in 1999 and won the 2001 Open, only to plummet due to injuries and an existential crisis. Jason Day claimed the top spot in 2015 but couldn’t sustain it past chronic back issues.

Scheffler has the mechanics to avoid those pitfalls. His unorthodox footwork alleviates torque. His faith-based mental framework insulates him from the pressure that crushed previous No. 1s. His 2025 campaign—two majors after an exhausting 2024—suggests he has the stamina. But he doesn’t have the proof yet. Not over the extended stretches Woods made look inevitable.

Scheffler enters the Hero World Challenge as the two-time defending champion, chasing a three-peat in the tournament the host built. Woods, sidelined by back surgery, watches from the sidelines as Scheffler carries the torch.