Winning is Really, Really Hard. For Scottie Scheffler, Water is Finding Its Level

Winning on the PGA TOUR is hard. Really, really hard. But over the last few years, Scottie Scheffler made it look like a walk in the park.

However, 2026 has been a different story.

When he won the American Express in his first start of the season, it looked like we were in for another year of Scheffler domination. After seven wins in 2024—plus the Olympic Gold Medal and Hero World Challenge—and another six in ‘25, it felt like the World No. 1 might flirt with double digits in 2026.

To be fair, not much would have had to change for that to be the reality.

He finished third at the WM Phoenix Open, fourth at Pebble Beach, a shot back of Rory McIlroy at the Masters, he lost in a playoff to Matt Fitzpatrick at the RBC Heritage, he was second behind Cameron Young at the Cadillac Championship—he lost by six, so not exactly a close call—third at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, he was in the final group at Shinnecock Hills for the U.S. Open, and a week later, lost to Viktor Hovland in a Monday morning playoff at the Travelers Championship.

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A few things go his way, just as we saw so often in 2024 and 2025, and Scheffler would already be sitting on five-six wins. But like I said, winning on TOUR is tough to do, and water seems to be finding its level for the World No. 1.

At the same time, what he said following his playoff loss to Hovland might put a good scare in the rest of the TOUR.

“Ball striking is definitely in a good spot,” Scheffler said at TPC River Highlands Monday morning. “That was some of the best I hit it all season…I did some really nice things this week, which I'll use that momentum going into the rest of the season.”

The Texan will spend a week at home before heading across the pond for the Genesis Scottish Open and the final major championship of the year, a tournament where he’ll return the Claret Jug to the R&A at Royal Birkdale.

With his game finally showing shades of the Scheffler we’ve come to know and love over the last few seasons, and some big events left on the calendar, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him finish the year with four or five wins.

We’ll have to wait and see if he can overcome the tide.