Scottie Scheffler won twice on the PGA Tour in 2023: the Phoenix Open and Players Championship. Neither was a major.
Jon Rahm won four times, including the year’s biggest prize of all: a green jacket at the Masters.
Four including a major clearly beats two without a major, right?
Wrong.
Scheffler laughably won.
In December, Scheffler was on the campaign trail, suggesting Rahm may have peaked too early:
“If [Rahm] finished off the year that way, it probably wouldn’t even be a discussion,” Scheffler said at the Hero World Challenge. “But since it was six, seven months ago, eight months ago, whatever it is, people aren’t thinking about it as much, but he was pretty unstoppable to start the year.”
Mind you, Scheffler won his two titles in February and March. And won nothing the rest of the year.
Additionally, in 2022, Scheffler won his first Player of the Year award after a season where, like Rahm, he won four times including a Masters title. Also, like Rahm, all four of his victories occurred in the spring, capped off by a major at Augusta. Can’t recall anyone saying he peaked too early.
In 2019, Rory McIlroy was controversially named the tour’s Player of the Year despite Brooks Koepka‘s historic major championship season of 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 4th. He added two other regular PGA Tour titles.
After the absurdity of Rory’s win, GOLF’s Michael Bamberger wrote: “My own take on these matters is this: Whose year would you most want to have? That’s where my vote goes… Brooks would say Brooks. Rory would say Brooks.”
Ask Scheffler. Would he trade two wins for four wins PLUS a second green jacket? Duh! Of course, he would. Golf history measures one thing and one thing only: majors.
Scottie Scheffler wins PGA Tour Player of the Year & was asked if he'd rather have his year or Jon Rahm's year instead. A verbal tap dance ensues.
Rahm had 4 wins including the Masters vs Scheffler who had 2 wins and no major in 2023. pic.twitter.com/fexYp4G5VT— Chris McKee (@mrmckee) January 4, 2024
So, what really happened? Well, Rahm joined the LIV Golf league.
By the Numbers
Starts: Rahm (20), Scheffler (23)
Wins: Rahm (4), Scheffler (2)
Win Pctg: Rahm (20%), Scheffler (8%)
Major Wins: Rahm (1), Scheffler (0)
Major Top 10s: Rahm (3), Scheffler (3)
