Scheffler reigns supreme, Tiger caution required, magical McIlroy: Masters talking points

Until the Masters, Scottie Scheffler had never contested a tournament as the No 1-ranked player in the world. In fact, he had not sat at the summit until a couple of weeks ago. Look back a little further, and the American had not even won on the PGA Tour until February. Now he has four wins (in six starts), the most recent being a major. For many, the major. Still, Scheffler came into Augusta National with questions surrounding his world No 1 status, with some suggesting he was not quite as talented as a collection of his peers. Then he went and defeated the entire field . Scheffler’s three-stroke victory was sublime, his Sunday coronation built upon a stellar short game and serious mettle. That he revealed afterwards how he “cried like a baby” all morning as doubts gnawed about his ability to get over the line in arguably the game's greatest tournament and then oozed inner-calm to post a 71, in full glare of the spotlight, says everything. OK, Scheffler may not be a Tiger Woods, or a Rory McIlroy, or a Jon Rahm or Dustin Johnson, with the obvious repertoire and reputation that goes with being world No 1. But, still only 25, he’s undeniably the best player in the world right now. The story for the majority of last week, until Scheffler surged, was undoubtedly Tiger Woods. That the 15-time major champion was competing for the first time in almost a year and a half, and not even 14 months after a car accident that could’ve claimed his life , was astonishing in itself. Although, admittedly with Woods, the realms of the remarkable are tempered. In the end, the American could not add to his five Green Jackets – no great surprise all considered, of course – and, after an incredible opening-round 71 , he fired successive 78s on the weekend to finish 13-over par and in solo 47th. As the tournament progressed, the sight of Woods limping more noticeably became increasingly apparent, with the former world No 1 understandably looking both physically and emotionally exhausted by the time his post-round media commitments were complete. But, typically, there was hope there, too. “We’re excited about the prospects of the future,” said Woods as he turned attention to continuing his rehabilitation from the crash that almost claimed his right leg. He could not commit to the next two majors, but confirmed he would certainly tee it up at the Open Championship in July , all being well. Just to get through Masters week was a feat in itself. That said, there remains a long way back to where Woods wants to be. While a Sunday charge from Rory McIlroy felt always in the offing - given his talent and his form for that - the manner of the display was still staggering. The Northern Irishman’s 8-under 64 represented the lowest final round in Masters history, catapulting him to a runner-up finish – his best performance at Augusta National in 14 attempts. The chip-in on 10, the eagle on 13, the bewildering bunker shot holed on the last: no one other than Woods quite moves the needle like McIlroy in full flow. However, the truth is he never really contended following Thursday-Friday rounds of 73. The four-time major champion’s wait for the Green Jacket, and the completion of the career Grand Slam, rumbles on. Clearly, he needs to find the formula to play with similar freedom for all four rounds; since he won his most recent major in 2014, McIlroy is 35-over for the opening day of golf’s four marquee events and 68-under for the rest of the week. The hope will be that McIlroy takes considerable encouragement from Sunday, when he admitted: “I'm getting the hang of this place after 14 years of trying." For sure, it augurs well, as much for the rest of the season as next year's Masters, but time will tell. Not long after his hugely disappointing final round on Sunday, Cameron Smith boldly declared to US network CBS that he would win a Masters at some point in his rapidly-developing career. The Australian, 28, went out in the final pairing alongside Scheffler and, after birdieing the opening two holes, had cut his playing partner’s lead to one. Although a bogey at the third hurt, Smith picked up another shot brilliantly on the ultra-difficult 11th before his tee shot - and his title challenge - found the water on 12 and he eventually triple-bogeyed. Unsurprisingly rattled, Smith dropped more shots on 13 and 14, but to his immense credit, finished birdie-birdie-par-par for a gutsy 73 and a tie for third. It goes with his T2 at Augusta National in 2020, and the T5 in 2018. What’s different to those displays, though, is Smith now feels a legitimate contender for the Green Jacket. And the game’s other top prizes, too. After two wins in six starts, including his scintillating showing at last month's Players Championship , he's climbed to world No 5, a career high. His iron play and putting are the foundations to his recent success, while the past month has confirmed also a red-hot competitive streak. Scheffler aside, no one has claimed more world ranking points that Smith in 2022. His place among the elite seems fully justified.

Scheffler reigns supreme, Tiger caution required, magical McIlroy: Masters talking points

A look at some of the standout storylines from season's first major at Augusta National