ATLANTA — If in case you have an official USGA handicap, now you can match up your index in opposition to the perfect participant on the planet.
Forward of this week’s Tour Championship, by which he’ll start with a two-shot benefit, Scottie Scheffler revealed that he carries a plus-7 index, an eye-popping determine.
For these unaware of what which means, Scheffler has to present seven photographs again to the course on the seven best holes. So, as an example, if he’s enjoying the seventh-easiest handicapped gap on the scorecard—or quantity 12—and it’s a par-4, Scheffler has to make a 3 to submit a net-par. He basically has to shoot 7-under to shoot even-par.
That isn’t straightforward.
However Scheffler makes use of his handicap when enjoying together with his buddies, usually through the offseason or when he’s not within the thick of competing for main championships.
“I do love social golf. If I’m going to take a month off, if we’re not on trip, I’m in all probability nonetheless going to play a few times per week with my buddies as a result of it’s only a heck of plenty of enjoyable,” Scheffler mentioned.
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“I like being at house, and I like reducing up, and if I’m not likely in peak form, I’m certain my buddies are going to be calling me extra usually to play than when it’s through the yr, and I’m enjoying actually good, as a result of they’d arguably have a greater likelihood to beat me once I haven’t actually been practising.”
Only a few individuals have overwhelmed Scheffler all season on the PGA Tour, so his buddies haven’t selection however to strive to take action by the handicap system.
“I believe that’s one of many nice components about our sport,” Scheffler mentioned.
“I can go on the market with whoever it’s, and we are able to provide you with some type of honest match based mostly on the handicap system.”
Scheffler then revealed that his handicap went down, due to his six PGA Tour victories and gold medal triumph on the Olympics this season.
“I was a plus-5. They moved me to a plus-7,” Scheffler mentioned.
“So now we’ve acquired guys within the group getting like two strokes a gap. I usually nonetheless win as a rule, I really feel like, however it’s simply enjoyable. It’s simply entertaining. Should you’re going on the market with a 12 or 13 handicap, you don’t know what the heck goes to occur.”
Which means Scheffler has to present that 12 or 13 handicapper 20 strokes, one thing no golfer ever needs to do.
However that solely fuels Scheffler’s aggressive fireplace on the course.
“I don’t need to be giving him cash on the finish of the day, whether or not it’s $5 or $500,” Scheffler mentioned.
“I don’t need to take out my pockets and hand him cash on the finish of the day. That’s simply not in my blood. I need to win, whether or not we’re enjoying ping-pong or no matter it’s. Regardless of the format, I’m going to point out up and try to do my greatest. That’s actually all it’s.”
No surprise why he’s the perfect participant on the planet.
And but, in some sense, you’ll be able to relate to Scheffler by the handicap system. No, chances are high you’ll by no means attain a preposterous plus-7 handicap. However you’ll be able to measure your self up in opposition to him. It’s not like you’ll be able to examine your self to Michael Jordan or LeBron James on the basketball court docket. But, in golf, you’ll be able to examine your self to the perfect participant on the planet. Everybody can play in every single place, regardless of the talent set, one more reason why so many individuals love this lovely sport.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
