Scottie Scheffler won The Open Championship at Royal Portrush last weekend, which has once again seen the world No. 1 compared to arguably golf’s greatest players in Tiger Woods

Scottie Scheffler has been compared to Tiger Woods(Image: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Scottie Scheffler may have played down his comparisons to the great Tiger Woods after his Open Championship win, however the record books could well prove him wrong.

Scheffler added major championship No. 4 to his record last weekend, after cruising to victory at Royal Portrush by shots. It continued the world No. 1’s dominance of men’s professional golf in recent years, with the Texan putting himself levels above his competitors.

Not for the first time, his win saw him compared to Woods, who has won 15 major titles and 82 PGA Tour crowns during his career. Scheffler has been quick to put down the idea, labeling the comparisons as “silly” last weekend.

“I still think they’re a bit silly,” Scheffler told reporters in Northern Ireland on Sunday. “Tiger won, what, 15 majors? This is my fourth. I just got one-fourth of the way there. I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf. He was inspirational for me growing up.

“He was a very, very talented guy, and he was a special person to be able to be as good as he was at the game of golf. I don’t focus on that kind of stuff… That’s not what motivates me. I’m not motivated by winning championships.

“I don’t look at the beginning of the year and just say, hey, I want to win X amount of tournaments, I want to win whatever it is.

“I don’t do that. I have dreams and aspirations that I think about, but at the end of the day, when I wake up to practise, I feel like what motivates me is just getting out and getting to live out my dream.

Scottie Scheffler won his first Claret Jug(Image: Phil Harris)

“I get to play professional golf, and I feel like I’m called to do it to the best of my ability.” Scheffler’s modest approach may be the best one to take, with the PGA Tour star still a long way off matching the numbers that would see him replicate a career like Woods’.

If recent years are anything to go by, though, it could well be a possibility if he continues on his current run. Per Golf Digest, Scheffler’s major championship win ratio betters that of Woods, whose career win percentage in the majors stands at 15.79 percent.

Scheffler’s meanwhile is a tad better, with the number standing at 16 percent following his Open win. His stay in Portrush was not the first time the Open champion had batted off the claims.

“Anytime you can be compared to Tiger, I think it’s really special, but I mean, the guy stands alone, I think, in our game. He really does,” he said after winning The Players last year.

“We all idolise Tiger. He’s been our guy. Watching what he did in special moments over the years is crazy to watch. I’ve learned a lot just from being around him. We’re just very thankful that he’s still a part of our sport.”