Golf's new world number one Scheffler doesn't want anything to change

Scottie Scheffler hadn't won a title two months ago, but the American will arrive at the Masters as world number one and the planet's hottest golfer.

Scheffler leaped from fifth to first in the rankings by winning last week's WGC Match Play Championship, completing a meteoric rise from outside the top 20 last November.

"It has been kind of a crazy past few months," said Scheffler, who has been propelled to the top by three tournament victories. "Guess I'm making up for a little bit of lost time maybe the last few weeks.

"I don't feel like number one in the world. I feel like the same guy I was four months ago and I hope that doesn't change."

Scheffler won his first PGA title in February at the Phoenix Open, took his second last month at Bay Hill and took the match play in Texas after being runner-up a year earlier.

"He has been playing great golf for a long time," said Spain's Jon Rahm, who was dethroned from the top spot.

"Sometimes you just need to get it done. He was very close many times. You can see what happens when he gets it done once, right? You get a little bit of confidence and the ball gets rolling, you can get a few.

"Does he have the ability to win a major? Yes. Yes, he does."

Tiger Woods had been the fastest to go from his first PGA title to the rankings summit, needing 252 days. Scheffler did it in 42 days and now expectations grow for a first major triumph, maybe even a green jacket.

"I don't place too many expectations on myself. I just like being out here and competing," Scheffler said. "I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to do that and I look forward to doing it as long as I can."

Scheffler's dreams were of a golf career more than topping the list.

"I wanted to be a professional golfer. That's what I dreamed