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