Scottie Scheffler happier with preparation ahead of Masters defence

Scottie Scheffler believes he is fully ready for a tournament for the first time this season as he bids for a third Masters title in four years.

Scheffler showed visible signs of frustration with his performance as he finished 20th last month in the Players Championship, one of nine titles he won in an incredible 2024 campaign.

However, the world number one responded with rounds of 62 and 63 as he finished runner-up in the Houston Open on his last competitive start before he tries to become only the fourth player after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters titles.

Scheffler, who missed the start of the season due to surgery on a hand injury suffered while preparing Christmas dinner, said: “I would say that I feel very prepared for this golf tournament. This is definitely the most prepared that I’ve felt all year.

“I talked a lot about my preparation and stepping up on the tee at Pebble [Beach] feeling like I wasn’t exactly where I was when I ended the year just because I had taken so much time off.

“This year coming off an injury was definitely a different feeling than I’ve had in the last few years.

“But as far as preparedness goes, this is definitely as prepared as I’ve felt going into any event this year and I’m excited to get the tournament going.”

Despite such excitement, Scheffler was also keen to stress that his status as defending champion does not give him any tangible advantage over the rest of the 95-strong field at Augusta National.

“I mean, at the end of the day, when I tee it up on Thursday, I start the tournament even par just like everybody else,” he added.

“Last year doesn’t have a lot to do with this year, outside of I can go back on some of the experience that I’ve had