Golf Showdown: Who Truly Dominates the 2024 Season – Scottie Scheffler or Xander Schauffele?

Xander Schauffele made history for American golf by clinching his first Claret Jug at Royal Troon, marking the first time in 42 years that all majors were won by Americans. Schauffele triumphed in the PGA Championship and the 152nd Open, becoming the first player in the last decade to win both in the same season, a feat last achieved by Rory McIlroy in 2014. His rapid ascent has sparked debate among golf fans: Who had the better season, Schauffele or world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler?

The NUCLR Golf poll on X (formerly Twitter) asked fans who they thought had the superior season. Surprisingly, many golf enthusiasts favored Schauffele over Scheffler, despite Scheffler’s impressive resume, which includes six wins in 2024, such as the Masters, four signature events, and the PLAYERS Championship.

🚨🏆🏌🏻‍♂️ #DISCUSSION: What player has had the better season so far — Scottie Scheffler or Xander Schauffele? pic.twitter.com/TsMugAfYvC

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 21, 2024

Netizens favor Xander Schauffele over Scottie Scheffler

A tweet from a fan encapsulated the sentiment: “Scheffler has had a statistically better year, but Xander is the PGA POTY by winning TWO majors, was top 8 the other 2 & also was runner up to Scottie Scheffler at the Players.” Schauffele’s two major victories and other top finishes seem to overshadow Scheffler’s multiple wins outside the majors.

Schauffele’s supporters argue that in golf, majors hold more weight when assessing a player’s legacy. This is why legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are revered, with majors often defining their careers. Schauffele’s two majors in 2024 compared to Scheffler’s one have swayed many fans in his favor.

However, the debate is far from settled. With the FedExCup playoffs on the horizon, consisting of three elevated events culminating in the TOUR Championship, the ultimate showdown will determine who truly had the better season. One fan remarked, “Scottie. Major plus Players plus four signature wins. It’s close…the FedEx playoffs will decide it.”

As the playoffs approach, both Scheffler and Schauffele have their eyes on the prize. A fan pointed out that if Scheffler wins all three FedExCup events, his season could surpass Schauffele’s: “Right now, Xander. If Scottie wins the 3 FEDEX events, then him.”

With only a few weeks left before the FedExCup playoffs, the golf world eagerly awaits the final verdict on who will emerge as the true champion of the 2024 season. Will it be the consistent world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, or the major-winning phenom, Xander Schauffele?