It seemed like he might never break through with a victory on the PGA Tour, but although Scottie Scheffler had trouble finding the winner’s circle for the first few years of his career, the former University of Texas star was building a sound portfolio of high finishes along the way.
When he did finally get that elusive first Tour victory — at the WM Phoenix Open in February — it didn’t take long for Scheffler to catapult all the way to the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking. In fact, it was only 42 days.
With Scheffler’s victory on Sunday at Austin Country Club, he is expected to leapfrog Jon Rahm to become No. 1 in the world, becoming the 25th player ever to reach that position since it started in 1986. He’ll be the sixth-youngest player to reach the pinnacle, behind Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Rahm.
Here’s a look at Scheffler’s progression from Dallas-area phenom to PGA Tour star.
Scottie Scheffler 2013 U. S. Amateur
The current U. S. Junior Amateur champion, Scottie Scheffler signals his ball left at No. 13,…
The current U. S. Junior Amateur champion, Scottie Scheffler signals his ball left at No. 13, during the Round of 64 at the 2013 U. S. Amateur at The Country Club.
2017 U.S. Open
Scottie Scheffler chips onto the green on the third hole during a practice round ahead of the…
Scottie Scheffler chips onto the green on the third hole during a practice round ahead of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Jeff Haynes)
U.S. Open – Round One
HARTFORD, WI – JUNE 15: Amateur Scottie Scheffler of the United States reacts after making par…
HARTFORD, WI – JUNE 15: Amateur Scottie Scheffler of the United States reacts after making par on the sixth green during the first round of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills on June 15, 2017 in Hartford, Wisconsin. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
U.S. Open – Round Two
HARTFORD, WI – JUNE 16: Amateur Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays his shot from…
HARTFORD, WI – JUNE 16: Amateur Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays his shot from the 13th tee during the second round of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills on June 16, 2017 in Hartford, Wisconsin. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
2017 Walker Cup – Day 2
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: (top then bottom row left to right) Team captain John…
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: (top then bottom row left to right) Team captain John “Spider” Miller, Maverick McNealy, Will Zalatoris, Stewart Hagestad, Norman Xiong, Cameron Champ, Braden Thornberry, Doc Redman, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, and Doug Ghim pose with the Walker Cup Trophy after defeating the Great Britain and Ireland Team 19-7 at the 2017 Walker Cup on September 10, 2017 at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Evans Scholars Invitational – Final Round
GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS – MAY 26: Scottie Scheffler poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the Evans…
GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS – MAY 26: Scottie Scheffler poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the Evans Scholar Invitational at the Glen Club on May 26, 2019 in Glenview, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship – Final Round
COLUMBUS, OHIO – AUGUST 18: Scottie Scheffler poses with the trophy after winning the final round…
COLUMBUS, OHIO – AUGUST 18: Scottie Scheffler poses with the trophy after winning the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship at The Ohio State University Golf Club Scarlet Course on August 18, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
PGA: AT&T Byron Nelson – Second Round
May 10, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; Scottie Scheffler and Tony Romo and Dylan Frittelli shake hands…
May 10, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; Scottie Scheffler and Tony Romo and Dylan Frittelli shake hands on the ninth green after completing their second round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament at Trinity Forest Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Bermuda Championship – Round One
Scottie Scheffler walks on the eighth green during the first round of the Bermuda Championship at…
Scottie Scheffler walks on the eighth green during the first round of the Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on October 31, 2019 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Golden Ray
Scottie Scheffler warms up on the range as the capsized Golden Ray cargo ship is seen…
Scottie Scheffler warms up on the range as the capsized Golden Ray cargo ship is seen in the background during the first round of the 2019 RSM Classic on the Plantation course at Sea Island Golf Club in St Simons Island, Georgia. Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
PGA: Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard – Second Round
Scottie Scheffler hits a bunker shot onto the 17th green during the second round of the…
Scottie Scheffler hits a bunker shot onto the 17th green during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
PGA: PGA Championship – Third Round
Aug 8, 2020; San Francisco, California, USA; Scottie Scheffler catches his ball tossed to him by…
Aug 8, 2020; San Francisco, California, USA; Scottie Scheffler catches his ball tossed to him by his caddie Scotty Macguiness (Not Pictured) on the 18th green during the third round of the 2020 PGA Championship golf tournament at TPC Harding Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Northern Trust
Scottie Scheffler reacts on the 18th green after shooting a 59 during the second round of…
Scottie Scheffler reacts on the 18th green after shooting a 59 during the second round of the 2020 Northern Trust at TPC Boston on August 21, 2020 in Norton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The Northern Trust
Scottie Scheffler holds up his ball and score card in celebration after scoring a 59 during…
Scottie Scheffler holds up his ball and score card in celebration after scoring a 59 during the second round of the 2020 Northern Trust at TPC Boston on August 21, 2020 in Norton, Massachusetts. Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Scottie Scheffler Sentry Tournament of Champions
Scottie Scheffler looks on from the range during a practice round prior to the Sentry Tournament…
Scottie Scheffler looks on from the range during a practice round prior to the Sentry Tournament Of Champions on the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 04, 2021 in Kapalua, Hawaii. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
PGA: Waste Management Phoenix Open – Final Round
Scottie Scheffler watches his second shot on the second hole during the final round of the…
Scottie Scheffler watches his second shot on the second hole during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play – Final Round
Scottie Scheffler during the semifinal round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin…
Scottie Scheffler during the semifinal round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 28, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler and Ian Poulter watch Scheffler’s drive from the No. 6 tee during a Round…
Scottie Scheffler and Ian Poulter watch Scheffler’s drive from the No. 6 tee during a Round of 16 match at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship on Saturday, March 27, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (Photo: David J. Phillip/Associated Press)
World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play – Final Round
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 28: Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays his shot on the…
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 28: Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays his shot on the ninth tee in his match against Billy Horschel of the United States during the final round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 28, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler meet the range during a practice day for the Masters on…
Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler meet the range during a practice day for the Masters on Monday on April 5, 2021, in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: David J. Phillip/Associated Press)
PGA: AT&T Byron Nelson – First Round
May 13, 2021; McKinney, Texas, USA; Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the second tee during…
May 13, 2021; McKinney, Texas, USA; Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
PGA: Ryder Cup Day One Rounds
Team USA player Scottie Scheffler celebrates with Team USA player Bryson DeChambeau after making a putt…
Team USA player Scottie Scheffler celebrates with Team USA player Bryson DeChambeau after making a putt on the 16th green during day one foursome matches for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Ryder Cup 2021
Team USA’s Scottie Scheffler walks to the 11th hole during a Ryder Cup singles match at…
Team USA’s Scottie Scheffler walks to the 11th hole during a Ryder Cup singles match at the Whistling Straits Golf Course Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Haven, Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Farmers Insurance Open – Round Three
Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on the second hole during the third round of The…
Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on the second hole during the third round of The Farmers Insurance Open on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course on January 28, 2022 in La Jolla, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
PGA: Ryder Cup Day Three Rounds
Sep 26, 2021; Haven, Wisconsin, USA; Team USA player Scottie Scheffler reacts to his putt on…
Sep 26, 2021; Haven, Wisconsin, USA; Team USA player Scottie Scheffler reacts to his putt on the sixth green during day three singles rounds for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
WM Phoenix Open 2022
Scottie Scheffler of the United States poses with the trophy after winning the WM Phoenix Open…
Scottie Scheffler of the United States poses with the trophy after winning the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 13, 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
WM Phoenix Open 2022
Scottie Scheffler of the United States hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the…
Scottie Scheffler of the United States hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 13, 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775719529 ORIG FILE ID: 1370369356
PGA: WM Phoenix Open – Final Round
Feb 13, 2022; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Scottie Scheffler plays from the green side bunker on the…
Feb 13, 2022; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Scottie Scheffler plays from the green side bunker on the third as caddy J.Tedd Scott looks on during the final round of the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
WM Phoenix Open 2022
Scottie Scheffler of the United States hugs his wife Meredith after winning the WM Phoenix Open…
Scottie Scheffler of the United States hugs his wife Meredith after winning the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 13, 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates a par putt on the 15th green during the…
Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates a par putt on the 15th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 06, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
PGA: Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard – Final Round
Scottie Scheffler and his wife Meredith share in the victory as they hold the championship trophy…
Scottie Scheffler and his wife Meredith share in the victory as they hold the championship trophy after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
2022 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass
Scottie Scheffler of the United States looks on during a practice round prior to THE PLAYERS…
Scottie Scheffler of the United States looks on during a practice round prior to THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 09, 2022 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
THE PLAYERS Championship – Round Two
Brooks Koepka of the United States putts on the 17th green as Xander Schauffele of the…
Brooks Koepka of the United States putts on the 17th green as Xander Schauffele of the United States and Scottie Scheffler of the United States look on during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 12, 2022 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play – Final Round
Billy Horschel of the United States shakes hands with Scottie Scheffler of the United States after…
Billy Horschel of the United States shakes hands with Scottie Scheffler of the United States after winning 2&1 in the final round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 28, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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