It’s official: Scottie Scheffler’s historic streak has come to an end. After an astonishing run of 18 consecutive top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour—a modern-day record—Scheffler’s streak finally met its match at the Genesis Invitational, where he tied for 12th place. But here’s where it gets fascinating: this isn’t just about a golfer missing the mark; it’s about the sheer dominance he’s displayed over the past year, including seven wins and no finish worse than T-8. If you count the non-official Hero World Challenge, where he tied for fourth last December, the streak stretches to 19—a testament to his consistency and skill.
At Riviera Country Club, however, Scheffler faced a challenge he couldn’t quite overcome. Unlike the previous two weeks, where he rallied from slow starts to secure T-3 and T-4 finishes at the WM Phoenix Open and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, respectively, this time the slow start proved too much. His opening round included a career-worst 5-over start through 10 holes in cold, blustery conditions. And this is the part most people miss: despite the rough beginning, Scheffler bounced back impressively, playing his final 54 holes in 14 under, including a stellar 6-under 65 on Sunday with five birdies on his closing nine.
Before Scheffler, Vijay Singh held the longest top-10 streak since 1983 with 12, followed closely by Tiger Woods at 11. Scheffler’s achievement, though now paused, places him in elite company. When asked about his focus, Scheffler humbly replied, ‘I try not to focus too much on the results. I focus on how I feel, stuff like that.’ So, how did he feel after Riviera? ‘After Thursday, I did some pretty good stuff,’ he said, acknowledging the challenges of the course.
Riviera, a place Scheffler describes as having a ‘weird relationship’ with, has historically been a tough spot for him, particularly in his approach game. This week was no exception, as he ranked 36th out of 72 players in strokes gained approach—a stark contrast to his usual No. 1 ranking in this category over the past three seasons. Here’s the controversial part: while some might see this as a sign of weakness, others argue it’s a testament to his resilience. After all, he still managed to gain shots in every other area of his game.
‘Going out early yesterday, the greens were a lot fresher, and I got to see some putts going in,’ Scheffler explained. ‘On Thursday, the wind was blowing so hard, and the greens were so bumpy and fast—it was a complete crapshoot whether the ball would go in the hole.’ Despite the challenges, he never considered giving up. ‘I’ve never been one to quit,’ he said. ‘I’d feel pretty silly quitting a PGA Tour event. Competing is what I love to do.’
Looking ahead, Scheffler is set to return to action at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in two weeks at Bay Hill, a course where he’s claimed victory twice. Will he bounce back with another win, or is this the start of a new chapter in his career? What do you think? Is Scheffler’s streak ending a sign of things to come, or just a minor hiccup for one of golf’s brightest stars? Let us know in the comments!
