Tony Finau knew Scottie Scheffler was “particular” early in his profession

Scottie Scheffler burst onto the scene in the course of the 2019-20 PGA Tour season, which was briefly interrupted by the pandemic.

Not many golfers and followers, each in and outdoors the game, knew the expertise Scheffler possessed on the time. Tony Finau was even a kind of individuals.

“The primary time I performed with Scottie, I didn’t actually know who he was as a result of he was a rookie on the PGA Tour, and I performed with him at TPC Boston,” Finau stated Tuesday forward of the Texas Kids’s Houston Open.

“We’re taking part in collectively, and after 9 holes, I feel he shoots 7-under or no matter. I’m not likely paying consideration; I’m form of centered by myself sport. We get to the seventeenth, and he makes one other birdie. I look over to my caddie, and I’m like, man, this man’s acquired to be 8 or 9-under, and my caddie’s like, how about 11?”

Photograph by Rob Carr/Getty Photos

Through the second spherical of the 2020 Northern Belief, previously the primary occasion of the FedEx Cup Playoffs held at TPC Boston, Scheffler went on a tear.

He birdied eight of his first 11 holes, because the rookie soared up the leaderboard within the course of.

Three extra birdies on the 14th, fifteenth, and sixteenth holes adopted, and by the point he arrived on the par-5 18th, Scheffler wanted a birdie to succeed in golf’s excellent rating: an illustrious 59.

Unsurprisingly, Scheffler did, actually, birdie the 18th, holing a 4-footer to shoot 59.

“I used to be taking part in with him, and that was the primary time I heard of him; it was the primary time that I performed with him,” Finau stated.

“In order that gave you an thought—possibly not the primary time I heard of him, however I vaguely knew who he was coming from the Korn Ferry Tour. I knew he was a very good participant. However in any case, that was the primary time I performed with Scottie; he shot a 59 at TPC Boston, and I knew he was particular from that second on.”

Scheffler completed fourth that week, 13 strokes behind Dustin Johnson, who shot a preposterous 30-under for the match. However Scheffler went on to qualify for the Tour Championship, a formidable feat for any PGA Tour participant, not to mention a rookie.

Photograph by Jamie Squire/Getty Photos

Since then, Scheffler has made the 2021 and 2023 Ryder Cup groups, triumphed at Augusta Nationwide in 2022, and ascended to the world’s number-one rating. He at present has eight PGA Tour victories to his identify, two of which have are available his final two begins.

“When he gained the Masters, I performed with him the primary two rounds, and it was evident to me that he was going to be hoisting the inexperienced jacket after that on Friday,” Finau added.

His tee-to-green metrics have been off the charts for the previous two seasons, main many to evaluate him to Tiger Woods. Scheffler not often makes a mistake and finds fairways and greens at a charge not seen since Woods in 2006, when he gained The Open Championship and PGA Championship.

However Scheffler’s charming persona and love for his household are infectious, too.

“I performed sufficient rounds with him to know the way nice of a participant he’s, however I feel it doesn’t beat the individual that he’s,” Finau stated.

“I feel he’s fairly implausible for our sport, and it’s cool to see all of the success that he’s having.”

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.