Scheffler recalls being last Ryder Cup pick in 2021 as catalyst for rise to world No. 1

Scottie Scheffler said being the final U.S. captain’s pick for the 2021 Ryder Cup helped ignite the confidence that propelled him to the top of men’s golf, a memory the world No. 1 revisited as the Americans prepare for matches next week at Bethpage Black.

Scheffler recalled arriving in Napa, California, on the four‑year anniversary of that phone call from then‑captain Steve Stricker, when he was No. 21 in the world with 13 other Americans ahead of him and had yet to win on the PGA Tour. "I remember getting the phone call. I didn’t know if he was going to call me and give me really bad news or really good news," Scheffler said. "But it was a great phone call. I was very emotional."

Stricker said the final captain’s pick in 2021 came down to Scheffler, Sam Burns and Patrick Reed. Stricker cited Scheffler’s temperament and a strong finish at the PGA Championship and Match Play as reasons for his choice, and the captain said the players who qualified automatically weighed in and favored Scheffler. At Whistling Straits, Scheffler was sent out early in the third‑day singles to face then‑No. 1 Jon Rahm. After four holes Scheffler had four birdies and a 4‑up lead, a performance Stricker said helped bolster Scheffler’s confidence.

Scheffler still carries the yardage book cover from that Ryder Cup week, a memento Stricker pointed to as evidence of how much the experience meant to the young player. "Taking down Jon Rahm on Sunday, I’ve got to believe all that played a part in what he’s doing now," Stricker said. "We all need that moment where we get that boost of confidence."

The Ryder Cup also provided a painful lesson. At Marco Simone in 2023, Scheffler and Brooks Koepka suffered a 9‑and‑7 loss in foursomes — the most lopsided 18‑hole match in Ryder Cup history — and Scheffler described watching from the sidelines in tears. He later lost a close singles match to Rahm when a chip sailed through the back of the green and Rahm holed a long eagle putt to halve the match. Scheffler said the disappointment motivated him to work on his game.

The response was immediate and decisive. Scheffler won nine times the following year, including the Masters and Olympic gold. This year he completed a comeback at the Procore Championship in Napa, making up an eight‑shot deficit on the weekend to secure his sixth victory of the season. That mark made him only the fifth player in the last 75 years to record back‑to‑back seasons with at least six wins, joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead.

Statistically, Scheffler also achieved a rapid milestone: it took him three years, seven months and one day to go from his first PGA Tour title to his 19th — the fastest in PGA Tour history, beating Woods’ pace by 21 days. Even after missing two months because of a punctured hand sustained while cutting ravioli with a wine glass, Scheffler won two majors and four other titles this year.

Scheffler said preparation remains central to his approach and was a reason he played in Napa ahead of the Ryder Cup. "It’s always been about preparation, being able to stand on the first tee knowing I didn't take any shortcuts in having done all that I could to be ready," he said. He acknowledged the sting of the Marco Simone loss and said the work since then has shown in his results.

The Americans’ 19‑9 victory at Whistling Straits in 2021 remains the largest margin over Europe, and Scheffler was among a group of players who convened at Silverado this week as part of preparations before heading to Long Island. Scheffler said the upcoming competition at Bethpage Black will be a test of two teams over three days.

Comparisons to Woods have followed Scheffler because of his dominance, but Ryder Cup history counsels restraint: Woods played on only one winning U.S. Ryder Cup team. Scheffler and his teammates will look to add a different kind of legacy when competition opens at Bethpage Black.