As we are a day away from entering the 2026 PGA Tour season of play, the world number one recognition continues as expected. Scottie Scheffler opens up a three year streak as the World No. 1 in the Tour play. The 2025 season was one filmed with high level play and a handful of wins as well. Scheffler has set himself apart from his peers and entered into a lane of his own, shattering records it seems like every tournament outing. Some notable victories came at the PGA Championship, The Open Championship, and even taking home the BMW Championship. A long season of winning resulted in $27,669,550 in earnings throughout 2025, life changing money.
Leading the Pack
With his third top ranked golfer status since 2023, Scheffler is entering the 2026 season once again “the guy”. His abilities were clear, coming in ranked first in both strokes gained, and approach to the green.
“I think it’s kind of funny — I think I said something after the Byron this year about like it feels like you work your whole life to celebrate winning a tournament for like a few minutes. It only lasts a few minutes, that kind of euphoric feeling,” Scheffler said.
A career totaling 19 Tour wins thus far, Scheffler is on a hot streak many in the sport of golf only wish for. It starts to leave many thoughts on what the next accomplishment or goal can be in an already fulfilling reign. With gaining much deserved backing from the front-runners of the sport like Tiger Woods, Scheffler has been able to understand the true positioning he has. He’s not just influencing the thousands of young golf prospects, but his peers within the Tour as well.
PGA golfer Scottie Scheffler signs posters and hats for fans as he takes part in the FedEx St. Jude Championship Pro-Am at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., on August 6, 2025.
“Is it great to be able to win tournaments and to accomplish the things I have in the game of golf? Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes just to think about because I’ve literally worked my entire life to be good at this sport,” Scheffler said. “To have that kind of sense of accomplishment, I think, is a pretty cool feeling. To get to live out your dreams is very special, but at the end of the day, I’m not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. I’m not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world because what’s the point? This is not a fulfilling life. It’s fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it’s not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart.
A Hopeful 2026
There is not much left you can ask of the 29-year-old, who will be walking into the 2026 season fulfilled. Yet Scheffler is still faced with his own personal question of “what’s next”, when you have accomplished so much in little time. Getting the chance to watch him attempt to find more fire will be a sight to see in 2026.
“This is not the be-all, end-all. This is not the most important thing in my life,” Scheffler said. “That’s why I wrestle with, why is this so important to me? Because I’d much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer. At the end of the day, that’s what’s more important to me.”
Main Photo Credit: © Paul Childs-Reuters via Imagn Im
