Scottie Scheffler Marveled at Justin Rose’s Longevity at the WM Phoenix Open

“I’m 29 and I feel tired already. I can’t imagine what I’ll feel like at 45. I can’t say enough about how impressive it is for him to still be putting up the scores.”

Scottie Scheffler has dominated golf since his debut win at the WM Phoenix Open four years ago. Since then, he’s added 19 more PGA TOUR victories, two Green Jackets, a Wanamaker, and the Claret Jug. It’s gotten to the point where it feels like he’ll be atop the world rankings for the next decade.

But nothing lasts forever. Well, except for Justin Rose, who’s putting up one helluva fight against Father Time and finding a new gear at the age of 45.

He made minced meat of Torrey Pines and the field at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open, winning by seven. A Scheffler-ish showing from the Englishman.

During his pre-tournament presser at TPC Scottsdale on Wednesday, the World No. 1 marveled at Rose’s longevity.

“I mean, when you look at Justin specifically, you see a guy that not only works really hard on his golf game, and has for a long time, he also works really hard on his body,” Scheffler said. “For me, I look at a guy like that at 45 years old to be in the shape he is still in is extremely impressive, and I don’t think you luck into that.

“I think it’s inspiring for the young guys to see somebody at that age do the things he does. I mean, I’m 29 and I feel tired already. I can’t imagine what I’ll feel like at 45. I can’t say enough about how impressive it is for him to still be putting up the scores.”

The two played together for the first three rounds of the American Express a few weeks ago, a tournament Scheffler won by four, and the Texan said Rose was right there with him off the tee, thanks to his impressive ball speed.

Like Rose, the start of Scheffler’s season couldn’t have gone any better. His win at PGA West seemed inevitable by Thursday afternoon. He joked that his pre-season prep was a little different than last year.

“Definitely a lot easier starting off that way instead of missing the first few tournaments due to hand surgery,” Scheffler said. “Did a bit less cooking in the offseason this year. Stuck to plastic silverware instead of metal stuff.”

At a tournament he’s won twice, Scheffler enters the WM Phoenix Open as the heavy, heavy betting favorite at +220—shocking, I know. We’re getting to prime-Tiger territory with these odds.

He’ll play alongside Chris Gotterup and Jordan Spieth for the first two rounds in Arizona, starting at 10:15 a.m. ET on Thursday.

I’m already anticipating seeing Bennett again in four days’ time.

Scottie Scheffler Marveled at Justin Rose’s Longevity at the WM Phoenix Open

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