'I'm 29, and I feel tired already' - Scheffler impressed by 45-year-old Justin Rose
Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the third round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Saturday, May 17, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America)
Scottie Scheffler has left nothing to chance and worked assiduously to become the most dominant world number one since Tiger Woods.
The four-time major champion is the favourite to make it two wins from as many starts in 2026 at this week’s WM Phoenix Open.
But for all his painstaking dedication to preparation, the Texan (29) admits he’s seriously impressed by 45-year-old Justin Rose’s rise to world number three following his seven-shot, wire-to-wire win at the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday.
“Yeah, 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. He puts a lot of work 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.
“And the ball speed. He was almost keeping up with me when we were playing in Palm Springs.
“Guy has got plenty of speed and plenty of talent and plenty of work ethic to go with it.
“I don't think he's slowing down any time soon.”
After hand surgery prevented him from practising in the off-season last year, delaying his start to the season and stopping him from playing his best golf until March, Scheffler is ready to go from the gun this term.
He's just a US Open short of completing the career Grand Slam, and after winning the American Express in his first start two weeks ago, he looks like a man who means business.
He said he worked on getting better during his offseason, which is bad news for his rivals as he counts down to the Masters, which he has already won twice.
“It's nice to feel very prepared going into the season,” he said in Phoenix with his son Bennett in tow. “I feel like my body is in a good spot, my head is in a good spot. We had a really nice break to kind of get ready to come back out here and compete.
“I mean, it's great to be able to see results to start the year, but we're here playing another tournament. Last week is forgotten about, and I'm ready to come out here and compete again.”
Scheffler is joined in Scottsdale by former LIV star and time major winner Brooks Koepka and he welcomes the Floridian’s return to the PGA Tour and that of 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed later this year.
“When you look at a lot of the discussions we've had and when you look at what a lot of the fans are saying, I think people want the best people playing together again,” Scheffler saidof the returning LIV Golf stars.
“So when it comes to great players like Brooks or Patrick Reed, Patrick Reed is a major champion, and I think Brooks Koepka has won five majors, so having those guys competing out here is great for the TOUR, great for the fans, and great for our sponsors.
“I think the last few years -- there is just a lot of noise, and so I think getting those guys back is another step towards us just being able to play golf again.
“That's what I'm looking forward to the most.”
