‘This is Mr. Palmer’s legacy’: Scottie Scheffler excited for challenging week at Bay Hill

Scottie Scheffler already had an impressive resume. U.S. Ryder Cupper, PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, low amateur at the 2017 U.S. Open, and a 59. Then, two weeks ago in Scottsdale, he became a Tour winner. It was never a matter of if, it was when. Now, he’s looking for win No. 2.

“For me, winning is such a great feeling. It was so fun for me and my wife, like the money earned, rarely came into our head,” Scheffler said during his Tuesday press conference at Bay Hill Club and Lodge. “It was just being out here and competing and being able to actually win a tournament is pretty joyful.”

Scheffler, who is now No. 6 in the Official World Golf Ranking, has made four starts in 2022 and hasn’t finished outside the top 25.

“It’s a good time to be playing golf.”

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Yes, yes it is. Not only is the Players Championship next week, but the first major of the year is also on the horizon. Scheffler tied for 18th at the Masters in 2021 and 19th in the November 2020 version.

But, he’s not looking too far ahead.

“This part of the year, it starts to get into those bigger events with the Players coming up, Match Play, the Masters. We’ve got a lot of big events coming up, this one included,” Scheffler said. “The weather is good here this time of year. So just come over, the golf course is in great shape. The rough is really healthy. We’ll have a good test this week.”

His first Arnold Palmer Invitational appearance was in 2020, where he tied for 15th, but he had some experience at Bay Hill when he was just an amateur.

Connor Black, left, and Scott Scheffler win their match 5&4 over the East on Wednesday during the morning foursome matches at the 2012 Wyndham Cup at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando. (Photo: Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek)

“It was a really long time ago (laughter). I just remember being — it being so cool to come here and play the golf course. We watched it so many times on TV, watching Tiger win this tournament and make his putts on 18,” Scheffler said when asked about the 2012 Wyndham Cup. “So just kind of being on the same grounds where all that type of historic stuff had happened, it was just really cool coming here and being able to play. It was really special for them to let us come and play this golf course.

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“We had a great time down here. Everybody stayed in the hotel right there on the putting green. Spent a lot of time on that practice putting green just having some good competitions with all the guys. It was a fun week.”

Palmer’s aura still radiates around Bay Hill, with his famous umbrella stationed at the range and his statue next to the 10th tee still serving as the mecca for fans in attendance looking to commemorate their visit to one of the most famous courses in the country.

Scottie Scheffler reacts on the second green during the third round of the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Scheffler had the honor of meeting the golf icon, even if it was just for a moment.

“I met him once at a tournament kind of in passing. I didn’t really get a chance to spend much time with him. For me, the first thing when I think of Arnie, I think of his golf swing. As someone who doesn’t have a perfect golf swing like myself, it’s kind of fun seeing his follow through and seeing the way he played golf, playing so aggressively and kind of with a quirky swing. I look up to him a lot.”

The young man from Dallas, Texas, is approaching this week with the right mentality.

Like Palmer always said: “You must play boldly to win.”

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