Scottie earns stripes: Scheffler gives shades of Tiger in Open triumph

"I never thought in my lifetime I'd see a player as close to Tiger as this man currently is. Scottie Scheffler just blows my mind every time I watch him play."

Wait. What? Tiger? As in Tiger Woods?

Jim "Bones" Mackay's comment during the third round of The Open might sound outlandish at first read, but the NBC broadcaster's take may not be so far-fetched.

Mackay might be as qualified as anyone to make the Tiger comparison. He served as Phil Mickelson's caddie for 25 years, a position that offered him a front-row seat to some of Woods' most ridiculous moments.

Statistics also support Mackay's claim. Scheffler's overall strokes gained metrics are similar to those of Woods during his peak. Add in one of the wildest stats in recent memory, and the similarities between the two get scary.

But you don't need to dive into the data to understand why Scheffler is the closest thing we've seen to Woods in men's golf. Watching Scheffler is enough to grasp the comparison.

His pinpoint execution is the first thing that jumps out, exhibiting the same outrageous control over his irons that separated Woods from the rest.

Scheffler leads the PGA TOUR for the third straight season in strokes gained: approach, this time by nearly half a shot over second place. He put that on full display at Portrush, with the 28-year-old standing alone at the top in approach play. That was expected, though.

Scheffler's work on the greens is what really made him don his stripes and look Tiger-like. Woods made his career by drilling putt after putt and demoralizing the chase pack. What was once a weakness is now a strength for Scheffler, with the Texan leading the field in strokes gained: putting this week. With all due respect to Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, and the rest of the field, no one is beating Scheffler if he leads in approach and putting.

Scheffler perhaps best showed his putting prowess during his only wobble Sunday, making three straight putts of 14 feet or longer through holes five through seven to score a birdie and two clutch pars. That stretch extinguished even the faintest hope for anyone else on the course and all but sealed the outcome.

Inevitability is something else Scheffler has in common with Woods. Playing alongside Scheffler in the final group, Haotong Li appeared to sense The Open was already decided, effectively admitting before the round that he was gunning for second.

McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick, paired in the penultimate group, also acknowledged their slim chances heading into Sunday, contending with a leader who held a commanding four-shot edge.

That inevitability is what made Woods an essential lock at closing out 54-hole leads, something Scheffler has now done 10 straight times.

So, is Scheffler the second coming of Tiger? Despite all the similarities, there's one significant difference between the two: demeanor on the course. Woods brought a swag and aura to the game that was a breath of fresh air. For lack of a better term, he made it "cool" to play golf. Scheffler's performances are a lot of things, but "cool" certainly isn't how you would describe them.

In the most complimentary way possible, Scheffler's brand of golf comes across as rather dull. He's a clinical tactician who methodically manages his way around the course and expertly avoids trouble. His muted demeanor, especially in comparison to the fist-pumping, roof-raising Woods, creates a different viewing experience.

Still, it's not Scheffler's job to entertain. His job is to win golf tournaments. While he may not garner the mainstream attention or fanfare that Woods did in his prime, Scheffler delivers a masterclass of comparable caliber once the first tee ball is in the air.

"When it comes to execution and the time to turn that switch on and hit a quality shot, they're identical in that respect," Mackay told Fried Egg Golf.

Scheffler has achieved something even Woods never accomplished, becoming the first man in 117 years to win his first four majors by at least three shots.

No, Scheffler won't ever rise to the cultural level of Woods or bring the same amount of eyeballs to the sport for his electric play.

However, there are few things better in sport than watching a master who's perfected his craft go to work. After this week at Portrush, there's no question Scheffler is firmly at that place in golf.