Scheffler and Stark Channel Greatness with Landmark Wins

Scottie Scheffler’s Memorial Victory Draws Comparisons with Tiger and Jack

There are moments in sport when the present feels eerily reminiscent of the past—when today’s champions stir memories of legends, not because of nostalgia, but through the sheer weight of their excellence. This past weekend was one such moment for golf fans. Both Scottie Scheffler and Maja Stark produced victories that didn’t just add to their résumés—they echoed greatness.

For Scheffler, a commanding four-shot win at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio was another resounding reminder that we may be witnessing a generational talent in full bloom. It was his 16th PGA Tour win, his third title in just a matter of weeks, and came with Jack Nicklaus himself—tournament host and 18-time major champion—watching from close quarters.

The numbers are starting to sound historic. Scheffler has gone from his first PGA Tour title to 16 wins in just three years and three months. That’s a pace almost identical to Tiger Woods, who did it in three years, three months, and three days. Nicklaus himself got there in two months fewer. The only man to beat them both? Sam Snead, who managed the feat in just two and a half years.

But stats only tell part of the story. What separates Scheffler is the consistency, the calm under pressure, and a complete game that’s as close to flawless as modern golf allows. Data Golf’s metrics show him gaining strokes in every category—off the tee, with irons, around the green, and putting. No glaring weakness, just surgical excellence.

“Look at the record he’s got in the last few years. It’s unbelievable,” Nicklaus said with admiration after the win. “He’s playing better than I played, and more consistent. Any time he’s playing, I want to watch.”

That’s not faint praise. That’s arguably the greatest golfer of all time acknowledging that the man of the moment might be doing things even he didn’t quite achieve.

A Bounce-Back Season for Scheffler After Freak Injury

It’s easy to forget that Scheffler’s 2025 season didn’t start on a high note. A freak kitchen accident over the holidays left him with a badly cut hand and a disrupted early schedule. But since shaking off the rust, he’s been simply unstoppable.

First came a dominant eight-shot win at the Byron Nelson, then a statement victory at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, and now a composed title defence at Muirfield Village. It was his ninth straight win when leading after 54 holes—territory typically reserved for names like Woods.

The Memorial, of course, is no ordinary stop on the PGA Tour. The course is a stern test, requiring complete command from tee to green. It’s a place that rewards patience, punishes waywardness, and rarely forgives. Scheffler passed with flying colours.

Despite strong efforts from Ben Griffin, Sepp Straka and Nick Taylor, none of them could match Scheffler’s control and mental fortitude. As Nicklaus put it bluntly: “He knows those guys are not in his league. He has the ability to bring his level to whatever it needs to be.”

In the broader context, Scheffler’s dominance on the PGA Tour comes with one asterisk—the absence of LIV players week in, week out. Data Golf’s rankings, which do include LIV events, show Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm sitting just behind him. Yet even at last month’s PGA, Scheffler blew away DeChambeau and left Rahm trailing in the rear-view mirror.

Stark Ends Europe’s Long Wait for US Open Glory

Scheffler and Stark evoke memories of legends

While Scheffler was making history in Ohio, Maja Stark was busy creating her own on the windswept plains of Wisconsin.

With a composed and clutch performance, the 25-year-old Swede clinched her maiden major title at the US Women’s Open at Erin Hills, finishing two strokes ahead of Nelly Korda and Japan’s Rio Takeda. It marked the first European win in the women’s edition of the championship since Annika Sorenstam triumphed for the third time back in 2006.

For a continent long starved of success in this particular event, Stark’s victory was a refreshing breakthrough—one that could ripple through the rest of the season and inspire others.

“It’s so cool,” she beamed after hoisting the trophy. “They [Sorenstam and Liselotte Neumann] texted me and just kind of said, ‘bring it home’. Just looking at all the names on the trophy. I love the US Open. I’m so happy that it’s mine now.”

This wasn’t just any win—it was earned the hard way, on a course that played like a classic US Open test. Erin Hills may be vast and remote, but it delivered firm and fast conditions on the weekend, punishing errant shots and exposing even the slightest lapse in control.

Stark, however, stayed cool and focused under the pressure. Her putting held firm. Her iron play stayed crisp. And while the final group—shared with rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez—came under scrutiny for slow play, the Swede never lost her rhythm.

“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be,” Stark admitted. “It felt like I had somewhat control of my game… with the pressure, your mistakes get bigger, but it felt like I could control anything that was thrown at me.”

A New Chapter for European Women’s Golf?

Stark’s win could be more than just a personal milestone—it might signal a wider resurgence for European women’s golf. With the Solheim Cup on the horizon and three more majors to come this year, confidence will surely be growing across the continent.

Her compatriot Linn Grant and England’s Charley Hull are already established contenders. Now they have another major champion in the ranks. Further down the leaderboard, England’s Lottie Woad also made waves, comfortably making the cut and securing low amateur honours in a tie for 31st place.

If European golf has been crying out for new stars to step forward, this might just be the moment things begin to shift.

The Week Golf Looked to Its Past—and Saw Its Future

Whether it was the deliberate brilliance of Scottie Scheffler or the poised breakthrough of Maja Stark, this past week in golf had a comforting familiarity. It felt like the sport we know and love—rich in tradition, tested by demanding courses, and elevated by players who rise to meet the moment.

Scheffler may already be looking ahead to his next challenge, and Stark will undoubtedly be adjusting to life as a major champion. But for fans of the game, the biggest takeaway is simple: we’re lucky to witness this. These are the weeks that remind us why golf, in all its depth and drama, still has the power to captivate.