Bubba Watson has fanned the flames on a fierce debate between Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler.
Many believe that Woods set a virtually untouchable standard in professional golf with his iconic 2000 season – and few can dispute that it was the best in the sport’s modern era.
His achievements still seem mind-boggling a quarter of a century later.
Essentially, there was Tiger, and then there was everybody else.
The American won nine times, including six consecutive events on the PGA Tour, and broke or tied 27 records en-route to US Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship glory.
At the US Open, where Woods broke or tied nine tournament records, his effort was described by Sports Illustrated as ‘the greatest performance in golf history’.
Many believe Tiger’s 2000 season will never be beaten – but Watson this week suggested it has already been bettered.
Speaking in an interview with Golf.com, the two-time Masters winner argued that Scheffler’s 2024 was the best year ever seen.
“I know Tiger did some stuff in 2000,” Watson began.
“But Scottie’s year was the best we’ve ever seen with all the talent around the world now playing.
“That was it.”
If ever a case could be made for matching or surpassing Woods’ 2000 season, as Watson points out, it’s probably Scheffler’s stunning success.
In 2024, the world number one captured seven PGA Tour titles, including the Masters, The Players, the Tour Championship and four signature events.
He also claimed gold at the Olympic competition in Paris and, to wrap up the year, successfully defended his title at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
To make his on-course wins even sweeter, Scheffler earned north of $70million in prize money and bonuses, taking home the $25million Tour Championship and FedEx Cup prize to round off a memorable year.
“He doesn’t really do anything wrong,” Woods said, observing the Texan last December, as he became the first male player to start and finish the year as world number one since Woods himself in 2009.
But despite that praise, and Watson’s more recent claim, many fans believe that Tiger’s achievements 25 years ago are still more impressive.
“I can’t comprehend this level of lunacy,” one person said, responding to Watson’s suggestion.
“That’s laughable,” another said.
“This is a horrible take. There’s no comparison, sorry,” a third wrote.
A fourth concluded: “Quite possibly the dumbest golf take I’ve ever heard.”
Watson spoke of Scheffler’s extraordinary season while celebrating the successes of his caddie, Ted Scott.
The pair have a long-standing relationship, having worked together during the LIV Golf star’s prime.
“It’s great (to see so much success),” Watson said of Scott.
“When we split up, we talked about it and I said, ‘If you could find a young guy that you could help as much as you’ve helped me, go help them, it’d be amazing.’
“I didn’t think he was going to go to Scottie Scheffler’s bag and change the world.
“At that point, Scottie was a great golfer, but that friendship and bond, he went to an elite golfer. That was the best year we’ve ever seen.”
