Back when I worked on the golf staff at Denver Country Club, we all marked our calendars for Masters weekend in April, the unofficial start to our golf season. With spring ski and snowboard season turning to mud season in the mountains, members came back in droves to hit the range and reawaken swing muscle memory. The Masters music was our soundtrack in between hellos and catching up, and we watched the tournament unfold while preparing the golf shop with the latest gear.
There’s something almost mystical about watching the invitation-only Masters at Augusta National in Georgia. Something quieter. Sacred, even. A softness that dances through the pines like they already know who is going to win. The music is unmistakable. Just a few piano notes from Augusta and suddenly you’re there: on the back nine, Sunday afternoon, heart rate climbing. This is golf at its finest. To receive an invite means you are, or once were, the best of the best.
Welcome to our Sandman Sports Green Jacket Rewind series, where I’ll trace the career arc of greatness, including past winners and Cinderella stories. We’ll look at what it takes to win at Augusta, and why the green jacket doesn’t just hang in a closet. It is a wearable trophy.
We’re starting with a man whose game and mindset have reshaped modern golf dominance. Scottie Scheffler, with two green jackets in three years and already a favorite for the 2026 season, is currently ranked No. 1 in the world. He’s also a dad, a Texan, and possibly the calmest competitor in golf since peak Tiger Woods. Let’s rewind the tape.
The Stage: Augusta National and the Myth of the Masters
Augusta National Golf Club isn’t just a course. It’s a cinematic experience. Built on the site of a former nursery, Augusta combines manicured perfection with old Southern soul. Each of the holes is named after a flower and designed to present its own set of challenges. (Check out this hole by hole guide on ESPN.com if interested.)
If you’ve watched the Masters, you know the landmarks, even if you’ve never walked the grounds.
- Amen Corner stretches from the second shot on the par-4 11th, through the par-3 12th, and the tee shot on the 13th. Each hole tests wind, nerves, and decision-making. This stretch was named by journalist Herbert Warren Wind in a 1958 Sports Illustrated article, inspired by a jazz song called Shouting at Amen Corner by Mildred Bailey. The lyrics go, “You can shout with all your might, but if you ain’t livin’ right there’s no use shoutin’ at that Amen Corner.” Enough said.
- The par-3 12th, Golden Bell, is Augusta’s postcard hole. Just 155 yards over Rae’s Creek to a sliver of green. Watching players cross the bridge late in the day, with shadows playing tricks on the putting line, defines the Masters for me.
- The 17th green on the 440-yard par-4 Nandina is where Jack Nicklaus sank the putt in 1986 to come back and win his sixth green jacket at age 46. That hole often shifts momentum and leaderboards.
- The 170-yard par-3 Redbud, the 16th hole over water, is always shown in slow motion with the theme music playing. It’s the one where Tiger chipped in for his fourth Masters win in 2005. So much history has unfolded on that green. So many Sunday roars.
The Masters always carries a different energy. From the traditions and limited field to the jacket ceremony in Butler Cabin, no other major feels quite the same. And none demands more from the mental game.
The Mental Game of Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler’s edge isn’t just in ball-striking, even though he’s the best in the world there. His true advantage is emotional regulation. While it looks effortless, it’s something he has worked to refine. In a press conference at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush, he said that although he loves practicing and making a living playing golf, it’s not the most important part of his life. Being a great father and husband comes first.
On the course, Scheffler stays focused and committed to each shot. He doesn’t chase perfection. He moves on from the last hole and trusts the next swing. Whether or not he works with a formal sport psychologist, his presence reflects the principles they teach: a rhythm based on routine, focus on the next shot, process over outcome, and no emotional hangovers. Being paired with Scottie on Sunday has become a psychological disadvantage for other players. That kind of dominance can’t be taught. It has to be felt.
With $90 million in career earnings, Scheffler is grounded in faith, family, and his caddie Ted Scott. He’s grateful for the opportunity to play, but he’s clear that tournament wins don’t define happiness. Life is bigger than the leaderboard.
He has been paraphrased as saying, “Pressure is something you create.” Whether or not those are his exact words, it sounds like something he might say. And it’s worth remembering the next time your own stress starts to build. What really matters? Whether it’s a win or a slump, this too shall pass.
The Green Jackets: How Scheffler Did It
2022: First Green Jacket
At 25, Scheffler captured his first major, beating Cameron Smith and Rory McIlroy. His final-round 71 sealed a three-shot win at 10 under par. He had already won three PGA Tour events that spring, including the WGC Match Play. He was confident and in form.
Key stats in 2022:
- Scoring average: ~68.3
- Driving distance: ~305 yards
- Putts per round: ~28.5
- World ranking: No. 1
This was his breakthrough moment. A player with the game to win and the mindset to do it under pressure.
2024: Second Green Jacket
Two years later, Scheffler won again at Augusta, shooting 277 (11 under) to beat Ludvig Åberg by four strokes. It was a more seasoned version of Scottie, confident and precise with his irons and patient on Augusta’s tricky greens.
Key stats in 2024:
- Scoring average: 68.31
- Driving distance: 304.6 yards
- Putts per round: 28.4
- World ranking: No. 1 again
The second win erased any doubts about whether he was on a hot streak. He had entered a new tier of greatness.
Where His Game Is Now — Mid-2025 Snapshot
After a hand injury in late 2024 and a slow start to 2025, Scheffler has come roaring back. He’s already won four events this season, including the PGA Championship and The Open at Royal Portrush. That gives him four career majors and a dominant season.
2025 YTD stats:
- Total earnings: $19.2 million
- Greens in Regulation: 73.8%
- Scoring average: 68.27
- Top-10 finishes: 14 in 17 starts
The betting markets reflect his dominance. Most weeks, you can’t even get decent odds.
Golf Bettor’s Angle: Backing the Mindset
If you were early on Scheffler in 2022, you cashed in. His odds then were between +1600 and +2000. By 2024, they dropped closer to +350. Today, it’s rare to see him listed above +300. But sometimes, consistency beats big payouts.
Key takeaways for bettors:
- Back players who stay composed under pressure
- Look for elite ball-strikers with reliable putting
- Monitor form and confidence in the three weeks before Augusta
- Pay attention to how a player talks about belief and mindset
Final Take: Green Jacket Futures
Scheffler is already a Masters legend. And he’s just getting started. The scary part is that he’s still improving and settling into himself. His emotional control might be the best since Tiger, and his ball-striking may already be better. The only question now is not if he wins another Masters, but when.
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