Jordan Spieth labels Scottie Scheffler the 'best ball-striker since Tiger Woods'... as he hails Masters favorite and slams 'haters' making a big deal out of his putting struggles

Jordan Spieth has described Scottie Scheffler as the best ball-striker since Tiger Woods and dismissed the ‘haters’ who suggest the world No 1’s putting offers hope for the Masters chasing pack this week.

While only one of those sentiments feels watertight, it is beyond doubt that Scheffler arrives at Augusta as both the form player and the strong favorite to claim a second green jacket.

The sense of foreboding among Scheffler’s rivals has naturally been heightened by the stark improvements recently made with his shortest club, which has led to a run of two wins and a tie for second in his past three starts. 

Previously, it was a startling anomaly that a golfer with the best tee-to-green statistics since Woods was also among the very worst with the putter, but the discrepancy has seemingly been addressed by his switch to a mallet putter.

Spieth, the winner here nine years ago, has had a closer view than most of the 2022 champion as they live a short distance apart in Dallas and practise together regularly. He has also heard the debate around his putting and questions whether the ambient debate about that shortcoming has applied extra pressure to Scheffler.

Scottie Scheffler has been described as the best ball-striker since Tiger Woods first emerged

Woods was out on the course at Augusta early on Monday morning ahead of the Masters

Woods won the green jacket for a fifth time in 2019, and is back for more this week

Spieth told Mail Sport: ‘We all have ceilings and I believe his ball striking ceiling is higher than anyone that we've seen since Tiger. But at the same time, that doesn't mean that you just are able to be the best at everything.

‘He's shown that he can putt really well some weeks and then he gets picked on for it other weeks. But if you hit that many greens, it's almost impossible to be statistically top 10 or 15 putters, so I think he gets I think he gets hated on way more so than he should.

‘That becomes more of a mental challenge for him to shut off the noise and stick to it. But he's in a great place. He's got a great head on his shoulders.

‘I play golf a lot with him - he lives two miles away from me. I've seen him roll in a bunch of putts at home and I've seen him miss some greens at home. Golf is like that.

‘But he's the number one player in the world and it's a true reflection. There's no hiding that fact in the last couple of years.’

Scheffler’s match-up with defending champion Jon Rahm will be compelling if both men are up to speed. For Spieth, the ambient expectations are more modest around the three-time major winner after two cuts in his past three starts and no victories at PGA Tour level since 2022.

Spieth has heaped praise on his friend Scheffler, who is the big favorite to win back-to-back

Scheffler won the green jacket last year and pulled it on again on Sunday during the build-up

The American admitted that his recent involvement in golf’s political battle has had a draining impact on his game and personal life. 

Having taken Rory McIlroy’s vacated space on the PGA Tour policy board last year, and with it a key role in merger negotiations with LIV’s Saudi backers, he said: ‘I would just say it's taken time away from where I want to spend other time. 

'But I've looked at it as a very pivotal point in the history of professional golf in the PGA Tour and if my peers feel that I can help shape that in the right direction then I'll look back someday and be happy that I did it.

‘It takes time away from my family and my golf. So we got two (children) under three and no one else does (on the policy board), so that combination leaves me in some places where I am not exactly doing what I want to be doing sometimes. It's something I believe is necessary right now but I'm also excited to get to where the finish line is and get back to what I love to do.’