At Glance
‣ Paul Azinger, a former PGA Championship winner and NBC’s lead analyst, recognized Scottie Scheffler’s potential early in his career, even when others were skeptical about his swing and footwork.
‣ Scottie Scheffler has proven his dominance in the golf world by amassing 13 professional victories by 2024, including two Masters titles, showcasing his ability to excel at every level of competition.
‣ Despite concerns over his unorthodox footwork, Scheffler’s performance, particularly in 2024, has been outstanding, leading the SG: Tee to Green statistic, indicating that his unique style has not hindered his success on the course.
"Now he's up against all the guys his own age he pounded for years, and he's doing it again."
Paul Azinger isn't surprised by Scottie Scheffler's success. The '93 PGA Champion talks about it with Rocco Mediate on the Rocco Hour.@RoccoMediate
— SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio (@SiriusXMPGATOUR)
Oh, Paul Azinger. The guy’s a golf whisperer, no doubt. Left a mark on the greens before jumping into the broadcasting big leagues. NBC snagged him, and boy, did he bring insights.
November said goodbye to his voice on NBC. But, let’s not forget, he spotted Scottie Scheffler’s spark before the kid was a blip on anyone’s radar. Back in 2018, Azinger was fresh at NBC, and Scheffler? Just stepping into the pro scene.
Azinger had this chat with Rocco Mediate on Sirius XM. It’s funny; he mentioned Dan Hicks was curious about Scheffler’s swing. Everyone’s eyebrows were raised over the kid’s footwork. Azinger? He didn’t see the fuss. Just saw potential.
Fast forward. Scheffler’s smashing it, playing peers he used to outplay. Azinger saw it coming. No surprise there. The man knows his golf.
Azinger’s take on Scheffler wasn’t just about his swing. Nope. He looked at the results, the dominance at every level. Told Hicks, “This kid’s gonna be great.” Why? Because Scheffler’s been outplaying his age group for years.
And now? Scheffler’s tearing up 2024. Wins left and right, including two Masters. Thirteen professional victories and counting. The guy’s a machine.
Despite the early doubts, Scheffler’s unorthodox swing, especially his footwork, hasn’t held him back. In fact, he’s leading in SG: Tee to Green this season. Stats don’t lie.
NBC’s still on the hunt for Azinger’s replacement. McGinley and Chamblee are keeping the seat warm. The search continues, with “rolling auditions” in play.
Scheffler’s journey? It’s a testament to Azinger’s eye for talent. And as for NBC, the quest for the next voice of golf goes on.
