Investigating Scottie Scheffler's Handicap in 2025: A Review of the Application of Data...
Scoop on Scottie Scheffler's Amateur Handicap: A Look Beyond the Pro
Never thought you'd see the world's top golfer, Scottie Scheffler, ducking a drive or taking a bogey? Well, that's what happens when he trades in his tour gear for a casual round with his friends. But how good would he be if he didn't have the mad skills he's honed on the PGA Tour? Let's take a closer look!
Known as the Dean of Men's Golf, Scheffler has amassed a coveted spot atop the professional golfing world since March 2022. His trophy case boasts three Majors, two Players Championships, and six PGA Tour Signature Events, making him the poster child for this decade of golf greatness.
So, what would Scheffler's handicap be if he weren't a pro? In August 2024, the man himself spilled the beans: He plays off a handicap of +7 when hanging with his friends. But is that really how it stacks up?
According to the USGA, the typical American male golfer has an average handicap of 14. With a handicap of +7, that means Scheffler is, theoretically, seven shots better than a scratch golfer. But is that the whole story?
Fast-forward to mid-2025, and Scheffler's numbers tell a different tale. With a staggering stroke average of 68.647 on the PGA Tour, this superstar has won the PGA Championship, CJ Cup Byron Nelson, and The Memorial Tournament. Over the course of 12 events and 48 rounds, he's maintained remarkable consistency, with just three rounds over-par.
But what would Scheffler's handicap be if he were an amateur? To answer that question, let's take a peek at his performance on various courses, keeping in mind the sometimes varying course and slope ratings.
With a score of 142-under-par through the 48 rounds in 2025, Scheffler has impressively managed just three rounds over-par. An astounding 28 of those scores were in the 60s! Using the World Handicap System, we calculated his handicap based on the best eight scores in terms of the score differential.
Here are the scores we used:
- -11.83 (TPC Craig Ranch)
- -11.83 (TPC Craig Ranch)
- -10.77 (Memorial Park Golf Course)
- -10.32 (TPC Craig Ranch)
- -10.31 (Colonial Country Club)
- -9.89 (Memorial Park Golf Course)
- -9.77 (Torrey Pines South Course)
- -9.04 (Quail Hollow Club)
Adding these scores together, we got a magnificent -83.76. When divided by eight, this comes out to -10.47, which equates to a mind-boggling handicap of +10.5!
Of course, it's worth noting that professional courses have different setups compared to the ones regular golfers play. For example, the Memorial Park Golf Course changes from a par 72 to a par 70 in these calculations. Additionally, courses like Quail Hollow and Muirfield Village tend to have a harder course setup when hosting Majors or Signature Events.
It's clear that Scheffler's impressive play on the PGA Tour significantly lowers his handicap compared to what it might be if he were an amateur. However, the handicap system remains a wonderful feature of golf, allowing Scheffler and his less-skilled pals to compete on a level playing field.
At the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Scheffler shared a tale about one of his recent rounds with his buddies. "I played last weekend and one of my buddies, who is not a very good golfer, he's like a 10 handicap, he beat me in our side bet for the day," Scheffler mentioned.
While the exact handicap for that match wasn't revealed, it's safe to say that Scheffler won't be playing off a +10.5 when hanging out with his friends in the future!
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Using the USGA average for an American male golfer, Scottie Scheffler would have a handicap of 14 if he were an amateur, significantly lower than his +7 when playing casually with friends. Considering his exceptional performance on the PGA Tour, after analyzing his scores in 2025, Scheffler's handicap would be +10.5 if he were an amateur, using the World Handicap System.
