TROON, Scotland — Looking at Scottie Scheffler’s feet instead of the golf ball, you’d never guess he’s the best golfer in the world.
After making contact with the ball, both Scheffler’s feet slide forcefully backward and then his right foot swings toward his left leg before turning onto its toe and bouncing back to the right.
It’s a move so unorthodox and jarring, it gives some weekend hackers misguided hope of future glory.
“In terms of my footwork, I just felt too kind of locked in and unnatural if I don’t do what my feet normally do,” Scheffler said at Royal Troon ahead of Thursday’s Open Championship. “It may look funny to you all, but it feels totally normal to me. I never thought twice about it.”
Scheffler might not think twice about it, but when a player wins six of his first 15 starts of the season, including The Masters, The Players Championship and four PGA Tour Signature Events, you can bet the rest of the golf world is thinking about it.
Jon Rahm pointed out one important aspect of Scheffler’s fancy footwork that many struggling duffers might overlook as they dream of hitting it like the world No. 1.
“It seems to me that a lot of that movement happens after that club face has made contact with the ball,” Rahm said. “So whatever happens after doesn’t matter. Once that ball’s flying, it doesn’t matter.”
Before departing for LIV Golf, Rahm was in a head-to-head battle for golf dominance with Scheffler. Since leaving, Rahm has struggled at majors and Scheffler has clearly put himself in a class of his own.
In trying to make sense of the footwork, Rahm provided perhaps the clearest and most understandable comparison.
“It’s almost like a little bit of a resemblance of when you go bowling, of that back foot going towards the side,” Rahm said. “It’s almost like a way to keep your hands straight towards the target. I don’t really even know how to explain it any other way.”
Asked if he could replicate the move, Rahm said he uses a planted right foot to create much of the stability throughout his swing, so the Scheffler Slide is definitely not for him.
“I don’t think I’d be a pro whatsoever,” Rahm said. “Could I hit it? Possibly, but it wouldn’t be pretty.”