In a shocking turn of events that has sent the golf world into a frenzy, World No. 1 ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler is facing a torrent of calls for his immediate retirement following a disastrous 0-2-0 performance at the Ryder Cup, which saw the American star fail to even reach the 17th hole in either of his matches.
The unprecedented demand, trending heavily on social media under hashtags like #RetireScheffler, comes after the typically unflappable Scheffler suffered one of the most humbling weekends of his career. Paired with PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka, the duo was handily defeated in both their Foursomes and Four-ball matches, their struggles epitomizing Team USA’s overall inability to gain footing against a dominant European squad.
The most stinging image of Scheffler’s tournament came during Saturday’s Foursomes match, where he was seen visibly emotional and fighting back tears after a series of errant shots. The 27-year-old, a two-time major champion, looked a shadow of the player who has dominated the PGA Tour for the past two seasons.
“It was brutal to watch,” said one fan on X, formerly known as Twitter. “He was completely lost out there. If you can’t perform when it matters most, for your country, what’s the point? The #1 ranking is a joke. Time to hang it up, Scottie.”
The criticism hinges on the stark contrast between Scheffler’s individual success and his Ryder Cup record. While he has six PGA Tour wins since 2022, his overall Ryder Cup record now stands at a disappointing 0-5-2. The fact that neither of his matches this week made it to the final two holes has been cited by critics as proof of a fundamental inability to handle the unique pressures of the team event.
“He doesn’t have the stomach for match play,” argued a caller on a popular sports radio show. “We have young guys like [Sam] Burns and [Brian] Harman who are hungry. Scheffler’s spot was wasted. He should do the honorable thing and step aside.”
However, the reaction has been met with equal parts disbelief and defense from within the golf community.
Team USA Captain Zach Johnson immediately came to his player’s defense in a tense post-match press conference. “I’m not going to comment on the noise from keyboard warriors who have never felt the pressure of a single shot at this level,” Johnson stated. “Scottie Scheffler is a champion, and this week does not define him. He is the heart of this team, and he will be for many Ryder Cups to come.”
Analysts have also been quick to point out the absurdity of the retirement calls. Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee noted, “Demanding the retirement of the best ball-striker in the world over two bad days in a unique format is the height of recency bias. This is an emotional, knee-jerk reaction. Scottie will be back, and he will win many more majors.”
Despite the support, the incident highlights the intense scrutiny and fickle nature of fan allegiance in the social media age. For Scheffler, the path forward is clear: to let his clubs do the talking. But for now, the world’s top-ranked golfer finds himself in the unfamiliar and uncomfortable position of being the central figure in a storm of outrage, a testament to the crushing weight of expectation that comes with the Ryder Cup.
