Michael Kim is here to make a bold statement.

Scottie Scheffler sent a warning to his rivals by winning the 2026 American Express. But when it comes to facing the world number one in an event, things get a bit more interesting. 

Taking to X, Michael Kim compared Scheffler to Tiger Woods. He believed that the 29-year-old isn’t at the level of peak Woods during "2000 or 2006.”

“But Scottie is as good as Tiger amongst every other yr.”

Yes, it’s a phenomenal change in Kim’s perspective. Back in June 2025, Kim believed that Scheffler couldn’t break Woods’ record of being the number one golfer for 281 consecutive weeks. Scheffler is still halfway to that record. But now, he advised Scheffler to “avoid cooking from time to time.”

And when it comes to facing Scottie Scheffler on the tour, Michael Kim had his priorities set. He revealed his mindset, claiming he doesn’t enter a championship with a win-or-nothing belief. It’s not something that most golfers truly align with. 

“Most of us want to play well and get into contention and see where the chips fall,” Kim claimed. “I don’t lose any “hope.” I’m trying to improve to get closer to him. Maybe if I’m in contention and playing with him, it might become that but right now, I’m worried about my game not his.”

But do you know how Scheffler feels about being compared to Tiger Woods?

Scottie Scheffler gets honest about getting compared to Tiger Woods

As one of the fastest-rising golfers of the modern era, getting compared to legends like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus is inevitable. But while fans and fellow golfers continue with the comparisons, Scheffler revealed the real reason why he’s leagues away from Woods. 

After winning the 153rd Open Championship in 2025, Scottie Scheffler said, “I still think they’re a bit silly. Tiger won, what, 15 majors? This is my fourth. I just got one-fourth of the way there.” 

“I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf. He was inspirational for me growing up. He was a very, very talented guy, and he was a special person to be able to be as good as he was at the game of golf.”

Nevertheless, Scheffler sets the benchmark, and his peers measure progress against it rather than chasing him mentally. That mindset underscores his control over the modern PGA Tour landscape.

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu