Scottie Scheffler doesn't just play golf; he makes it look like a boring office job. And honestly, that’s exactly why his 82-foot scheffler chip on 17 at the 2025 BMW Championship felt like such a glitch in the matrix.
You’ve probably seen the highlight.
The ball trickles down the slope at Caves Valley, tracking like it’s on a rail, and disappears into the cup. It wasn't just a lucky break. It was a soul-stealing moment that basically ended the tournament for Robert MacIntyre before he could even blink.
Most people look at a shot like that and think, "Wow, he got lucky." They’re wrong.
The Physics of the Scheffler Chip on 17
If you want to understand why that ball went in, you have to look at how Scottie actually sets up. He’s not out there trying to be Phil Mickelson with some high, floppy nonsense.
He likes it low.
Basically, Scheffler uses a high-lofted wedge but plays it with a dead-shut face and a steep angle of attack. It sounds counterintuitive. Why use a 60-degree wedge if you're just going to turn it into a 7-iron?
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The answer is spin control.
By de-lofting the club, he ensures the ball comes out "dead." It hits the green, checks up once, and then starts its true roll toward the hole. On the 17th at the BMW, he was in the rough, without his usual caddie, Ted Scott, and coming off a brutal three-putt on 12 that had his lead down to a single stroke.
The pressure was mounting.
Instead of playing it safe to the fat part of the green, he picked a spot, trusted the "toe-down" setup he’s famous for, and let the grain of the green do the work. When it came out, he said it looked "exactly how he wanted." That’s not a guy hoping for a miracle. That’s a guy executing a blueprint.
Why the Short Game is the Real Story
We spend all our time talking about Scottie’s "footwork" or how he slides around like he’s on ice skates during his follow-through. It's distracting. The real reason he’s been parked at World No. 1 for years isn't just the ball-striking.
It's the scrambling.
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In 2024, Scheffler’s median Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green was a staggering 2.845. He ranks 1st in proximity to the hole and 1st in scrambling from the rough. Think about that for a second. Even when he misses, he misses in the right spot.
He’s a strategic genius.
The scheffler chip on 17 was actually a recovery from a "good miss." He knew that going long or left was a death sentence. He missed short-right, giving himself the most green to work with. Most amateurs fire at the flag, miss in a bunker, and then wonder why they're making double bogey.
Scottie plays the percentages.
Steal His Routine (Not His Swing)
You probably shouldn't try to mimic his footwork. You’ll end up in a chiropractor’s office. But you can steal his approach to the short game.
PGA experts like Jack Backhouse have noted that Scottie actually stands up—gaining about 3 inches in height—during his downswing on chips. This is the opposite of what your local pro probably tells you. He’s not "keeping his head down."
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By standing up, he prevents the leading edge from digging into the turf.
It creates a shallower, more consistent strike even when the angle is steep. It's a high-risk, high-reward technique that requires thousands of hours of practice. But the result is a ball that behaves predictably every single time it leaves the face.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Round
If you want to chip like the best player in the world, stop trying to hit the "hero" shot.
- Pick the safe miss. Before you pull a club for your approach, look at where you can't be. If the pin is tucked behind a bunker, aim 15 feet to the side. Give yourself a simple chip.
- Keep it low. Scottie always looks for the low option first. Use the ground. The less time the ball is in the air, the less can go wrong.
- Practice the "ugly" lies. Don't just chip from the perfect fringe. Go into the thick stuff. Drop five balls in a footprint. That's where tournaments are won.
- Trust the routine. Scheffler’s pre-shot process is almost meditative. He doesn't change it based on the score or the hole.
Next time you’re facing a touchy shot around the green, remember that scheffler chip on 17. It wasn't magic. It was the byproduct of a guy who understands that golf is a game of management, not just highlights.
Stop aiming at every flag. Start aiming for the easy par. Your scorecard will thank you.