Jordan Spieth labels Scottie Scheffler the ‘best ball-striker since Tiger Woods’… as he hails Masters favorite and slams ‘haters’ making a big deal out of his putting struggles

Jordan Spieth has described Scottie Scheffler as the best ball-striker since Tiger Woods and dismissed the ‘haters’ who suggest the world No 1’s putting offers hope for the Masters chasing pack this week.

While only one of those sentiments feels watertight, it is beyond doubt that Scheffler arrives at Augusta as both the form player and the strong favorite to claim a second green jacket.

The sense of foreboding among Scheffler’s rivals has naturally been heightened by the stark improvements recently made with his shortest club, which has led to a run of two wins and a tie for second in his past three starts.

Previously, it was a startling anomaly that a golfer with the best tee-to-green statistics since Woods was also among the very worst with the putter, but the discrepancy has seemingly been addressed by his switch to a mallet putter.

Spieth, the winner here nine years ago, has had a closer view than most of the 2022 champion as they live a short distance apart in Dallas and practise together regularly. He has also heard the debate around his putting and questions whether the ambient debate about that shortcoming has applied extra pressure to Scheffler.