The shot by Scottie Scheffler that captured the obsession of a PGA Tour winner.

Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top golfer, is known for executing shots that seem beyond the reach of most of his peers. What makes him a true prodigy on the golf course? Ryan Gerard, a winner on the PGA Tour, was so impressed by Scheffler’s skills that he developed an obsession with learning one of his most iconic shots.

Gerard, who has already notched up 20 victories since February 2022, including four major championships, had the opportunity to play with Scheffler during the final round of the Houston Open in 2025. What he witnessed left an indelible mark on his approach to the game. “Many golfers, when they try to reduce the speed of the club, end up making the ball’s trajectory drop. But Scottie achieves this shot with a smooth swing that, paradoxically, launches the ball higher and with more spin, creating a bridge between two complete numbers,” Gerard said in an interview with The Golf Channel.

What makes this statement even more intriguing is that while Scheffler is experiencing a less favorable phase in his early rounds – with three consecutive scores of 72 or worse, something that has never happened in his career – he still managed to achieve two top-four finishes and a T-12 in his last three competitions. This performance only reinforces his reputation as one of the best iron players in the game today. The statistics speak for themselves:

– 2022: 4th place in strokes gained approach

– 2023: 1st place in strokes gained approach

Ryan Gerard described how he tries to emulate Scottie Scheffler’s shot: “The ball is a little further forward in my stance, I grip lower on the club, and I feel like I’m decelerating through the ball and accelerating afterwards. That makes the ball come out higher, even though I don’t have Scottie’s extra spin, but it is coming out higher and softer.”

Scheffler’s ability to execute this “intermediate” shot, which defies the laws of physics, may be what sets him apart in the game. When a golfer achieves a shot that combines height and spin, even with a reduced swing, they are mastering a crucial aspect of golf. The lingering question is: could this be the secret that allows Scheffler to stand out from the competition?

With major tournaments like the Players, Augusta, PGA, and U.S. Open approaching, Gerard believes that mastering this shot will give him an advantage. The pursuit of a playing style that combines precision and control is what drives golfers, and Scheffler’s example is proof that innovation in golf can lead to exceptional results.

As other PGA Tour players look to Scheffler as a role model, his ability to reinvent himself and execute innovative shots continues to be a source of inspiration. What Ryan Gerard has learned has the potential to change his career and, who knows, lead to more victories on the PGA Tour.