Inside the Bethpage interview room on Tuesday, there was a hint of irony as Scottie Scheffler, who has held the No. 1 spot in the world rankings since May 2023 and dominated recent PGA Tour seasons, was asked about Tiger Woods. The question highlighted the challenges previous Team USA captains faced when pairing with Woods, and whether Scheffler might face similar difficulties.

Scheffler didn’t want to place himself into that same category.

Scheffler reflected on his own success with various partners in his first two Ryder Cups, although his performance in Rome in 2023 was less than stellar, preceded by his meteoric rise. In Scheffler’s view, Woods’ commanding presence might have added complexity to the team dynamics.

“There were times when Tiger was winning every tournament and overpowering his opponents relentlessly,” Scheffler remarked.