Scottie Scheffler just missed yet another golden chance at a win on the PGA Tour.
Scheffler lost his second playoff of the year when he fell to Viktor Hovland at the Travelers Championship on the first hole. Matt Fitzpatrick beat him in dramatic fashion at the RBC Heritage to make it 2-0 to the Europeans against Scheffler this year.
The world number one has won just once this year, despite winning 15 times in the two seasons prior. Despite this, he’s still a leading contender to be named the player of the season.
That’s because the American has four runner up finishes this year, including one at The Masters, and a total of nine top fives. He might not be winning, but Scheffler is in the mix nearly every week.
So how many times will Scheffler win on tour this year, and will it be enough to be named the best golfer of 2026? Golf analyst Johnson Wagner thinks he has the answer to both of those questions.
Johnson Wagner thinks Scottie Scheffler will win three times in 2026
As of this moment, it’s hard to argue that Scheffler is the player of the season. Especially when Matt Fitzpatrick has won three times, and beat Scheffler in a playoff to one of those wins.
That’s who Wagner thinks is the player of the year at this moment, but the CBS analyst believes that by the end of the season, Scheffler will have overtaken him.
Speaking on Golf on CBS’ YouTube channel, he was asked who he thinks is the player of the year right now, and who will be by the end of the season. Wagner answered, “As of right now, I would go with Matt Fitzpatrick.
“Three-time winner on the PGA Tour. Got his brother a card. I’m kidding. I know Alex earned that just as much as he did, but three-time winner on tour. He’s won a signature event.
“Rory only has the Masters. Hasn’t really done much other than that. I know that’s a big feather in the cap. Wyndham Clark’s making a push, but I think the eventual player of the year is going to be Scottie Scheffler.
“I see him winning at least two more times, probably the FedEx Cup as well. He’s already number one in the FedEx Cup race. He’s just expanding that lead with every second-place finish. So, Fitz and Scottie.”
Scheffler has been knocking on the door all season long, and you have to imagine eventually he’ll return to winning ways. And once he gets that knack for winning back, the floodgates could well open for him.
Scottie Scheffler’s 2026 compared to Matt Fitzpatrick’s
Whether you believe Scheffler or Fitzpatrick is the player of the season so far effectively comes down to the value you place on winning.
On balance, Scheffler has had the better year. In 14 starts, he’s had 12 top 20s and nine top fives in 2026, and won once. Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick has had 16 starts, with 10 top 20s and six top 10s.
And at the majors, Scheffler has outclassed Fitzpatrick. Scheffler has finished in the top five at The Masters and the US Open, and finished T14 at the PGA Championship. He was firmly in the mix both at Augusta National and Shinnecock Hills.
Meanwhile, despite his impressive year on the PGA Tour, Fitzpatrick is yet to put himself in contention at the biggest events of the year. His best major finish this season was a T14 at the PGA Championship.
But those three wins for Fitzpatrick hold so much weight that he’s the favourite for player of the year. Getting over the line in three totally different events show that when he is in the mix, he plays his best golf. That’s the opposite of Scheffler so far this year.
So until Scheffler shows that he can make the plays late in tournaments, it’s hard to look past Fitzpatrick for the award.
