Masters Sunday elicited a sensation I’ve only experienced with a handful of athletes in my Millennial lifetime: the feeling of inevitability.

An Indianapolis-area native, I grew up accustomed to having my favorite NFL team’s hopes crushed at the hands of an all-time great: his name was Tom Brady. Prior to each playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots, I’d run through the scenarios that could lead to a Colts win. I’d try to envision a path to my desired outcome. With few exceptions, Tom Brady reminded me that true greatness has plans of its own and shows up on the biggest stages. Over the course of each game, the feeling of inevitability gradually supplanted my feeling of optimism. The score might have remained close through three quarters, but by the time the game clock hit zero, the result wasn’t in doubt. Greatness prevailed.

A lifelong golf fan, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing another athlete so dominant he conditioned everyone to the inevitability of his greatness: Tiger Woods. At the height of Tiger’s powers, other golfers could compete with him, at least for 54 or 63 holes. But time after time, the result on the 72nd green felt predetermined. Greatness prevailed.

The 2024 Masters delivered golf fans the experience of inevitable greatness: his name is Scottie Scheffler. Even before the first tee shot on Thursday, it felt like the pre-tournament favorite just needed to play sound Scheffler-style golf and it was his Masters for the taking. Prior to Sunday’s final round, I started thinking through the scenarios in which 54-hole leader Scottie Scheffler would wind up without his second green jacket and concluded that there just weren’t many. Could another player heat up and capitalize if Scheffler had a sloppy round? Sure, that was within the range of outcomes. It’s golf. Anything can happen. But as the final tee time drew closer, it only felt more and more like a Scottie Scheffler win was an inevitability.

To be clear, Scheffler wasn’t on cruise control from start to finish on Sunday. Through seven holes, Scheffler had two bogeys on the card and was one-over par for his round, positioned in a four-way tie for the lead. Then, in typical Scottie Scheffler fashion, he turned the tide, birdieing six of his next nine holes. He transformed one of the most chaotic, up-for-grabs final rounds of any recent Masters into a four-stroke blowout. That’s what the best athletes in the world do. They turn moments of doubt and disarray into clear reminders of who’s the best. They are inevitable.

Following the final round, Scheffler’s playing partner Collin Morikawa was asked what Scottie does to get the job done. “I mean, everything. He drives the ball plenty, plenty long, well past me. Hits his irons obviously spectacular. Keeps it simple. Makes the putts when he needs to. If he doesn’t, still has plenty of chances. And just never put himself in trouble.” Scheffler’s game commands the respect of his peers. Remind you of anyone?

Much like vintage Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler left no doubt on Sunday. The best player in the world stepped up, split the center of fairways, peppered the middle of the greens, showed deft touch around the putting surfaces, and drained the putts he needed to make.

Scheffler’s competitors won’t deal with a torturous internal dialogue of “Should’ve Could’ve Would’ve” when reflecting on this golf tournament. Nobody lipped out a putt or misjudged a chip that could’ve changed the result of the 2024 Masters. Nobody was getting in the way of a second green jacket. Why?

Because Scottie Scheffler was inevitable.

This piece originally appeared in the Fried Egg Golf newsletter. Subscribe for free and receive golf news and insight every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.