Tom Watson says Scheffler and Johnson share Masters cheat code

Tom Watson has pointed to a rare distance-control skill that Scottie Scheffler and Dustin Johnson both use at Augusta National. In remarks on Wednesday in Eastern Time, Watson said the ability to judge carry distance by feel is a major edge at the Masters, where small misses can turn costly quickly. The comments land as Scheffler and Johnson prepare for the year’s opening major with very different recent form, but with the same proven touch around Augusta.

Why Tom Watson sees a real edge

Watson, an eight-time major champion and three-time Masters winner, said Scheffler and Johnson can tell how far the ball will travel almost immediately off the clubface. He described watching Johnson hit repeated pitch shots and call out distances that were almost exact, then watching Scheffler go club by club and stay within two yards of his own carry estimates.

That kind of precision matters at Augusta National because the greens have severe slopes and punish anything even slightly off line or short of the intended number. For Watson, that is the difference between ordinary play and the kind of control that can hold up under Masters pressure.

The Masters stage is set for Scheffler and Johnson

Scheffler, the world No. 1 and the 2022 and 2024 champion, enters the week as the betting favorite to win a third Green Jacket. He has not been at his sharpest in the weeks before the Masters, finishing outside the top 10 in his past three starts, but he says he feels rested after time away following the birth of his second child, Remy.

Johnson, the 2020 winner, arrives with a much tougher recent record at Augusta. He has missed the cut in his past two appearances at the course and has only two top-10 finishes in 16 majors since joining LIV Golf in 2022, leaving him as a long shot in the eyes of many observers.

What Watson noticed in both swings

Watson said the striking part was not just power, but the way both players sensed distance before any technology confirmed it. In his account, Johnson repeatedly judged a 77-yard pitch almost perfectly, while Scheffler worked through his bag and matched his estimates to launch-monitor readings with remarkable accuracy.

That was the skill Watson called out, and it is why Tom Watson framed both players as masters of feel as much as ball-striking. In a tournament where precision can decide everything, Tom Watson said that ability is part of what sets them apart from the field.

Immediate reactions and what comes next

Scheffler said he feels “sharp and rested” after getting plenty of sleep during the break at home. He said his game feels like it is in a good spot and that he is ready for the week.

Johnson said he feels refreshed too, adding that his game feels good and that he is looking forward to a really nice week. With the Masters now moving into competition mode, the focus will stay on whether that rare distance-control edge Tom Watson praised can carry over when the pressure rises at Augusta National.