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Forty years ago, iconic comedian Eddie Murphy made his acting debut opposite Nick Nolte in the movie "48 Hours" by delivering the now epic boast, "There's a new sheriff in town and his name is Reggie Hammond."
After a near wire-to-wire performance at this year's Masters tournament Scottie Scheffler can now stake his own claim as the PGA Tour's newest young gunslinger as the former Texas Longhorn standout's start to the 2022 campaign has been hotter than an Amarillo fire pit in August.
Scheffler seized control after his second round 67 at Augusta vaulted him ahead of a star-studded field, enabling him to carve out the largest 36-hole lead (five shots) ever held by a player who went on to win this prestigious tournament, a feat matched only by Jordan Spieth back in 2015.
In doing so, Scheffler diverted our attention away from what the networks' intended live broadcast of the Tiger Woods comeback story by being the only player to break par in all four rounds during an uncommonly chilly weekend in southern Georgia.
At one point during Sunday's final round, I contend that analyst Ian Baker Finch recited the word "Scottie" more often than William Shatner ever did during the entire three seasons of Star Trek.
Scheffler cemented his status as the planet's top golfer despite 4-jacking the final green.
Since that's something I do with discouraging regularity, I plan to start proclaiming to any of my golf cronies within earshot "Well, I Schefflered that one" in deference to my complete and utter ineptitude with the flat stick.
Scheffler has now won four of the last six tournaments he's entered, something that hasn't occurred since 2015 when Jason Day did it.
His meteoric ascension to the number one ranking in the world has been the fastest since David Duval back in 1996.
A piece that appeared on GolfPost.com last month revealed that, of 25 players who have ever ascended to the top of the world golf rankings, Scheffler required a mere 92 tour starts to reach this lofty pinnacle. Only Spieth (77) and Tiger Woods (21) have done so in fewer starts.
I find this particularly impressive since Scheffler didn't secure his first tour win until two months ago in Phoenix and mere hours before fellow Highland Park high school grad Matthew Stafford helped the Los Angeles Rams capture the Vince Lombardi trophy.
Two facts are particularly astounding -- Scheffler ranks a pedestrian 121st in driving accuracy (testament to his ability to navigate his way out of trouble and a devastatingly efficient short game) and that 2022 marks just his third year on tour.
Now I realize we exist in an immediate gratification, got-to-have-it-now society, but what this guy has been doing lately is downright ridiculous.
While Scheffler notched the first of what should be several Masters' green jackets in extremely impressive fashion, his decorated golfing past tells us this isn't his first rodeo with success.
Scheffler won three straight individual Texas state titles, joining Spieth as the only two players to accomplish that feat.
Back in 2013, he become only the second reigning U.S. Junior winner since 1986 to reach the quarterfinals of the Amateur at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
There's a new sheriff on the PGA Tour, folks, and his name is Scottie Scheffler.
Contz was a starting offensive tackle on Penn State's first national championship team in 1982 and played six NFL seasons with New Orleans and Cleveland. He published a book in 2017, "When the Lions Roared: Joe Paterno and One of College Football's Greatest Teams." He resides in Pittsburgh.