Let's Talk Scottie

Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer on the planet. He understands how to play the game. No golfer has more control over the clubface, their swing and mental approach than Scheffler. Every time he tees it up, we witness a masterclass.

We witnessed another masterful performance this past weekend as Scheffler cruised to a four-shot victory at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush. His victory seemed inevitable after he took the lead in the second round with a 7-under par round of 64. When he plays golf the way he did this past weekend, he makes it look easy. With the victory, he only needs a US Open victory to complete the career Grand Slam.

His week started with an interesting press conference which caused a lot of discussion among golf fans. He spoke about how he views professional golf and life. It was candid and honest.

Scheffler spoke about how he was living his dream playing golf for a living. He commented how grateful and thankful he is, but he didn’t stop there.

Scottie spoke about wanting to win golf tournaments and majors, but he didn’t understand why he wanted to win so badly. He explained, from his experience, the euphoria from winning is short-lived, and, within a few hours of hoisting a trophy, the reality of life kicks back in with things like having to decide what’s for dinner.

The most important thing to him, he said, was to be a great father and husband. His family served as his motivation in life. He insisted winning golf tournaments and majors does not drive him outside of golf. If he ever feels golf starts interfering with being a great husband and father, he will walk away from golf.

I found it interesting he kept circling back to not understanding why he wants to win golf tournaments so badly. This desire to win golf tournaments seemed to surprise Scottie, and it certainly caught the attention of golf fans.

While some applauded his comments, others derided them. The negative comments felt Scottie was betraying golf fans in some sense and being disrespectful of them as they can only dream of living the life Scottie Scheffler lives.

My take was he was being candid and honest. His family is his first priority. They take precedent over everything else. If golf starts interfering with quality family life, he says he will step back from golf. Does that mean he stops playing professionally? I don’t think so. I think he means he would limit his schedule because he wants to compete and win.

Jordan Spieth offered some insight on Scottie in regard to these comments. Spieth explained Scheffler is unlike any other superstar in the history of professional sports. Spieth says Scheffler wants to be a family man and compete. Nothing else. None of the extraneous things other sports superstars do. No parties, no outside activities involving his celebrity. For example, Spieth stated Scottie doesn’t do corporate events like other tour players do. Those activities don’t matter to him because they are extra time away from family. Therefore, corporate events are an easy elimination for him because they take away from being a good husband and father and being the best golfer on the planet.

As for not understanding why he wants to win so badly, I think that’s pretty easy. He’s a competitor. While the euphoria of winning may not last long for him, as a competitor, he craves defeating those he is competing against. It is an innate trait competitors possess. They want to win, to be the best, to beat other competitors. It may not a be a life fulfilling purpose like being a good husband and father, but it is something which fuels him in a different way.

Right now, Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer on the planet. He may not possess the swagger of an Arnold Palmer or the jaw dropping shot making ability and excitement of a Tiger Woods, but he plays the game better than anyone in the world. While he seems unassuming and unintimidating to golf fans, those he competes against see his name climbing a leaderboard and slowly begin to fall away. As long as can be a good husband and father, he will also continue being the best golfer on the planet.

As always, be thankful when you play. Be grateful for the privilege and opportunity to play this amazing game. Now, go golf!