Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler

Greetings Golfers,

Most of you have probably heard about the Scottie Scheffler interview this week. It’s pretty amazing. I’ll try to summarize it … and then talk about it.

On Tuesday, he opened up about being at the pinnacle of the less glamorous side of the sport, emphasizing that personal fulfillment doesn’t always come with professional success, and highlighting the significance of putting family first over improving his golf game.

Here’s some of what he said, “This is not the most important thing in my life. That’s why I wrestle with it, why is this so important to me? Because I’d much rather be a great father than be a great golfer. At the end of the day, that’s what is more important to me.”

He also said that being able to support his family brings him far greater satisfaction than achieving golf’s highest honors.

Wow.

I think this is so powerful because it’s about someone who really cares more about his own personal values than society’s values.

Obviously, he’s in a position where he has the luxury to say this. And live it. But that shouldn’t nullify what he said.

In fact, last week, some of us were talking about how cool it is that he lives in a normal house in a normal neighborhood and drives a 12 year old truck.

I think a lot of us are pretty disgusted with pop culture and the obsession with wealth and celebrities.

Here’s more of what he said “There are a lot of people who make it to what they thought was going to fulfill them in life, and you get there, you get to No. 1 in the world, and they’re like ‘What’s the point?”

Then he said “If I win … it’s going to be awesome for two minutes … then we’re going to the next week.”

He sees winning as a reward - frosting on the cake. He loves doing the work to get there: “I’m kind of sicko. I love putting in the work. I love getting to practice. I love getting to live out my dreams. But at the end of the day, sometimes I just don’t understand the point.”

I think he does understand the point. He understands that life is about priorities. What screws people up is the saying “You can have it all.”

Then people don’t establish priorities … they don’t figure out what matters. If you think life is about “Having it all” … you’ll be frustrated all the time.

Life is about choosing. This or that. Now or later. Sacrificing while working for a goal.

I think that our society is constantly sending a message that the goal of life is to get to a place where you can do whatever you want … with no responsibility for your actions.

Think about that for a while.

Well … Scottie Scheffler doesn’t want that. He wants to be a responsible guy. He doesn’t want to get caught up in the glamour and screw-up what really matters to him.

We need heroes. And we need heroes like him.

Thanks Scottie.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com