The former world’s number one golfer, Scottie Scheffler, recently shared his mixed blessing of emotions that accompany winning. He mourned the difficulty of victory, even in the grandest of tournaments. As he prepares for the Masters next week, Scheffler is on pace to win four major championships and three-trifths of the career Grand Slam before turning 29. Follow along as he explains his unconventional take on what achievement and happiness look like.
In a rare, sit-down interview, Scheffler admitted that, as much as he hates to lose, sometimes he still can’t grasp the idea of winning. He won a tournament near Dallas earlier this year by doing the impossible — shooting 31-under par. In spite of his wins, he is tormented by the impermanence of success.
“It bites, it really does,” Scheffler said, shedding light on the paradoxical struggle he endures once he’s accomplished what most strive for.
He thought about the fleeting bliss that comes after such a victory, and the speed with which the world continues without you. You’ve prevailed—you party! Putting aside the profound impact of you hugging my family, we kind of go back to, ‘Alright, what are we cooking for dinner? One constant is that life continues despite these changes. This pervasive sentiment demonstrates the immense pressure to perform on demand with which athletes are constantly burdened, and the emotional toll it has the potential to wreak.
The cyclical nature of the sport is something Scheffler recognized, as it too frequently leaves the door open to ask the same annoying “What’s next?” “That’s something that I wrestle with on a daily basis,” he stated. Why do I care so much about winning this golf tournament? I have no idea because, if I win, the victory is going to feel great for two minutes.
He experiences the joy and pride that accompany victory. Most importantly, he confesses these honors don’t make him genuinely happy while having spent a lifetime perfecting the art of golf. “It’s fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it’s not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart,” Scheffler explained.
As he nears the completion of The Open Championship, that marriage of conflicting feelings is magnified. He has raced four times at this crown jewel event. In those appearances he notched two top-10 finishes, and two finishes outside the top-20. This record adds fuel to his longer-term desire to re-think what this level of competition should look like, at such audacious stakes.
It’s awesome being able to win tournaments and accomplish my goals in golf. Just imagining it makes me cry because I’ve put my blood, sweat and soul into this sport my whole life, Scheffler said in a press release. He is still doubtful as to what his wins will achieve beyond making him feel good.
He shared that there’s nothing like realizing your dreams. Though he does not pretend to be moved by the wish to inspire the next generation of golfers, I’m not just hoping to motivate every kid to be the next best player on earth, to what effect?” he asked. What’s the purpose of that?
Scheffler’s candid reflections not only reveal his inner struggles but shed light on the broader issue many elite athletes face: the pursuit of success amid emotional complexities. He prepares for another highly contentious cycle. Interweaving the lessons he’s learned, his new journey paints an inspiring picture of winning for real—for all of us.
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