PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — On the cusp of a fourth major title and the third leg of the career Grand Slam, Scottie Scheffler offered a candid reflection on his success, stating that winning on the golf course does not provide deep, personal fulfillment.
“This is not a fulfilling life,” the world’s top-ranked player said Tuesday at Royal Portrush. “It’s fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it’s not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart.”
Scheffler, who has won two Masters and this year’s PGA Championship, explained that he grapples daily with his own powerful ambition.
“Why do I want to win the Open Championship so badly? I don’t know because, if I win, it’s going to be awesome for two minutes,” he said.
He noted that even achieving a lifelong goal, like his victory at his hometown Byron Nelson event earlier this year, highlights the fleeting nature of triumph.
“You win it, you celebrate, get to hug my family… it’s such an amazing moment. Then it’s like, OK, what are we going to eat for dinner? Life goes on,” Scheffler said. “It feels like you work your whole life to celebrate winning a tournament for like a few minutes.”
Despite this philosophical view, Scheffler admitted his competitive drive is relentless. He has amassed 16 career wins and currently holds a streak of 10 consecutive top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour.
“It sucks. I hate it, I really do,” Scheffler said of losing. “I’m kind of sicko; I love putting in the work, I love getting to practice… But at the end of the day, sometimes I just don’t understand the point.”
The immediate point is capturing the Claret Jug. In four previous Open appearances, Scheffler has two top-10s and two finishes outside the top 20—a relatively mixed record for a player of his caliber. He remains focused on preparing for victory, even while accepting the sport’s inherent cycle.
“If I come in second this week or if I finish dead last, no matter what happens, we’re always on to the next week,” he said. “That’s one of the beautiful things about golf, and it’s also one of the frustrating things, because you can have such great accomplishments, but the show goes on. That’s just how it is.”
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