PORTRUSH Northern Ireland — The honest meaning-of-life riff that world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler delivered Tuesday had fellow players talking Wednesday.
Scheffler, despite more than $100 million in on-course earnings, three major championships and more than a dozen victories since 2022, spoke about how golf was not “fulfilling’’ his life and even asked out loud, “What’s the point?’’
The day before, Rory McIlroy, ranked No. 2 in the world, talked about the “hamster wheel’’ professional golf has become, with no time to jump off the wheel and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
“I believe there’s some truth behind Scottie’s words for sure,’’ reigning U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun said Wednesday. “You do have these high aspirations, these dreams to accomplish things in golf at the highest level, and then you do and it happens so quick. Then you’re so elated, and then all of a sudden it’s like, ‘Now what?’
“I tried to sink it in as much as possible, and it did, but it’s a weird feeling. I never thought I would win a major. A few years ago I was just trying to get in them. So, yeah, there’s some testament to that. I think it goes back to your priorities, what you really want to accomplish not only in this game, but in your life.
“I think that’s true to what Scottie said, like he’s more focused on being a better person off the course than achieving historic monuments, monumental things on the course.’’
Justin Rose called it “a cool take to hear what Scottie was saying.’’
“Obviously, he’s got the rest of his life so well in order and his priorities and obviously his family and faith and all those things,’’ Rose said. “He’s got those rocks in place in his life that it kind of was cool to see that golf obviously is what he loves to do but doesn’t define him. It was great to hear, quite honestly.
“For sure, I’ve been in that similar situation in terms of getting to world No. 1. It’s something you strive and strive and strive and strive for, and you achieve it and you’re like, ‘Oh OK, it’s not necessarily what you imagine it to be, but the work and the journey to get there is the thrill. That’s the exciting part.
“I think that’s still to this day what keeps me going is really just kind of be better tomorrow as a person and as a golfer than I am today and that’s enough. Obviously, you want it to manifest into tournament wins and ticking off your goals and your dreams, but really the journey and the process of getting there is where you have to try to find the enjoyment.’’
Rose said Scheffler’s words were “very relatable for sure.’’
“There’s been moments in my career where you summit to the top of the rankings and you kind of maybe perceive it to be more than it actually is at the time,’’ he said. “I think it’s just a great reminder for what he said that yeah, there are clearly other things in life and it’s about having all your big rocks in place, and clearly he has family and faith, as my family is in place.
“Those are the things that give me the greatest joy.
“Listen, we spend a lot of time playing golf. We spend a lot of time focusing. I’ve been dreaming about being a pro golfer since I was probably 5 years old. So, it’s a huge part of me and I want to honor that always. I’m only 45 years old, let’s say, halfway through my life, I hope. I also hope to be a lot more than a golfer. It’s good perspective to not make it be everything.’’
