Anyone who even casually follows the game of golf knows that Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer on the planet right now. At 28 years old, he certainly has already assured himself of a spot in the Hall of Fame as he approaches 100 weeks in the number one spot, putting himself into the top 5 in terms of how long someone has held that top spot. While noting that he has a long way to go in order to surpass Greg Norman (331) and Tiger Woods (683), he is definitely on a march to number 3 on the list, Dustin Johnson at 135.
The other measure of where a golfer will rank in the annals of history where guys named Nicklaus, Woods, Hagan, Hogan, Player, and Watson reign. While some would note that he has only won two major championships (The Masters in 2022 and 2024) so far, I would point to how competitive he has been in many others and, again, he is only 28 years old. Major championships are hard to win and even harder to handicap but I am thinking that Scheffler’s approach makes him a serious candidate to join an elite few when it is all said and done. Scottie Scheffler focuses on the process, not the results. He focuses on making the best shots that he can, each and every round. The results come from the detailed effort – not the focus on aspirations. He stays within himself, not influenced by the media or the hype.
Then, when it is all said and done, if he is finds himself once again in the spotlight reserved for a winner, he approaches it all with humility, an acknowledgment of God in his life, and an embrace of his family. While some would say that he comes across has being too “vanilla”, I find it refreshing to watch an athlete go about his business without the ever present ego. I don’t think when his competitors see his name rising on the leader board that they are thinking of him as “Vanilla” Scottie. He is the best golfer on the planet and they know it.
Yesterday, Scottie Scheffler added to his accomplishments - the wins that have already placed him in the conversation with the elite names in golf. He won an Olympic Gold Medal – something most of the other elite names never had an opportunity to do since golf was only reintroduced as an Olympic Sport in 2016, after an 112 year hiatus. However, it wasn’t just the fact that the number one player in the world won a gold medal, it was how he did it. Starting the day 4 strokes off the lead, Scottie Scheffler went out and shot a course record of 62, calmly shooting himself into contention and ultimately the lead.
Then, in my humble opinion, Scottie Scheffler became the face of the American Olympic team. Standing on the winner’s block at the awards ceremony, with his gold medal hanging around his neck, he became visibly emotional as the American flag was raised and the Star Spangled Banner was played. In that moment, Scottie Scheffler showed that he hadn’t just been playing for his personal glory or his position in the record books. He had been playing for his country, The United States of America. He had won for his country and, standing there in that moment, he did what many Olympic medalists have done through time (although very rarely in recent years), he wept.
Thank you, Scottie, for conducting yourself with class, always acknowledging the role of God in your life, and for showing us that there is nothing wrong with being a patriotic American. The Stars and Stripes don’t fly for a political party and the Star Spangled Banner should stir some pride in anyone who fights or competes under her colors. On a Sunday afternoon in France, you stood there, proud and emotional. Back here at home, there were many of us were fighting back our own emotions as we watched a countryman realizing he had won this one for us.
Thank you Kevin for pointing out how patriotism is like Christianity in that we should stand together united in our faith, united in fellowship, united not divided. United to run the good race of faith in Christ Jesus.
I'm not American but I've appropriated the Stars and Stripes and the Anthem as mine since I was six.
At seventy four I'm hoping that the teenagers who seem to have accepted the corrupt uni party, warfare, lawfare, government of Obama and Clinton, do what we did in the 60s and fight the system. I hope in despair unfortunately. The media, the arts and the culture have all been bought.
I'm not a Christian so I don't believe a God had anything to do with the young man's success and I wish he'd give himself more credit because nobody will blame God when he fails...but supporting the flag and the country. That means everything