Scottie Scheffler, Role Model

If you are not a golf fan or didn’t watch the Masters tournament this past weekend, the name Scottie Scheffler may not mean anything to you. But the 27-year-old, who was born in New Jersey but lives in Texas, was the man to beat going into the tournament… and he emerged victorious at the end.

OK, so a lot of past champions have entered Masters week as prohibitive favorites – Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer come readily to mind – and wound up winning the coveted green jacket too, so what makes Scheffler so special? I am glad you asked!

First, Scheffler is a man of quiet faith, cut out of the same cloth as his fellow Texan and former Masters champion Byron Nelson. Whereas Scottie may not wear his Christian faith on his sleeve, he lives it consistently, which may be even more important. And when asked about it, Scheffler won’t shy away from responding like this:

“The reason why I play golf is I’m trying to glorify God and all that He’s done in my life. Whether I win or lose, my identity isn’t a golf score. Jesus loves me and my identity is in Christ.”

Those aren’t just sound bites used to appease a questioning reporter. On the contrary, those words come straight from the heart, sincere and unfiltered. To say that your identity isn’t in your golf score, it is in Jesus Christ is one thing. To believe it is true and act accordingly, well, that’s something altogether different. That’s why Scheffler was the same ol’ Scottie when he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 10th and the Players Championship on March 17th as he was when he lost the Texas Children’s Houston Open on March 31st by a single stroke.

Give it your best shot and then, win or lose, walk away with your head held high.

Second, Scottie Scheffler has the right priorities. After his strong Christian faith comes his family and, in particular, his wife Meredith. Sweethearts since high school, Scottie and Meredith got married in 2020 and are currently expecting their first child. Imagine that… waiting until after you’re married to start a family. What a novel concept in this day and age.

Once again, Scheffler backed up his words with his actions, telling reporters very pointedly that if Meredith went into labor during the Masters, he would simply walk off the course and high tail it back to Texas. There will always be another tournament to win, but there won’t be another opportunity to witness the birth of your first child.

Like I said, priorities.

Third, Scheffler is as humble as they come. Yes, he is a fierce competitor and yes, he realizes how good he is at his chosen profession. After all, he has been ranked #1 in the world for more than 80 weeks. But Scottie still displays a quiet ‘aw shucks’ kind of charm that seems to come straight out of Mayberry RFD. Picture Andy Griffith playing golf and you have Scottie Scheffler.

No chest thumping, no trash talking, no purposely showing up your opponent. As an avid sports fan who has a hard time watching most professional athletes these days because of all the self-promotion, Scottie’s behavior is incredibly refreshing to behold. I guess that is why I consider him to be such a good role model for today’s youth.

Fourth, Scheffler is loyal to a fault. When so many other high-profile golfers bolted to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf and their multi-million-dollar guaranteed contracts, Scottie remained loyal to the PGA Tour. If Jon Rahm was worth $500 million, Phil Mickelson $200 million, and Dustin Johnson $125 million, just how much money would Scheffler command to jump ship? The point is we will never know because Scottie turned them down flat.

I could go on and on about why America – and pro sports in particular – needs more Scottie Schefflers. Devout, disciplined, workmanlike, and self-effacing. Happy to let his golf game and the way he lives his life publicly and privately speak for themselves.

Go get ‘em, Scottie… and I hope your new baby turns out just like you.