‘What is the point?’ Scottie Scheffler questions golf and life before Open | The Open
SPutting the age of three, when he received a set of plastic clubs, Scottie Scheffler wanted to be the best golfer in the world. He has won three majors, has been classified in the world n ° 1 since 2023 and is the favorite of the open this week. But during an extraordinary press conference in Portrush on Tuesday, the American looked in an existential vacuum when he wondered: what is the interest of all this?
Scheffler was clearly happy and his determination to win this week was clear. He also spoke with eloquence the challenges of the golf of links. But a press conference until then without particularity has suddenly turned into a deeper philosophical research when the 29-year-old was asked how long he had ever celebrated a victory.
It turned out that the answer was a few minutes. And Scheffler was just beginning, because he then promised to leave golf if it ever affects his family life.
“There are many people who get to what they thought were going to accomplish them in life, and you get there, you get to the world in the world, and they are like what it is for?” He said. “I really believe that, because that’s the point?” Why do I want to win this bad tournament?
“This is something I fight with daily. I introduce myself to the Masters every year, is it like, why do I want to win this golf tournament so much? eliminators? And we’re back here.
Scheffler was clearly in a good mood. But he conceded that all joy he felt of his achievements was only fleeting and did not give him a lot of fulfillment. “To live your dreams, it’s very special, but at the end of the day, I’m not here to inspire the next generation of golfers,” he said.
“I’m not here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world, because what is it for?”
Perhaps such an approach, as well as its deepest religious beliefs, help to explain why Scheffler looked so eco-eating even when the pressure is timely until maximum.
“We really work so hard for such small moments. I’m a little sick; I love doing the work. I love to practice. I love to live my dreams. But at the end of the day, sometimes I just don’t understand the point.
“I don’t know if I make sense or not. It’s just one of these offers. I love the challenge. I love being able to play this game to make a living. It is one of the greatest joys of my life, but does it fill the deepest desires and desires of my heart? Absolutely not. “
Instead, Scheffler said that his family had much more important – and he would stop playing professional golf course if it touched his relationship with his wife, Meredith, and his son, Bennett.
“Every day I wake up early to go to work, my wife thanks me for getting out and so hard work,” he said. “When I come home, I try to thank her every day for taking care of our son. This is why I am talking about the family that is my priority because it is really the case.
“I am lucky to be able to come here and play golf, but if my golf has started to affect my family life or if it has ever affected the relationship I have with my wife or son, it will be the last day I play here to earn a living.
Quick guide
Five groups to follow at the opening with the towers 1 and 2
To show
6:35 am (RD 1) /11.26h (RD 2):
Padraig Harrington, Nicolai Hojgaard, Tom McKibbin
The double open champion Padraig Harrington leads a first catchy group with two European stars increasing. Nicolai Hojgaard, 24, from Denmark, already has an appearance to his credit, while Tom McKibbin, 22, who finished fourth in the golf Liv Andalucía, hopes to make an impression in his northern native Ireland.
9:58 am (RD 1) / 22h (RD 2):
Xander Schauffele, JJ Spaun, Jon Rahm
Xander Schauffele will call on the first golfer since Harrington in 2008 to defend his open title. JJ Spaun, making his open debut, said that his experience in the closest ties was to play Bandon Dunes in Oregon, but as the only golfer to end under the word at the US Open, he will imagine his chances. The former n ° 1 of the world Jon Rahm completes a group of main champions.
10:09 am (RD 1) / 3: 22h (RD 2):
Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler
Many has been said about the effortless domination of Scottie Scheffler, who will finally be put to the test of the perfidious ties of Portrush. “I think it corresponds to my strength because I like to do things in a very creative way,” he said before the tournament. Former Champions Collin Morikawa and Shane Lowry, who won the Portrush in 2019, complete the trio.
10:42 am (RD 1) / 3: 43h (RD 2):
Matti Schmid, Ryggs Johnston, Richard Teder (A)
Richard Teder will be one of the nine amateurs among the 156 fields to watch. The 20 -year -old Estonian, who picked up the golf by accident, qualified considerably for the Open by leaving 90 meters in a sudden mortality match. He is no stranger to Links Golf, having played in children’s tournaments in Scotland and has shot competition tricks on courses like Royal St George’s and Ballyliffin.
2:48 p.m. (RD 1) / 9: 47h (RD 2):
Robert Macintyre, Bryson Dechambeau, Justin Rose
The major success became ephemeral for Justin Rose in recent attempts, and English will again be a favorite of the crowd while he aims to add to his US Open 2013 victory. Meanwhile, the contrast of styles between Bryson Dechambeau, who traditionally fought with golf ties, and Robert Macintyre in Scotland is an eye on the goalkeeper.
3:10 p.m. (RD 1) / 10.09h (RD 2):
Rory McILroy, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood
All the eyes are on the favorite of the Rory McILroy house when he returned to Portrush after missing the cup in 2019. McILroy left this tournament with regrets, but comes here after his master victory. Tommy Fleetwood finished second in Portrush in 2019 and can be better placed to end his major drought, while Justin Thomas also seeks to rediscover his mojo. Ervin Ang
“That’s not all, final.
This does not mean, of course, that Scheffler is not deeply determined to win his first title open to Portrush, after obtaining his best seventh finish in Too last year.
“It’s great to win tournaments. But sometimes the feeling of winning only lasts a few seconds. It’s quite exciting and fun, but it doesn’t last so long.”
