Golf
There are certain things we’ve become accustomed to hearing from sportspeople on the eve of a major competition.
Most are nebulous, designed to give away as little as possible. “I’m in a good place,” for example, or “I’m ready to give my all.” So when the world’s top-ranked golfer, Scottie Scheffler, arrived in Northern Ireland ahead of the 153rd Open Championship earlier this month and told the world’s media that he sometimes wonders what the point of it all is, it made headlines.
Most of what Scheffler said was not controversial. The 29-year-old American spoke about the importance of faith and family and about how, 14 months after the birth of his son, Bennett, the sport that is his job is not the be-all and end-all of his existence. “I’m blessed to be able to play golf,” he said, “but if my golf ever started affecting my home life or the relationship with my wife or son, that’s going to be the last day that I play out here for a living.”
In a press conference answer lasting around five minutes, Scheffler also spoke about the fleeting euphoria that accompanies success. There is a sense of accomplishment in winning big tournaments, he said, but not one that is “fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart.”
