What matters most to you? What defines you as a person? In July Scottie Scheffler, the 29-year-old world number one golfer, won The Open Championship. He said that winning The Open, one of the four golf majors, was “living out his dreams.” He only has to win the US Open to complete a career Grand Slam of golf majors, which only six men have ever achieved. He has also won an Olympic gold medal. During his career he has won £65m in prize money alone.
However, at the beginning of The Open week he questioned why he even plays the sport. He said it was “not a fulfilling life” and the zealous pursuit of wins is “something I wrestle with on a daily basis.” He went on to explain, “We live in a day and age where clickbait is what people look for and you can shorten a five-minute clip into three words. I’ve worked my entire life to become good at this game and play for a living. It’s one of the great joys of my life and to win The Open is a feeling that’s hard to describe. Am I grateful for it? Do I enjoy it? Oh, my gosh, yes, this is a cool feeling. But having success in life is not what fulfils the deepest desires of your heart. Winning a golf tournament doesn’t make you happy – but I’m pretty excited to celebrate this one!”
A few minutes after sinking the winning putt Scottie saw his wife, Meredith, and his 14-month-old son, Bennett. He hurled his hat into the sky, roared with delight, and went with arms outstretched towards them. The three of them embraced before Scheffler retrieved his hat and left the green with a bemused Bennett nestled in the crook of his left arm. Scottie said, “When I saw my family, that was a pretty special feeling. I’m blessed to be able to come out here and play golf, but if my golf ever started affecting my home life or it ever affected the relationship I have with my wife or my son, that’s going to be the last day that I play for a living.”
Scottie and his wife are Christians. Scottie reads a Christian devotional on his iPad, and he keeps the Bible close. He says, “This is not a fulfilling life. It’s fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it’s not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart. I’d much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer. Scottie says his relationship with God defines him. “I’m a faithful guy. I believe in a Creator. I believe in Jesus. Ultimately, I think that’s what defines me the most. The reason why I play golf is: I’m trying to glorify God and all that He’s done in my life.”