EXCLUSIVE Graeme McDowell believes Scottie Scheffler is 'BORED of winning' after the two-time Masters champion's stunning outburst at The Open
Scheffler stunned members of the media on Tuesday at Royal Portrush by delivering an emotional monologue where he explained that winning titles on the PGA Tour was 'not a fulfilling life.'
It's been a rollercoaster 18 months for the 29-year-old, who won seven times on the PGA Tour in 2024, picked up his second Green Jacket, won the FedEx Cup and also became a new dad.
But Scheffler, who has banked a whopping £65million on the PGA Tour since gaining his card, caused a stir, as he revealed he was 'wrestling' thoughts of why he wanted to win so badly.
Reflecting on the world No 1's comments, McDowell explained that while he understood where the American was coming from, he added that he would love to be in the two-time Masters champion's shoes.
'I empathised on some levels, you know, but it just came across to me like he's a bit bored winning, like I'd love to be bored of winning,' McDowell told Mail Sport.
'I'd love to have a go at how he feels. Listen, he's a very philosophical guy and he's a very spiritual guy as well. So I guess some of it came over a little bit like, devaluing sport and kind of like: "What's it all about?".'
McDowell returns to his hometown of Royal Portrush this week but will not be in the field, after the LIV Golf star failed to qualify for the event. Instead he'll be making his punditry debut as an analyst on Sky Sports Golf.
The Northern Irishman described Scheffler as an 'interesting superstar' and praised the 16-time PGA Tour winner for being 'such a good role model'.
'I do empathise with his comments a little bit. It nearly comes across a bit wrong, because he nearly contradicts himself as well, when he says he loves it.
'He loves the practice, he loves the grind.'
McDowell, who won the US Open back in 2010, opened up on just how gruelling trying to win on the professional tours can be.
'You do work your a** off, it does hurt, and it is hard to achieve things, and then you hold a trophy, and then you kind of sit back,' he said.
'I remember when I won the US Open, and being back here in the town about five days later, and it hit me.
'I started crying at about 3am after too many beverages. Because, you know, the emotions of it all is nearly like was just the emotional release and the adrenaline.
'And then one day you're sitting around going: "Jesus, that was a bit mad there".'
'But very interesting, he's an interesting guy. My main takeaway from it is he's an interesting superstar.'
Graeme McDowell will feature on The Open exclusively live on Sky Sports as a golf analyst.
Watch live coverage of The 153rd Open from Royal Portrush exclusively on Sky Sports and NOW from Thursday 17 July, with wall-to-wall preview coverage available from Monday 15 July on Sky
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