Scottie Scheffler Makes Personal Confession Ahead of 2025 Open Championship
The Open Championship — the fourth and final major of the PGA Tour season — is set to begin Thursday at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, marking its first return to the venue since 2019.
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As players begin arriving throughout the week, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler spoke to the media Tuesday, looking to capture his first Open Championship title.
Scheffler has put together another dominant campaign in 2025 and continues to hold the No. 1 ranking — a spot he's now occupied for well over a year. But during his press conference, he was asked a seemingly simple question that prompted a deep, introspective response.
"What would be the longest you've ever celebrated something, and what was your most crushing loss?" a reporter asked.
Instead of listing career highlights or regrets, Scheffler used the moment to open up.
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"I think it's kind of funny," he began. "I think I said something after the Byron [Nelson] this year — which I won in a playoff in May — about how it feels like you work your whole life to celebrate winning a tournament for just a few minutes. That kind of euphoric feeling only lasts a few minutes.
"To win the Byron Nelson at home, I literally worked my entire life to become good at golf, to have an opportunity to win that tournament. And you win it, you celebrate, you get to hug your family — my sister was there — it's such an amazing moment. And then it's like, 'OK… what are we going to eat for dinner?''
But Scheffler didn't stop there. His response quickly turned into something more personal.
"This is not a fulfilling life. It's fulfilling from a sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from the deepest places of your heart.
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"There are a lot of people who make it to what they thought was going to fulfill them in life, and then they get there and ask, 'What's the point?' You get to No. 1 in the world and suddenly wonder — why do I want this so badly?
"That's something I wrestle with on a daily basis. Like showing up at the Masters every year — why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly? Why do I want to win the Open Championship so badly?'
"I don't know," he added, "because if I win, it's going to be awesome for two minutes."
Related: Tiger Woods Sends Strong Message Ahead of 2025 Open Championship
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Associated Press
38 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Scottie Scheffler comparisons might be closer to Jack Nicklaus than Tiger Woods
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — Even with four majors, three legs of the Grand Slam and 20 victories around the world, it's a little early to be making Scottie Scheffler comparisons. And yes, it's a bit silly. But one moment is worth noting. His four-shot victory at the British Open complete, Scheffler saw 15-month-old son Bennett coming toward him on the 18th green at Royal Portrush. The toddler face-planted going up the slope. Scheffler eventually scooped him into his left arm, his right hand holding the claret jug. This was pure joy. It was reminiscent of Canterbury in the 1973 PGA Championship. Jack Nicklaus, who that week broke the record for most major titles, was coming off the 18th green after the second round when 4-year-old son Gary ran out to meet him. The Golden Bear carried off his cub. 'My favorite photo in golf,' Nicklaus said years later in a Facebook post that he ended by saying, 'Family first, golf second.' Sound familiar? 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Woods was overwhelming, winning the Masters by 12 shots, the U.S. Open by 15 and the British Open at St. Andrews by eight for the career Grand Slam at age 24. Scheffler is relentless. He can take the drama out of a major without notice. He's the first player to win each of his first four majors by at least three shots since J.H. Taylor more than a century ago, when the British Open was the only major and had fields smaller than a signature event. Nicklaus picked up on this at the Memorial without ever talking to Scheffler about it. Before the tournament, Nicklaus spoke about his approach to golf — more emphasis on the tee shot (left-to-right shape, like Scheffler) and the approach, less dependence on putting for a good score. And when he got the lead, Nicklaus did what was required. Scheffler won that week by four shots. 'Once I got myself into position to win, then you've got to be smart about how you finish it,' Nicklaus said. 'And that's the way he's playing. 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He can no longer go to one of them because he is recognized. At the other one he's just a guy at the counter trying to decide if he wants extra guacamole. 'I try to live as normal of a life as possible because I feel like a normal guy,' he said. 'I have the same friends I had growing up. I don't think that I'm anything special just because some weeks I'm better at shooting a lower score than other guys are.' There was one other Scheffler comparison. Nicklaus doesn't believe he could have achieved all that he did without his wife, Barbara, whom he honored this year at the Memorial and who is universally regarded as the first lady of golf. Nicklaus played his 164th and final major at St. Andrews in 2005 and said that week: 'I'm not really concerned about what my legacy is in relation to the game of golf, frankly. I'm more concerned with what my legacy is with my family, with my kids and my grandkids. That's by far more important to me.' Scheffler's emotions began to pour out at Royal Portrush only when he saw Meredith, the girl he first met as a high school freshman and finally dated as a senior. He made his PGA Tour debut at the Byron Nelson that year at 17. He recalled being at her house the week before when a promotion about the tournament came on TV. Meredith said to him: 'Wait a minute. Isn't that what you're doing?' Scheffler said she's a fast learner. 'Every time I'm able to win a tournament, the first person I always look for is my wife,' he said Sunday. 'She knows me better than anybody. That's my best friend. It takes a lot of work to be able to become good at this game, and I wouldn't be able to do it without her support.' To the rest of golf world, he's the No. 1 player in the world, now the 'champion golfer of the year.' Fame won't escape him now even if it doesn't define him. ___ On The Fringe analyzes the biggest topics in golf during the season. ___ AP golf:


New York Post
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
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