Nearly a month has passed since the top ranked golfer on the planet, Scottie Scheffler, gave a “did he really just say that?” answer at a press conference two days before The Open Championship, the PGA Tour’s fourth and final major tournament — which he won.
What Scheffler said, essentially, is: I am NOT the center of the universe and what I do doesn’t define who I am.
Wait.
Scottie Scheffler is a professional athlete, true?
Yes.
And…he’s not self-absorbed — neither by his opportunities nor his achievements?
Correct.
Ok, well that’s just…weird.
Actually, not totally weird. Pro athletes who share Scheffler’s perspectives do exist.
They just typically don’t exist atop their sport’s food chain (where Scheffler has been living rent-free the past couple years).
Such spots are often reserved for the borderline-maniacal I’ll do absolutely anything to win — including stepping on your grandma AND mine. And for the largely-confused My value is inseparable from my position and performance.
Society loves dominant athletes who seldom bare their souls. For two reasons, I believe. One, winning really is sexy. And two, we really do want our heroes served up simple.
What we don’t want — assuredly not — is for a generational sports talent (read: Scheffler) to ask, “I’m not here to inspire the next generation of golfers; I’m not here to inspire somebody else to be the best player in the world, because what’s the point?”
And what we don’t want — never-ever — is for sports idols to admit, “You know…this is not a fulfilling life. It’s fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment but not fulfilling from, you know, the deepest places of your heart…There’s a lot of people that [achieve] what they thought was going to fulfill them in life. And then [they] get there…and they’re, like, what’s the point?”
Did he really just say that being a pro athlete, that winning, can be…unfulfilling?? Right after he said that he doesn’t care if legions of future golfers want to be just like him?? And did he really just say that conquering the world (of golf) is…pretty much an empty pursuit??
Isn’t that…you know, loser-talk?
Is Scottie Freaking Scheffler…a loser!!?? Like, in real life?
Because “winners” don’t talk like that. Right? Like he talks — crazy talk.
They don’t say, when asked why they want to win so badly, “I don’t know…because if I win, it’s going to be awesome for about two minutes. But at the end of the day, sometimes I just don’t understand the point.”
Scottie Scheffler doesn’t understand the point, everyone. That Scottie Scheffler. And that point…THE point: winning.
Who is this guy?
And don’t we have a constitutional duty, as Americans, to excoriate him? Or at least, to ask questions? You know, tough questions?
Scotttiiieee. Scott. C’mon man. What about being the best to ever do it? What about being the greatest of all time? You know, the stuff legends are made of? The stuff that really matters?
Well???
We’re waiting…
Oh…what’s that? Scottie did address those topics — and in the same press conference!? He does want to be the greatest of all time? (Whew!) He does want the stuff that really matters? (Amen!)
Yes, but…
He’s just not concerned — at all — about being the greatest golfer of all time. (Huh?) And the stuff that really matters to him isn’t titles or rankings. (Stop it.)
Instead, he’s concerned with being the greatest husband of all time and the greatest dad of all time. (Interesting.)
“I’m blessed to be able to come out here and play golf. But…if my golf ever started effecting my home life, or if it ever effected the relationship I have with my wife or with my son…that’s going to be the last day I play out here for a living. You know, this is not the be-all-end-all. This is not the most important thing in my life…I’d much rather be a great father than be a great golfer…at the end of the day, that’s what’s more important to me.”
Folks, there’s your world No. 1 golfer. And that’s what matters most to him.
He understands history and legacy — and chooses legacy. He understands success and significance — and chooses significance.
Pay attention, leaders.
Not to me.
To him.
Because we get maniacal. We get confused. And we — coaches, athletes, business persons, artists, politicians, ministers — trade our marriages, families, and other relationships for…stuff that “is awesome for about two minutes.”
“What’s the point?”
The point is that there is no point to being a phenomenal leader in your organization but a poor leader in your household.
The point is to be a loser. Like Scottie Scheffler.
Lose the ego. Lose the selfish ambitions.
And in doing so, you’ll never lose what actually matters most.
That Loser Scottie Scheffler was originally published in Horizon Performance on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
