GREAT SCOTT
Scottie Scheffler admits golf is set to be only his FOURTH priority just hours after dominant Masters win
Scheffler is already targeting a return to the course, though
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER says becoming a dad will drop golf to FOURTH on his priority list - but the double Masters champion will not let that dent his air of invincibility.
The devout Christian has always said wife Meredith, who is due to give birth to their first child next week, and his religion are the most important things in his life - with golf a distant third.
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But after his stunning four-shot victory from rising star Ludvig Aberg earned him a second green jacket, Scheffler insisted he is still hungry to continue a run that has seen him win three of his last four tournaments - and finish second in the other one!
He has now played 35 successive rounds without going over par, and is fast closing in on the record 52 set by Tiger Woods.
That sums up just how good Scheffler is. And he is confident he can handle the balancing act between fatherhood and strengthening his position as the world’s best golfer.
He said: “My priorities will change here very soon. My son or daughter will now be the main priority, along with my wife, so golf will now be probably fourth in line.
“But I still love competing. I don't plan on taking my eye off the ball any time soon, that's for sure.
“I will go home, soak in this victory, and I will definitely enjoy the birth of my first child. But with that being said, I still love competing.
“I can't put into words what it means to win this tournament again. And I really can't put into words what it's going to be like to be a father for the first time.
“Life is so good, it almost makes me want to cry. I'm looking forward to getting home and celebrating with Meredith. It’s been a long week here without her, so I'm just looking forward to getting home.”
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Scheffler’s return to the Dallas mansion where Meredith was waiting was going to be a short one. He plans to play in the Heritage tournament at Hilton Head this week, before taking time off until his first child is born.
His rivals must be hoping the baby arrives a little late - preferably until next month’s USPGA Championship, where Scheffler, 27, is already a hot favourite to continue his dominance of the sport.
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Scheffler continues to be almost embarrassed by his brilliance. He says that is where his religion is so important.
He added: “I believe that today's plans were already laid out many years ago, and I could do nothing to mess up those plans. I have been given a gift of this talent, and I use it for God's glory. That's pretty much it.
“So when I'm out there, I try to compete to the best of my abilities. Like I said, I really want to win. I feel like that's how I was designed. I've been that way since I was a young kid.
“That's always been a part of me, and I don't think that should be going away anytime soon. I don't think there's anything wrong with that either.
“Like, my identity is secure already, and I get to come out here and compete, have fun, enjoy it. And then at the end of the day, win or lose, as I said my identity is secure.”
My priorities will change here very soon. My son or daughter will now be the main priority, along with my wife, so golf will now be probably fourth in line.
Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, says he could not believe how composed his player was as Aberg threatened to continue the phenomenal start to his professional career - which started just ten months ago - by taking down the world No 1.
Scott commented: “You just kind of know it's going to happen, that he might make the odd mistake himself and that someone will make a run at him. and he's mature enough to recognize, when it does happen, it's golf. It's nothing you can control.
“You can whine and pout - or say let me keep hitting great shots, and get this done. And that focus didn’t change one when all the guys pushing him made double bogeys to give him some breathing space.
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“Maybe that's his super power, so to speak - to be able to do his thing when there is carnage happening all around him.
“The guy is special. He's a different kind of special. I think we're all seeing it, and we're all asking where did this come from? And there’s a lot more to come, I’m certain of that.”
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