From The Fairway To Fatherhood: Scottie Scheffler's Lesson In Priorities
The best golfer in the world just won his second major of the year—the British Open at Royal Portrush—and he did it with the kind of dominant performance we usually associate with legends.
But when Scottie Scheffler walked off the 18th green on Sunday, it wasn't just another trophy that defined him. It was the baby in his arms, the kiss from his wife, and the quiet strength of a man who knows exactly what matters most. Scheffler's mindset is where the real lesson lies.
Scheffler, still in his 20s and already a generational talent, was asked before the tournament what keeps him going, what fuels him to be the best. His answer wasn't what most executives, entrepreneurs, or elite athletes typically say.
"There's a lot of people that make it to what they thought was going to fulfill them in life, and you get there, you get to No. 1 in the world, and they're like, 'What's the point?'" he told the media. "I really do believe that, because what is the point? Why do I want to win this tournament so bad? That's something that I wrestle with on a daily basis."
Scheffler's honesty cuts deep and stands in stark contrast with the mindset displayed by some great champions like Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant. In boardrooms and locker rooms alike, we're taught to chase the next title, the next win, the next peak. But what if that's not the summit that brings meaning? What if we're climbing the wrong mountain?
For business leaders, that question isn't just philosophical—it's strategic. If you don't know your "why," you'll never lead with conviction, and your team will know it.
After besting the world's best golfers time and again, Scheffler reflected on how fleeting that feeling can be. "If I win, it's going to be awesome for about two minutes. And then we're going to get to the next week and it's gonna be like, 'Hey, you won two majors this year. How important is it for you to win the FedEx Cup playoffs?' We work so hard for such little moments."
Every executive knows that sensation. You land the big deal. Close the quarter. Ring the bell. Then Monday morning comes, and we wonder, what's next? The greats learn to enjoy the moment—but not to be consumed by it. Scheffler's grounded nature reminds us that success should never be your only identity.
Scheffler grew up in Texas. When he won the Byron Nelson Championship in front of his home crowd, it felt like destiny fulfilled. But even then, the glow of victory didn't last long.
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 19: Scottie Scheffler of The United States plays his second shot ... More on the 14th hole during the third round of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by)
"To win the Byron Nelson Championship at home, I literally worked my entire life to become good at golf, to have an opportunity to win that tournament,' he said last week. 'And you win it, you celebrate, get to hug my family, my sister's there. It's such an amazing moment. And then it's like, 'OK, now what are we going to eat for dinner?' Life goes on."
That kind of post-win wisdom is rare and it becomes even more poignant when you watch Scheffler walk off the course with his wife Meredith and their young son, Bennett, after his British Open win. This wasn't just a champion soaking in the applause. It was a father returning to his family.
"I love being able to play this game for a living. It's one of the greatest joys of my life. But does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? Absolutely not," Scheffler said. "I love being a father, I love be able to take care of my son. I love to be able provide for my family out here playing golf, and every day when I wake up early to go put in the work, my wife thanks me for going out and working so hard. And when I get home, I try and thank her every day for taking care of our son."
That's the kind of gratitude we don't often hear from top performers. But it might just be the most important kind. In business circles, we still hear echoes of that old mindset: leave your personal life at the door. But that thinking is rightfully changing. Forbes contributor Roger Trapp recently looked at new research that shows how employees having supporting spouses can help businesses. 'Spousal support enhances employees' own capacity to help others in the workplace,' Trapp wrote. 'This can make them more valuable team members and help to strengthen the social fabric of their organizations.'
For Scheffler, that's not a theory. It's his lived truth. "I'm blessed to be 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 with my son, that's gonna be the last day that I play out here for a living," he said. "This is not the be-all, end-all. This is not the most important thing in my life. And that's why I wrestle with, 'Why is this so important to me?' Because I would much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer."
NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND - JULY 08: Scottie Scheffler of the United States walks on the eighth hole ... More with his wife Meredith Scheffler and son Bennett Scheffler prior to the Genesis Scottish Open 2025 at The Renaissance Club on July 08, 2025 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by)
In my years of interviewing champions, from Walter Payton to John Wooden, I've come to realize the ones who last—the ones who lead not just teams, but leave legacies—are those who build their lives on something deeper than the scoreboard. Scottie Scheffler is that kind of leader. He may be the world's best golfer today, but he's already something more important: a man who knows what matters.
In a world that puts hustle over home, and output over inner peace, that might just be his greatest win yet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Forward thinking from Rams on eve of new season
Ramsbottom United are thrilled to announce that ex-professional forward Jamie Proctor has joined the club ahead of the start of our 2025/26 campaign, writes Steve Tinniswood. With an EFL career spanning 14 years, Preston-born Proctor came through the academy of his home-town club before earning his first professional contract at Deepdale midway though the 2009/10 season. A transfer to Swansea City in 2012 was followed by moves to Crawley Town, Fleetwood Town and Bradford City, making nearly 160 appearances for the three clubs, scoring 32 goals. The 2016/17 season was split between Bolton Wanderers and a loan period at Carlisle United before moving to Rotherham United. Although his debut season was cut short in August after a serious knee injury, The Millers won promotion which brought a return to the Championship for Proctor for the first time since his early days at PNE. After making 18 appearances in that 2018/19 season, scoring 4 goals, a period of loan moves followed with the likes of Scunthorpe United, AFC Flyde, Newport County and Wigan Athletic all enjoying the services of the 6'2″ striker. A move to Port Vale in July 2021 was initially fragmented by various injuries but a Di Canio-esque scissor kick against Sutton United earned Jamie the Goal of the Season award as Vale went on to secure promotion via the play-offs at Wembley Stadium. Unfortunately more injury woes curtailed his appearances in the 2022/23 season and a move to Barrow followed. Jamie retired from professional football at the end of the 2023/24 season having made 27 appearances for the League Two side. Last season was spent in the National League North with Southport where Jamie made 35 appearances for Haig Avenue outfit, finding the net 3 times. Talking ahead of our visit to Garstang on Saturday, where Rams fans can expect to get their first look at Jamie in action, Manager Steve Wilkes was understandably delighted with his latest acquisition. 'To get a signing like Jamie Proctor over the line just shows how ambitious the club is,' said Wilkes. 'He'll bring a wealth of experience with him and hopefully a lot of goals as well. 'He's fitted in well with the lads and we just need to get him up to speed fitness wise and we know we'll have one of the best centre forwards at our level.' Jamie was also looking forward to getting started at the HWRS: 'Once I talked to Wilkesy and Teaguey and heard about the club, I knew it would be a great place to come and play football,' said Proctor. 'I live local and it fits perfectly around what else I do. I've known Rob & Teaguey for years so it was an easy decision to come in and enjoy some football again.' Rammy have also signed Nick Hepple who you'll have noticed was in the squad for yesterday's friendly win at Garstang. The 33 year old forward joins us after spells at Witton Albion and Chadderton last season as Manager Steve Wilkes makes his final preparations ahead of next weekend's curtain raiser against Atherton LR. "Nick's another good addition to the squad who is experienced at this level and above," said Wilkes. "He will bring a different quality to what we already have, he knows where the back of the net is and I'm really looking forward to working with him." After making an appearance in the second half yesterday, Blackburn-born Hepple talked about what the Rams fans can expect during the season ahead. "All I can say is I'm happy to join a club that's pushing to climb the league and help get promotion and be a part of a team full of winners," explained Hepple. "What you will see from me is hunger and goals! You'll get 110 per cent week in week out!"
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'A win-win' - reaction in Barcelona to Rashford's arrival
Marcus Rashford's move from Manchester United to Barcelona has provoked huge interest, with fans and media across the UK fascinated to see whether the forward can reignite a stalled career that once looked so promising. And there's a similar level of intrigue on the shores of the Mediterranean, with Barca fans anxious to see what kind of player is arriving in the Catalan capital. To gauge the mood, BBC Sport has spoken to three Barcelona-based journalists and asked for their views on the England international's arrival. Here are the thoughts of Jamie Easton Gombau (La Liga TV presenter), Jordi Pons (Spanish TV commentator) and Toni Padilla (journalist for local newspaper Ara). How well will Rashford fit in? Barca's forward line is already well stocked, with veteran marksman Robert Lewandowski, teen sensation Lamine Yamal and rejuvenated Raphinha all coming off brilliant seasons, while further depth comes from Spain internationals Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres. So where does Rashford fit in? Jamie Easton Gombau: We know from Deco, Barca's sporting director, that they wanted another winger - partly to rest Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, and also to play Raphinha in a different role as a number 10. But Rashford is a joker in the pack because he can also fit as a false nine or striker, which will be even more important this season to give some rest to Lewandowski, considering his age. Luis Diaz and Nico Williams were the first choices, so Rashford was option C... at least! He's also the cheapest option which is important because Barca's financial situation is a long way from being solved. Toni Padilla: Barca wanted someone who can play mostly on the left side, but also as a striker. Barca's first idea was to have a younger player, like Williams, but Rashford is still young enough. From a tactical point of view, considering Rashford's evolution in the last few years, it fits perfectly. But we should remember he's only here because Nico said no. Jordi Pons: Manager Hansi Flick is looking for more alternatives, so he can have competition for places in every position. Above all, he wants to be able to give rest to Raphinha, who started nearly every game across every competition last season. Flick wants to raise the level of the squad. Is he good enough to improve this Barca team? Rashford's career has been a mixed bag, with great early promise fading dramatically in more recent times. Do those in Barcelona regard him as good enough to make a meaningful impression for his new team? Jamie Easton Gombau: Well, it depends on which Marcus Rashford we see. A few years ago, he was quite something - one of the best players in the Premier League. But if he gives the same level of performance that we saw last season for Aston Villa, that won't be good enough for Barcelona. We need to understand one thing: Barca have effectively swapped Ansu Fati for Rashford, and Fati isn't the player we saw a few years ago. So I think it's a win-win for Barca and for Rashford... and maybe also for Manchester United, because if he scores and assists in double figures, his market value will go up. Toni Padilla: It will be hard for him to start a lot of games, because Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Lewandowski are already there. Torres and Olmo won't be too happy that Rashford is in town because now they have more competition, but Flick has asked to have a deep squad so Rashford will have opportunities. It's on him: he needs to prove that he deserves to play in the big games. Jordi Pons: I remember when Rashford was young and promised so much. He beat defenders, ran up and down the wing, and above all I liked his shot from mid-range. Sometimes players can lose their way, but I see someone who is willing to drop his salary and try to re-establish himself in a team like Barca. A few years ago, everyone was talking about how great he was, and what a huge career he was going to have. Now he's got a big opportunity ahead of him to return to that world-class level. What do you think about Barca signing an English player? Rashford becomes the first Englishman to represent Barcelona since Gary Lineker left in 1989, and he will look to emulate the success of his predecessor who scored 52 goals in 138 appearances. But does his nationality matter to Barca followers? Jamie Easton Gombau: It was about time! It's shocking to me that for a country producing so much talent, so few English players have been coming to La Liga. I think there's a belief around Spain that British players struggle to adapt to the country and the culture, but Jude Bellingham changed that in his astonishing first season for Real Madrid. Spain and England might be the strongest two footballing countries in the world, so there should be a greater exchange of players and coaches. Before Bellingham it was just one-way from Spain to the UK, but maybe now there will be a change in that tendency. Toni Padilla: I think most Barca fans will be happy. It's global football now, so you get used to having new players from all over the world arriving every season. It will be a bit strange to see a British player with Barca so that will create hype, but I think people are happy about it. Jordi Pons: I can still remember being at Camp Nou and singing 'Go Gary Gary, Gary Gary Gary Gary Lin-e-ker!' I was a student at the time, and Lineker was greatly loved by Barca fans. I think most Barca fans appreciate English football because of the atmosphere, the songs of the fans, and being English could help Rashford. A lot of Barca fans will say 'come on, it's been a long time since we had an English player, let's see what this guy is like'. Are you worried about off-field distractions? Over the past few years, Rashford has made more headlines off the pitch than for his exploits on the field. Will his strong personality and ability to capture media headlines be tolerated in the Catalan capital? Jamie Easton Gombau: People say he arrives with baggage, but what's that baggage? That he became a social activist? Is that a bad thing? I don't think it will be a problem. He just wants to play again and feel important, and he believes Barcelona is the right club for that. I understand that maybe Rashford has been distracted from football, but remember what happened with Antony: he came from the same club, and it was seen as a very big risk, but he was one of the best players in La Liga for Real Betis in the second half of last season. I don't think there's a major concern. Toni Padilla: Let's see. Right now in Barcelona we're talking more about the private life of Lamine Yamal after his famous 18th birthday party! That hadn't happened before for such a young player, so it has taken us to a new dimension. Jordi Pons: I look at what players do on the pitch. After that, if they want to do whatever they feel they have to do, I don't think it matters. I don't think it will be a problem. Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dujardin free to compete after whipping ban
Three-time Olympic dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin plans to return to competition after serving her one-year ban from the sport. Dujardin, 40, was banned in December by the FEI - the world governing body of equestrian sports - and fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£8,886) for "excessively" whipping a horse. Video footage emerged in July - days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics - of her repeatedly striking the horse with a long whip around its legs. The international ban, also backed by British Equestrian and British Dressage, was backdated to 23 July 2024, when she was provisionally suspended. While BBC Sport understands Dujardin does plan to return to competition, it is not yet known when or where that will be. From Thursday, she can re-apply for British Dressage membership, which will permit her to enter its affiliated competitions. She was ineligible to receive public funding and publicly funded benefits through UK Sport while she served the ban, and she also lost sponsorship deals and ambassadorial roles. A UK Sport spokesperson told BBC Sport it is "in the process of reviewing Charlotte's future eligibility to receive public funds" - the outcome of which will determine if she can return to British Equestrian's World Class Performance Programme. It is understood representatives of Dujardin have spoken with British Equestrian and British Dressage about her return to the sport in recent days. British Dressage confirmed to BBC Sport it is in contact with Dujardin's team, while British Equestrian said it could not discuss its correspondence with athletes. Dujardin is not among the initial eight British entries put to the FEI to compete at August's Dressage European Championships. The final squad - of four rider and horse combinations from those initial eight - will be confirmed by British Equestrian later this month. Why was Dujardin banned? Dujardin had been set to bid for a fourth gold medal at the Paris Olympics. But last July, just before the start of the Games, she released a statement saying she was withdrawing after a video emerged showing her "making an error of judgement". She was later provisionally suspended by the FEI, which said it had received footage showing Dujardin "engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare - during a training session conducted at Ms Dujardin's private stable". The FEI said Dujardin confirmed she was the individual in the video, which was "filmed several years ago" and "requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations". In announcing her ban in December, the FEI tribunal stated that the video showed Dujardin whipping the horse more than 20 times, mostly from behind on the hind legs, and also in between and from the front on the front legs and shoulders of the horse. It added the footage of the training session did not constitute any other rule violations and that there had not been any further complaints raised against Dujardin's conduct since the video emerged. At the time, she said she fully respected the FEI's verdict and would "forever aim to do better". Who is Dujardin? Dujardin shot to prominence at the London 2012 Olympics on Valegro, winning gold medals in team and individual dressage. The pair picked up individual gold and team silver four years later in Rio. On a different horse, Gio, Dujardin won two bronze medals at the Covid-delayed Tokyo 2020 Games. History beckoned at the Paris Olympics, where a medal of any colour would have made her Britain's outright most decorated female Olympian - a title she shares with former cyclist Dame Laura Kenny, with both having six Olympic medals. She was set to compete on Imhotep, known as Pete - her first horse since Valegro to score more than 90% in international competition. The pair had been unbeaten since the 2023 European Championships. Imhotep has since been sold, as was always planned for after the Games, while Times Kismet, who Dujardin had identified as her next Olympic horse, has also been sold to Germany's Jessica von Bredow-Werndl - who successfully defended her individual dressage title in Paris.
