Norris praises Scheffler for questioning the meaning of success
Before winning last weekend's British Open, the American three-time major and Olympic champion pondered what it was all about.
"There's a lot of people that make it to what they thought was going to fulfil them in life, you get to number one in the world, and they're like what's the point? I really do believe that because what is the point?," he said.
He also emphasised that his wife and one-year-old son were more important than any golf accolades and he would stop if the game began affecting his home life.
Norris, unmarried and without children but famously self-critical and open about his mental health in a ruthless sport where frankness was once considered a sign of weakness, applauded the American's words.
"I respect that he's quite honest about his whole feelings about everything. He's just honest about what he wants," the Briton, second in the championship and only eight points behind teammate Oscar Piastri, told reporters at the Belgian Grand Prix.
"Not everyone has to say what everyone believes in and what everyone thinks should be correct or not correct.
"I'm happy that someone that high up, achieving what he's done, he's performing to the same level that Tiger (Woods) did in many circumstances. And that's pretty amazing to see, to come out and say something like that," added the 25-year-old.
"So I respect it a lot. And I related to a lot of it in many ways, which is cool. I think the main takeaway is just let the person be whatever they want to be. Let them do whatever they want to do."
Norris, who is chasing his third win in a row this weekend, said he was still a fan of Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy more than any other golfer but Scheffler's words had commanded respect.
"I thought it was fascinating and cool to see someone performing at such an incredibly high level come out and just say what he did," he added.
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Lando Norris admitted Oscar Piastri showed more commitment than him after his world championship hopes were dealt a blow as he allowed his rival to breeze past him and win Sunday's rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix. The start of the 13th round in Spa-Francorchamps was delayed by one hour and 20 minutes due to heavy rain in the Ardennes. But when it eventually got under way – following four precautionary laps behind the safety car – Norris was found wanting when a sloppy exit at the opening La Source corner provided Piastri with a race-winning opportunity too good to turn down. Despite being in Norris' spray, Piastri held his nerve and kept his foot on the accelerator at 170mph up through Eau Rouge and into Raidillon before jinking to his left and sailing clear of his McLaren team-mate on the Kemmel Straight. It was brave and superb in equal measure from Piastri but one Norris will be disappointed after seeing the his rival's championship advantage increase from nine points to 16 ahead of the final round before the summer break in Hungary next weekend. ' Oscar just did a good job, and there is nothing more to say,' said Norris. 'He committed a bit more through Eau Rouge and had the slipstream and got the run so I cannot complain. 'He did a better job at the beginning and there was nothing more I could do after that point. I would have loved to have been on top but Oscar deserved it today. And I will review my things.' At one point, there were fears the race – initially pencilled in for a start time of 3pm locally – could be abandoned after it was suspended following the formation lap due to poor visibility. Max Verstappen described the decision as 'silly' and 'too cautious'. However, there have been 49 fatalities at this track in the last 100 years – most recently Dutch 18-year-old Dilano Van 't Hoff in 2023. And race director Rui Marques could be excused for taking that grizzly statistic into his consideration. The drivers returned to their respective garages, and as the rain lashed down, memories were cast back to the event in 2021 – one which was abandoned after only two laps behind the safety car. But the grey skies parted, the sun broke through, and at 4.20pm, pole-sitter Norris emerged on track, albeit behind the safety car, to huge cheers from the record-breaking crowd. With visibility quickly improving, the safety car peeled in after four laps, and Norris bunched up the pack before attempting to put distance between himself and Piastri. The advantage was in Norris' hands with Piastri having to navigate his team-mate's rain-lashed spray. But a scrappy exit at La Source from the Briton provided Piastri with the momentum and he soared past Norris and into the lead. Piastri was 1.5 seconds quicker than Norris on the first racing lap leaving the Englishman – who arrived here hoping to claim a hat-trick of wins – facing a mammoth task. 'I knew lap one would be my best chance of winning the race,' said Piastri after he claimed his sixth win of the season so far, two more than Norris. 'I got a good exit from the first corner and lifted as little as I dared through Eau Rouge and it was enough. 'I was disappointed it was a rolling start because I thought that would take away some opportunity. But when I was that close, I knew I was going to lift a little bit less than Lando did, and then try and keep it on the track. It was lively up the hill but I managed to make it stick.'
Daily Mail
9 minutes ago
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