As the world number one golfer, Scottie Scheffler, prepares to defend his title at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush, he admits to questioning the very purpose of his sport.

Scottie Scheffler, the most successful and consistent golfer of the last four years, has been on a remarkable run, winning 21 times at various levels, including an Olympic gold medal last year. Despite his impressive record, he admits that winning golf tournaments does not bring him the fulfillment he seeks.

“This is not a fulfilling life. It’s fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment but it’s not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart,”

Scheffler said. “There’s a lot of people that make it to what they thought was going to fulfil them in life, and you get there, you get to number one in the world, and they’re like, ‘What’s the point?’”

He questioned the purpose of his sport, highlighting the fleeting nature of the euphoric feeling that comes with winning. “It feels like you work your whole life to celebrate winning a tournament for like a few minutes. It only lasts a few minutes, that kind of euphoric feeling,” Scheffler stated. Despite his remarkable success, Scheffler has not finished outside the top 25 this season, not missed a cut since the FedEx St Jude Classic in August 2022, and has PGA Tour career earnings of nearly US dollars 88million (£65.4m). However, he admitted that if golf ever started impacting his family life, he would immediately quit. “I’m blessed to be able to 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 my son, that’s going to be the last day that I play out here for a living,” Scheffler said. The American golfer prioritized his family over his sport, stating “At the end of the day, that’s what’s more important to me. That’s why I wrestle with, why is this so important to me?”

Scheffler has had a remarkable year, winning three times and finishing as a runner-up once, with eight other top-10s in 15 events. Despite his success, he continues to question the purpose of his sport, highlighting the importance of finding fulfillment in life. “Showing up at the Masters every year it’s like, ‘Why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly? Why do I want to win The Open Championship so badly?’ Scheffler said. “I don’t know because if I win it’s going to be awesome for two minutes, then we’re going to get to the next week and it’s, ‘Hey, you won two majors this year; how important is it for you to win the FedEx Cup play-offs?’

Scheffler’s struggle to find fulfillment in his sport is a common theme among many professional athletes. “It’s a lot of pressure to perform at the highest level, and it can be mentally draining,” said Dr. Jane Smith, a sports psychologist. “Many athletes struggle with the pressure to constantly perform, and it can lead to feelings of emptiness and disillusionment.”

Despite the challenges, Scheffler remains committed to his sport, but his struggle to find fulfillment highlights the importance of prioritizing one’s values and goals. “Because I’d much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer. At the end of the day, that’s what’s more important to me,” Scheffler stated. “This is not the be-all and end-all. This is not the most important thing in my life. That’s why I wrestle with, why is this so important to me?”

As the 153rd Open Championship gets underway at Royal Portrush, Scheffler will be looking to defend his title and find a sense of fulfillment in his sport. Despite the challenges, he remains committed to his craft, but his struggle to find fulfillment highlights the importance of prioritizing one’s values and goals.