No.1 New Dad Scottie Scheffler Enjoying Life but Strives for More at PGA

In a rare moment of reflection, Scottie Scheffler (27) looked at his wife, his newborn son, and his Masters winner green jacket, feeling a special sense of satisfaction. But that was last week. Now, top-ranked Scheffler ends a three-week break aiming to capture his third career major title at this week’s 106th PGA Championship.

“I think the human heart is always striving for more,” Scheffler said Tuesday. “And the competitiveness in me, it doesn’t really allow me to reflect that much.”

Scheffler has won four of his past five starts, with a Houston Open playoff loss the only blemish on a streak that includes victories at Bay Hill, The Players, the Masters, and the Heritage before taking time off for the birth of his first child, Bennett, with his wife Meredith.

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“At home it was a nice time to reflect a little bit on my career so far and where my life has gone,” Scheffler said. “It was definitely nice.

“I can’t really describe the feeling of dreaming of just playing on the PGA Tour, to be sitting at home with the girl I dated in high school with our child and then the green jacket sitting in the closet is a pretty insane feeling.”

Scheffler also plans to compete at the Paris Olympics, comfortably ranked to qualify among the top six US players in the world top 10.

“Becoming an Olympian would be a dream come true,” Scheffler said. “It would be a nice little thing to be able to trash talk to my buddies about when they say golfers aren’t athletes. I can claim I’m an Olympian. It’s definitely a tournament that has been on my schedule and I’ll definitely be playing there if I’m able.”

Scheffler is already considering how to make the most of his limited time for golf now that he’s a new dad.

“I think just continued efficiency, continuing to get more efficient in the way I do things,” Scheffler said. “I was at home working out on Sunday and it was like the fastest workout I ever did at home, just because I was ready to go back in the living room and hang out with Mer and our son.

“I think a lot of that will come naturally, just being as focused as I can and trying to stay present. When I’m out here at the golf course doing my job, I’m able to focus on that. Then when I get home, I’m able to leave the golf course there and focus on being with my wife and son.”

Plenty of PGA dad-visors, including 15-time major winner Tiger Woods, offered suggestions for Scheffler as a new father.

“Try and get some rest as much as you possibly can,” Woods said. “He’s the number one player in the world and having a great, stable family life at home is important to having a great life out here on tour.”

‘It’s just nuts’

Scheffler was already amazed by the birthing process.

“It was just wild watching Meredith go through that. It’s just nuts,” he said. “I don’t really know how to describe it, watching the little dude come out of Meredith.

“Extremely proud of Meredith after watching her go through that… I don’t know if I could have done it.”

Mom and baby are healthy and well after celebrating their first Mother’s Day on Sunday and Meredith’s birthday on Monday, Scheffler said.

When it comes to thinking about how many major titles he might win, Scheffler tightens his focus on the immediate challenge.

“I don’t really try to look that far ahead,” Scheffler said. “I may win a lot of major championships, I may be stuck at two the rest of my career. It doesn’t really concern me in the moment. I’m just trying to prepare as best as possible for this week.”