SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France — Scottie Scheffler said it, and meant it, and paired it with that look he often gives. That, sorry, bud, this is all I got gaze, along with a Charlie Brown shoulder shrug.
At the Olympic Games on a Thursday, Scheffler had just finished a straightforward opening-round 67. The 4-under-par day was enjoyable, but Scheffler has started to perform so consistently that you only notice when something monumental occurs. Is not that what the accomplished ones do? They give the impression that it is simple.
There is no denying that Scheffler is the greatest golfer alive. He has been doing so for a while now. For 99 of the 122 weeks, including the last 64, he has been ranked number one in the world. In his previous 17 major tournament appearances, he has two Masters titles and 12 top-10 results. With the gold medal hung around his neck on Sunday, he has now won seven of his last eleven starts and 14 of his previous 59 appearances overall. Over time, it has become abundantly evident that he is not a fleeting blip. Scheffler has all the makings of an all-time great and may — emphasis on the word perhaps — develop into one of those players in American sports. the ones that come to mind.
Which is why Scheffler’s appearance at the Olympics this week felt so appropriate. Having the best golfers compete in the same venue as Olympians is one of the highlights of this sport’s involvement in the Games. A great like Scottie has an opportunity to share in the spotlight with players like LeBron, Simone, and Ledecky in a game this restricted.
When Scheffler heard such an idea, he sort of cocked an eye and remarked, “Eh, no.” He clarified that Ledecky is in a class by herself. (“I will need to put in more practice.”) He claimed he does not give his legacy any thought or concern.
“Ultimately, we’ll be forgotten,” he added.
In the grandest scheme of things, that is what he meant. Scheffler is a devout Christian, and the reply seemed straight out of Ecclesiastes. The remarks were repeated back to him as he turned to leave. “I guess in the end we will be forgotten,” a voice remarked. “Heavy material.”
“Well,” Scheffler said, looking back, “it’s true.”
This is the perspective forcefield created by Scheffler. Everything exists right now. More than a golf ball is life. It is certainly far past time for people to start trusting the man when he says he does not gauge his own success by his golf game. He perceives the universe in this way. Because he does not view himself as a celebrity, he is therefore free from the burden of performing to a star’s standard.
There is no way to keep track of how many transcendent athletes you can say that about, but you can be sure that the number is small.
Therefore, perhaps it would be better to concentrate on the present rather than what Scheffler’s heroics will signify in the future.
Gold medalist and Olympic champion, SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, representing the United States of America.
Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/MkzJR0nFvJ
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2024
Scheffler is an Olympic gold medallist who is descended from German and Italian immigrants. Her family has been in the country “for a few generations,” and her grandfather was a member of the American military.
Scheffler, 28, is the father of Bennett, 1, and he recently pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in history to win an accolade that only five men in history have ever held. Scheffler is married to Meredith.
Born in New Jersey and raised in Texas, Scheffler won the gold on the ideal international stage—Paris.
Sunday, when standing for “The Star-Spangled Banner” on a podium on the 18th hole of Le Golf National, Scheffler broke down as the realization struck. He stopped mouthing the words, forcing his eyes shut and pulling them to the back of his sleeve, at “O’er the land of the free.” He stood up for a moment, looking flushed and holding back some genuine tears.
“My parents taught me from a young age what it meant to be an American,” Scheffler said, “and what it meant to be free and proud to be representing my country this week.”
The fact that the outcome still seemed so unlikely contributed to the strong emotions. Jon Rahm appeared to be certain to win the gold medal for Spain on Sunday in the middle of the day. With eight holes remaining, he was four shots ahead and running a brisk 6-under par for the day. It appeared to be an older Rahm. the one who looks for and eliminates.
Scheffler witnessed Rahm’s score jump to 20-under when he looked at a leaderboard when he was playing the back nine. In retrospect, the Spaniard would have prevailed even if he had finished on par. Rahm faltered, though. Quite brutally. He did not even place, much less win, after playing the last eight holes at 5-over.
Scheffler, in the meantime, gave it a quick spin. He started shooting at pins while six shots behind the lead in the hopes of making it to the medal stand. Later on, he admitted that there were moments when he was not sure if he was still in the running. Actually, he was not at all. When Rahm hit 20-under, DataGolf projected Scheffler a 0.4 percent chance to win. At 90.2 percent, Rahm was.
However, as it turned out, a back-nine for the ages did more than just compete. With a closing 6-under 29 to move him up to 19-under for the day, Scheffler defeated bronze winner Hideki Matsuyama and silver medallist Tommy Fleetwood.
Scheffler in every aspect was this. On holes 14, 15, and 16, the best ball-striker in the game hit approaches to 2 feet, 13 inches, and 7 feet. Every birdie. Scheffler shot an 8-iron to 17 feet from the left rough on 17, sensing that a gold was suddenly in play after Rahm’s double-bogey on 14. Scheffler then rolled in another birdie. He discovered the appropriate rough on 18 and took an additional beat or two to review his deception. Scheffler skillfully played the ball just over his feet into a front pin position over water, dropped an approach to 35 feet, and closed with a two-putt.
He was surrounded by turmoil. Cheering and yelling fans. Players losing their minds under extreme stress.
But Scheffler? He looked he was out running Sunday errands.
He never felt the weight of victory on him. most likely because he was not considering the implications of victory.
Gold.
An more chapter in a career legacy that one day might become rare.
None of that is what Scheffler is after. All he is trying to do is play decent golf.
This is, coincidentally, where it has led him. Almost too good to forget.
(Top photo: David Cannon / Getty Images)
