Posted on 04/15/2024 10:17:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Scottie Scheffler dedicated his second Masters win in three years to God, declaring that “victory was secure on the cross” as he secured the victory at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday.
"I was sitting around with my buddies this morning, I was a bit overwhelmed," the 27-year-old said Sunday after becoming the 10th golfer in history to win two green jackets in three years.
"I told them, 'I wish I didn't want to win as badly as did I or as badly as I do.' I think it would make the mornings easier. I love winning. I hate losing. I really do. And when you're here in the biggest moments, when I'm sitting there with the lead on Sunday, I really, really want to win badly.”
“My buddies told me this morning, my victory was secure on the cross,” he said. “And that’s a pretty special feeling; to know that I’m secure forever and it doesn’t matter if I win this tournament or lose this tournament. My identity is secure forever.”
"I believe that today's plans were already laid out many years ago, and I could do nothing to mess up those plans," Scheffler later added. "I have been given a gift of this talent, and I use it for God's glory. That's pretty much it. So when I’m out there, I try to compete to the best of my abilities … I feel like that’s how I was designed. … At the end of the day, my identity’s secure already.”
Scheffler arrived at the ninth tee at Augusta National Golf Club level with Collin Morikawa, with both sharing the lead.
However, by the time Scheffler transitioned to the 10th tee, he had gained a three-stroke advantage. The 2022 Masters champion extended his lead throughout the final round, capturing the 2024 Masters title and the $3.6 million prize with an 11-under par, four strokes ahead of Sweden's Ludvig Åberg, the runner-up.
Scheffler, whose wife of four years, Meredith, is expecting their first child, said that while he’s going to “soak in” the victory and doesn’t plan on taking his eye off the ball anytime soon, his family remains his main priority, with golf “probably fourth” down the line.
"I feel like playing professional golf is an endlessly not-satisfying career," the University of Texas alumnus said. "For instance, in my head, all I can think about right now is getting home. I'm not thinking about the tournament. I'm not thinking about the green jacket. I'm trying to answer your questions, and I'm trying to get home.
"I wish I could soak this in a little bit more. Maybe I will tonight when I get home. But at the end of the day, I think that's what the human heart does. You always want more, and I think you have to fight those things and focus on what's good.
"Because, like I said, winning this golf tournament does not change my identity. My identity is secure, and I cannot emphasize that enough."
Scheffler also shared how his wife reminded him of his identity as he anticipated the big competition.
“She sent a lot of prayers,” he said. “My neck was bugging me a little bit. She just prayed for some healing and prayed for a lot of peace out there.”
Scheffler often shares how his faith guides his golf career. Following his first green jacket win in 2022, he shared how he balances his desire to compete without letting it define who he is as a person.
“The reason why I play golf is I’m trying to glorify God and all that He’s done in my life,” he said. “So, for me, my identity isn’t a golf score. Like Meredith told me this morning, ‘If you win this golf tournament today, if you lose this golf tournament by 10 shots, if you never win another golf tournament again,’ she goes, ‘I’m still going to love you, you’re still going to be the same person, Jesus loves you and nothing changes.’ All I’m trying to do is glorify God, and that’s why I’m here, and that’s why I’m in [this] position.”
Scheffler also shared how, despite the pressure of the competition, he felt God’s presence on the course.
“Meredith always prays for peace because that’s what I want to feel on the golf course, is peace and have fun and just feel His presence. So that’s her prayer every day. That’s my prayer and I really felt that today. I felt at peace,” he said.
As are ALL THINGS!
IMO he can cite God’s will in his victory if he uses a noteworthy portion of his winnings to do God’s work...feeding the poor,for example. Otherwise his doing so borders on blasphemous...IMO.
Well, he can barely walk. At least he made the cut but he can’t do 4 days, everyone knew that but he finished.
Tiger is Celebrity Gold for the PGA. They’d let him play with a wheel chair.
I would say whatever he donates to charity is his business and probably, like Reagan and Trump, he does a lot of good that’s not made public.
Understand the sentiment.
We don’t want to see a celebrity saying Christian things and then not using assets wisely.
Will trust him to do the right thing; that all looks different for each of us.
But I think credit is due for his strong profession of faith.
There are professional risks for doing that for people at his level and he did it anyway.
HOW REFRESHING!!! GOD BLESS HIM!!
But what the heck, giving praise to the big guy is sure to garner lots of fans who believe in Him......
Even the hypocrites who go to church on Sunday then flip you the bird if you accidentally cut them off on their way home from church or spout their own hypocrisy here on this very site......LOL!
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