Focused and present: In-form Scheffler ready to conquer Augusta once more
EVEN by his lofty standards, Rolex Testimonee Scottie Scheffler enjoyed a truly stellar 2024 season. The American racked up nine wins including a second Masters title, an Olympic gold medal, a FedEx Cup crown and a third PGA Tour Player of the Year award.
The 28-year-old began his association with Rolex in 2022, which was the year of his breakout season that saw him record his maiden victory on the PGA Tour, rise to World No 1 on the Official World Golf Ranking and claim his first Major at the Masters.
Scheffler is now back at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia to defend the Masters crown that he won last year by finishing four shots ahead of fellow Testimonee Ludvig Aberg. Ahead of the big tee-off, he looks back on last season and outlines how he’s ready to take things up a notch and add more trophies to his ever-growing haul.
How do you reflect on your success in 2024 and what inspires or motivates you on this continued pursuit of excellence?
I’ve always been internally motivated. I’m always trying to get the best out of myself. I’m not focused on the results. I try to focus on the process of getting better.
At the start of 2024 when I was trying to improve my putting, I’m not going to come up with one thing that fixes it all of a sudden. It’s a process that takes a lot of time and a lot of work. To be focused on the process of improving, and not the results is important. In 2024, I was able to capitalise on a lot of the opportunities that I had from playing good golf. I’m not good at reflecting, but it was definitely a fun year and I’m very grateful to have had the success that I’ve had.
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Are there any particular ways that you are looking to evolve your game or change anything in terms of your approach and life away from the course?
On the course, I’m always striving to continue to improve my game – making sure my full swing is in a good spot, and making sure I’m still controlling my distances well and creating new shots for myself.
In terms of my short game, it’s continuing to improve touch and feel around the greens, coming up with more shots that I can use and continuing to refine the skills that I already have.
When it comes to the putting, it’s continuing to work on the things that (putting coach) Phil (Kenyon) and I have been working on. I’m not focused on the results, but only the process to get better which takes a lot of time and energy.
My goal in the last off-season was to be as efficient as I could with my practice. I want to be able to go to the course, practice, get my work done and then go home and spend time with my wife and son. My family is my top priority, not my job. So when I get time to go out and go to work, I need to be very focused and present in terms of what I’m doing on the golf course.
Describe the emotions of putting on the iconic Green Jacket after your maiden victory at the Masters in 2022.
Putting it on was pretty special. The ceremony itself is beautiful. You are up on top of the hill, looking down over the golf course, the sun is setting and it’s the Masters. Everything is perfect.
It was very emotional for me. My whole family was there, my coach was there – everyone who had helped guide me along the way for years to get to that moment was there.
As the previous winner (in 2021), Hideki Matsuyama was able to put the jacket on me which was fun as he is a fellow Rolex Testimonee. The emotions flow through you and I was just grateful to be in that moment.
Being able to join the long list of Testimonees to have won the Masters such as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus and being able to go into the Champions Locker Room every year is a really cool experience.
Did this moment exceed all expectations and dreams you had as a golfer growing up?
As a young golfer, you always dream of making the putt on the 18th hole to win the Masters. I four-putted the last hole so it was not necessarily the dream, childhood moment of making the winning putt, but the walk up the 18th hole was extremely surreal.
My caddie Ted Scott and I had a conversation when we were walking up, saying thanks, being grateful and just really enjoying the moment. The results of my putting on the 18th green probably show how much we were enjoying it.
When you go back the next year, you get to host the Champions Dinner and do all the things that you have dreamed about. Going from being a little kid learning to play the game to winning the Masters is a truly humbling experience.
How has your relationship with Rolex evolved since you became a Testimonee in 2022?
Having a partnership with Rolex and to be associated with such a brand is extremely special. I grew up watching so many of the tremendous Rolex advertisements, so I still find it a bit weird seeing my face pop up on the commercials every now and then. I am very proud to be associated with the brand.
Was there a particular moment or experience that highlighted the significance of this partnership?
The one thing that stood out to me most was a moment after the Masters in 2022. When I was at home a few weeks after the tournament, I watched the TV advertisement that Rolex had produced from my Masters win. It was such a beautiful advertisement. The imagery was incredible and then all of a sudden, I popped up on the screen and it showed the highlights of the win. It was one of those, “Wow, this is really where my life has come” moments and just to be a part of the advertisements is very special to me as a player
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