Scottie Scheffler was ready to give it all up.
$3.6 million and the most prestigious, beautiful jacket in the world. It was all gone if he got the phone call.
“What could possibly be more important than $3.6 million,” you might ask.
Well, for Scottie Scheffler, the best golfer in the world right now, having a baby is more important. And it absolutely should be. And if he got the call that his wife was in labor, Scheffler was ready to give it all up.
Prior to the beginning of the 2024 Masters — the most iconic golf tournament in the world — Scheffler, whose wife remained at home, pregnant, said he would withdraw from the tournament and head home to be with his wife if she went into labor.
He entered Sunday, the final round, with a one-shot lead and just 18 holes away from winning his second green jacket, but when asked if he would still leave if his wife went into labor, Scheffler doubled down.
“I’m sticking to my word,” Scheffler said. “Fortunately I’ll be here at the Masters for quite some time (in years to come). I think you only have your first child once so I’d rather be at home if that’s going to happen.”
But as the day went on, I wondered if Scheffler really would’ve done it.
He was leading by at least three shots for the majority of the back nine. The Masters was his to lose — all he had to do was not screw it up.
Still leading by four shots on hole 17, it was clear Scheffler was going to win. No player could choke away a four-stroke lead in just two holes.
So what would’ve happened if the call came then, I wondered.
Would he give it all up?
It’s one thing to say it, right?
“Oh, sure, I’ll throw away a chance at $3.6 million and a second green jacket if I hear my wife is going into labor.”
But when you’re on hole 17 and have a four-stroke lead and $3.6 million is calling your name, it would be hard to do it, at least for me.
Luckily for Scheffler, that scenario didn’t play out. He finished out Sunday’s round with a score of 4-under to secure the victory and earn his second green jacket. But while he was putting on the most esteemed jacket in the world, Scheffler didn’t seem to care.
“I feel like playing professional golf is an endlessly not satisfying career,” Scheffler 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.”
“But no (yeah), it is a very very special time for the both of us. I can’t put into words what it means to win this tournament again and I really can’t put it into words what it is going to be like to be a father for the first time. I’m looking forward to getting home and celebrate with Meredith. It has been a long week here without her.”
In the midst of one of the greatest moments of his life, Scheffler can’t think about anything else but his wife, Meredith, and their baby.
Scottie Scheffler is not just a fantastic golfer, but he’s the ultimate family man, and his words and actions from the 2024 Masters should be lauded.
