Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion, has his eyes on another victory at Augusta National Golf Club. But the question is not whether he can do it, but whether he’ll even be there to compete.
Fatherhood First
Scheffler’s wife, Meredith, is expecting their first child, and there’s a possibility she may go into labor before Scheffler tees off for the final round.
In that case, Scheffler has made a vow to withdraw from the prestigious tournament if his wife’s labor begins. He is scheduled to start his round at 2:35 p.m. ET on Sunday.
“I definitely have a way to get home pretty quickly,” he said. “We have somebody here that has access to their cell phone, if that’s all right. And, yes, I’ll be available to go home then whenever I need to.”
A Different Mindset
Scheffler and his wife have been open about their excitement for becoming parents, but they also recognize the importance of prioritizing their responsibilities.
When asked how he was feeling going into Sunday, Scheffler said that his emotions are different compared to his mindset in the lead-up to the final round of the 2022 Masters.
“Going into Sunday (in 2022), Meredith and I were just a little bit emotional about what was going on at the time, because our lives were changing at a very rapid pace,” he recalled. “Now I think we have settled more into where our lives are at, and right now the most exciting thing is not winning the Masters, it’s (the) baby coming pretty soon. Things are a lot different now, and I feel like we’ve both matured.”
A Balancing Act
Scheffler finds himself balancing the pursuit of golfing glory with the responsibilities of fatherhood.
“We’ve had a lot of discussions about it. I think we’re both just trying to accept that this is what our lives are going to be like now, and you have to be willing to accept the things that come with it, and we’re both really excited to become parents,” he said.
As the final round of the Masters draws near, Scheffler’s focus remains firmly on his duty as a father. While winning another green jacket would be a triumph, he acknowledges that the most important victory lies in the moments he shares with his newborn child.
