World No 1 Scottie Scheffler says the demands of being in the spotlight constantly can be mentally draining for elite athletes. The 30-year-old American arrived early at Royal Birkdale last weekend after missing the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open.
Fans mobbed Scheffler outside a local takeaway shop for selfies after he ate a fish supper. He also struggled to focus during a practice round because cameras captured his every move while fans stood just a few feet away.
Scheffler said he accepts the increased scrutiny that comes with his status in golf, but called it tougher to deal with than some imagine. "You can’t win every single golf tournament, you just can’t do it," Scheffler said. "Nobody’s been able to do it. In golf, no matter what, you lose a lot more often than you win."
Camera Scrutiny on Practice Rounds
Scheffler highlighted the constant noise and mental pressure that golfers face during major tournament weeks. "Mentally, especially in this day and age, there’s just a lot of noise all the time at golf tournaments," he said. "I think golf is unique in a sense, too, with the mental grind the sport entails. There’s just a lot more stuff that’s going on at tournaments."
When Scheffler arrived at Royal Birkdale on Sunday, he expected an empty course, but spectators were already gathered at the first hole. While he enjoys playing before fans, he faced cameras immediately inside his personal space. "I get to the bunker on the 1st hole, and I turn around, and within six feet of me there’s literally like two cameras right in my face," Scheffler said. "I turn around and look at the guys, like: 'Hey, y’all, are you going to be this close all day, or could we get a little bit of room?'"
Scots golfer Jack McDonald is also set to tee it up alongside leading lights at The Open this week. Scheffler noted that continuous filming puts a heavy burden on players during competition.
The Mental Toll of Constant Attention
Scheffler explained that omnipresent mobile phones make players feel like they are constantly under inspection. "I think, just being in the spotlight all the time puts a burden on a player in this day and age," Scheffler said. "Everything is being recorded. When they say hello to you, they’ve got their cellphone out. Sometimes you can be like you’re walking on eggshells a little bit, and that can drain people."
That relentless fatigue limits how many consecutive events Scheffler can schedule. "For me, that’s why I say I can’t play so many tournaments in a row because of the demands you have in a given week, and being recorded all the time," he said. "I’m very far from a perfect person, and you know, I’m trying to find the right words, I think just sometimes it can be hard when you’re being recorded all the time."
Legacy and Competition at Royal Birkdale
Scheffler enters the championship at Royal Birkdale as one of the favorites despite his early exit at The Renaissance last week. That missed cut at the Scottish Open was his first in four years.
The reigning Open champion won the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush last year, continuing the most dominant run by any player since Tiger Woods. Scheffler now has four major titles and maintains a firm grip on the World No 1 ranking.
Despite his accomplishments, Scheffler insists he is unperturbed about legacy or how he compares to all-time greats. "I think it matters more to me just in terms of the competition," Scheffler said. "There’s things I would like to accomplish in the game, but at the end of the day, I have never once thought about how I’m going to be remembered. To me, it truly doesn’t matter from a sense of accomplishment. It’s more just trying to get the most out of myself. That’s what I love about the game."
Scheffler emphasized that personal character matters far more to him than winning titles. "History to me, yeah, I guess maybe just isn’t that important," he said. "I don’t necessarily want to be remembered for winning the tournaments that I won. I’d much rather be remembered for the way that I did it. So, if I’m doing things the right way, treating people the right way, like I said, I’d much rather be remembered for doing things the right way than the guy that won all the tournaments."
He added that maturing as a competitor has helped him handle outcomes with grace. "For me, competition is extremely important," Scheffler said. "I love being able to go out and compete, but over time I’ve gotten much better at just being able to take your hat off and shake hands. When I was young, I took myself a bit too seriously. I’ve gotten better as I’ve gotten older of letting the competition be the competition. And when you’re done, taking your hat off and shake hands and we’re on to the next week. History for me has never been the most important thing."
