Professional golfer Scottie Scheffler said he woke up Sunday morning before the final round of the Masters at Augusta, Ga., with anxious thoughts but took solace knowing that his future is “secure on the cross.”
Hours later, Scheffler — an outspoken Christian and the world’s No. 1 golfer — was celebrating his second Masters title in three years.
The American and University of Texas product edged Swedish golfer Ludvig Åberg with a final round 4-under par 68 and finished at 11-under for the tournament, four strokes better than Åberg.
Scheffler led by only one stroke heading into Sunday’s final round and said he felt the pressure.
“I was sitting around with my buddies this morning [and] I was a bit overwhelmed,” he said after the final round during a news conference. “Because I told them, I was like, ‘I wish that I didn't want to win as badly … as I do.’ I think it would make the mornings easier. But I love winning. I hate losing. I really do. And when you're here in the biggest moments, when I'm sitting there with a lead on Sunday, I really really want to win badly.”
His friends then gave him some advice straight out of the Bible.
“And my buddies told me this morning, you know, my victory was secure on the cross. And that's a pretty special feeling to know that I'm secure forever, and it doesn't matter whether or not I win this tournament, or if I lose this tournament, you know, my identity is secure forever.”
“My buddy’s told me this morning … my victory’s secure on the cross.”
— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) April 15, 2024
Powerful words from 2024 #Masters champion Scottie Scheffler after his win on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/woRSd519r2
Scheffler also won the Masters in 2022. He is ranked No. 1 in the world, having won three tournaments and finishing in the Top 10 eight times this year.
Asked by a media member how his faith impacts bad breaks on the course, Scheffler responded, “I believe that today's plans were already laid out many years ago, and I could do nothing to mess up those plans.”
“I've been given a gift of this talent, and I use it for God's glory,” he continued. “That's pretty much it. So when I'm out there, I try to compete to the best of my abilities. Like I said, I really want to win. I feel like that's how I was designed. I've been that way since I was a young kid. That's always been a part of me. And I don't think that should be going away anytime soon. I don't believe there's anything wrong with that, either. But at the end of the day, like I said, my identity is secure already. And I get to go out here and compete, have fun, enjoy it. And then at the end of the day, win or lose, my identity is secure.”
Days earlier, Scheffler grabbed nationwide headlines when he said he would withdraw from the tournament if his wife went into labor. She is due in May.
He also discussed his faith during a pre-tournament press conference.
“I am a faithful guy. I believe in a Creator. I believe in Jesus,” Scheffler said before the tournament started. “Ultimately, I think that's what defines me the most. Yeah, I feel like I've been given a platform to compete and show my talent. … I think that's what defines me the most is my faith. I believe in one Creator, and I've been called to come out here [and] do my best to compete and glorify God.”
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Andrew Redington/Staff
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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