Faith Over Trophies - The Scottie Scheffler Way

What's up PE Nation!

Let's talk "Game Changers" today! Scotty Scheffler, the world's #1 golfer, offers a refreshing perspective on success, prioritizing faith and family over trophies and fame. His approach stands in stark contrast to other sports heroes who often disappoint fans through personal failings.

• Winning isn't Scheffler's identity – his faith provides his foundation regardless of golf outcomes
• Trophies and accomplishments are fleeting – Scheffler questions why winning matters so much
• Family comes before career – he would walk away from golf if it negatively affected his home life
• His ultimate purpose is using his talent to glorify God, not seeking fame or fortune

Take care and happy teaching,

Dave

Scottie's interview: https://x.com/GolfDigest/status/1945084133941649919

Team Building Games Ebook (with preview): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Team-Building-Games-and-Activities-for-PE-Class-14063095

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Chapters

• 0:10 Introduction to Scotty Scheffler
• 3:32 Tiger Woods and Finding Heroes
• 8:39 Winning Isn't His Identity
• 11:22 When the Trophies Fade
• 14:31 Family Over Career
• 17:03 His Ultimate Purpose
• 20:14 Final Thoughts on Perspective

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:10

Hello and welcome to the Supersize Fizz Ad Podcast. My name is Dave and today I want to talk about Scotty Scheffler because he's so awesome and because I found a new not hero, I don't want to use the word hero but I found a new kind of favorite sports figure that's at the top of their game, and it's definitely Scotty, without a doubt. So let's talk about him next. Here we go. Welcome in PE Nation.

Speaker 1: 0:52

So I know some of you like golf, some of you love golf, like me, and some of you can't stand golf, like my wife. So wherever you are, it doesn't really matter. This is really about a person and a person who's number one in the world at something and what really matters in life. So first of all, I love watching golf. I remember watching golf when golf wasn't really that cool to watch. I mean with Jack Nicklaus and he, I mean he was cool, but he was, you know, when I started watching he was older and he's really old now. Older, he's really old now and you know I enjoyed it.

Speaker 1: 1:29

I went to a PGA tournament when I was a kid at my dad's course. I'm surprised, looking back, that they had a PGA event there. I think it was a smaller event, but I remember Fuzzy Zeller was there. His name was kind of funny, right, fuzzy. So after that I was hooked. I mean I watch it, maybe not every weekend, but I was. I was enjoyed watching it and I played. I've been playing since I was I don't know six or seven and I'm still I'm terrible or I'm average how about that? I'm average golfer.

Speaker 1: 1:54

But once Tiger Woods hit the scene, I mean everything just changed the way they golf, they golfed as far as like length and distance, the way they exercise, the way they ate and practice, everything. I mean he dominated for, you know, 15 years, maybe not around 15, 12 to 15 years. I mean he just dominated. It seems like longer. But he was hurt and we'll go into some other stuff. But you know, when I saw Tiger I really was like man, this, I love following this guy, this is this guy's awesome. And it was just so exciting back then.

Speaker 1: 2:28

And, uh, when I lived near Charlotte, north Carolina, for a little bit, my friend Rick would get his tickets to Quail Hollow, which is what actually just went there recently for the uh, pga championship a couple of months ago. And back then it was just it wasn't a PGA championship, it was a. It was a regular event. It was the Wachovia Championship, which is well, I don't know, it was just a PGA event. But he was there multiple times. We went there, tiger and my friend Rick knew exactly where to stand, where they would open up the ropes, because he'd been there a bunch of times.

Speaker 1: 2:59

And on hole number one, tiger walked right by us and I know it's crazy, but we were almost like the only people there. I'm in awe thinking about, or maybe in shock, remembering this time, but it's true, we were the only ones around. I think most of the spectators were up farther along, I guess, watching some of the other golfers, like Phil Mickelson and some other ones were there. But I mean it was Tiger right, and this is during his prime, absolute prime. He walked right by us. I mean like we could reach out and touch him. We did not, but you know his look was so intense, I mean as he just stared straight ahead and I stood there and I was frozen. I mean it was crazy. I actually wanted to say go Tiger, but I couldn't. I couldn't, the words wouldn't come out. It was kind of crazy. He just he took my breath away. It was unreal.

Speaker 1: 3:52

And this whole thing isn't about Tiger, this is about Scotty. But I just want you to get the context of, like, oh my gosh, I just love golf. And you know Tiger was on top of the world. I mean he was young, rich, he was number one and he seemed to have everything all together right. I mean he was just like he was it. I mean he had a beautiful wife, two kids and more money, toys and trophies that I could ever dream of. But eventually it all caught up to him. His extramarital affairs, let's just say, were exposed, and that was a big deal, were exposed, and that was a big deal. His wife left him, some of his sponsors dropped him and he had to take a leave from leave absence from golf.

Speaker 1: 4:30

So what I and I've read a lot about Tiger over the years. I've read a lot, I've watched a lot. I still, really, I just I root for him. I sometimes I don't know why, because of you know my wife, just you know, as a female, I don't know, because of you know my wife, just you know, as a female, I don't know, um, she just can't get over the infidelity thing, um, and I try to separate that as far as like, well, you know, I don't know tiger personally, I just love watching him golf. But I realized, you know, what was missing in his life. It was it was faith in the Lord. Um, and I'm not, I don't know everything about him. Um, you know, I don't I'm not going to tell you exactly what he believes, but I, I'm pretty sure he, he doesn't have that and, um, you know, I always refer him.

Speaker 1: 5:11

Like I said, the 2019 masters was probably the greatest comeback I've ever seen in my life. It was awesome. If you've seen that, it was great and Tiger won it. And, uh, you know, I love his. I still love his work ethic, his talent, his drive. But you know, I can't even imagine what it'd be like to be number one in the world in something.

Speaker 1: 5:29

But then let's talk about Scotty, scotty Scheffler. So Scotty's career took a little bit slower start than Tiger. Tiger was like teenager and he was just off and running. We even knew the name Tiger before he really started in the PGA. It was just. Everybody knew his name, at least if you followed it. So Scotty took a little longer, a little slower start, but in the past couple of years he's been on a tear. He became the number one player in the world and recently, over the summer, he just won his fourth major tournament, the Open, or they used to call it the British Open. But it's really just the Open and he's just like any superstar athlete I've ever followed. It's crazy.

Speaker 1: 6:09

He puts faith in family over golf and success. I mean, he wants to win but he knows winning is fleeting and he doesn't really seek the fame and you know I know it's like well, okay, okay, dave, what do you want me like? Really, I know he wants to. You know he's making millions, boo hoo. But let me kind of lay out the case for him and to me it's a better way to live. It's called, to me it's called the Scotty Scheffler way.

Speaker 1: 6:32

So and we'll talk about the interview he gave and it's a couple interviews, we'll go step by step, so let's go with the first one. Let me just talk about the interview itself. So let's make this All right. So he's given some interviews about this, but he gave this and I'll put in the show notes. He gave this interview which was like it was just kind of unreal. It was right before the open Again the one he won and he was just like, basically somebody asked him about winning and you know what it means to him and you know it was all about how.

Speaker 1: 7:09

You know he struggles with why he wants to win so much, why is that so important to him? You know why is he going out on the road all the time, away from his family. You know he struggles with that and you know he knows that there's a bigger purpose and in this interview he doesn't talk about like his faith really, but he has before and you know he's he's basically saying his legacy, his. You know the trophies, everything. It doesn't really mean anything unless you have faith in the Lord, and I know I don't want to talk about that enough on here, or as much on here, um, I really talk about PE stuff, but you know, as a Christian, I really um, just want to put that out there and if you're not, that's okay. I'm just putting my faith out there for a second, you know. So I'm just talking about him and if nothing else, I hope you stick around, at least admire what he's saying, because I think it's pretty important, no matter what you believe, to put family faith and, you know, marriage and things like that over trophies. So, again, you need to see this interview. I've watched this interview at least five times. I just I think it's amazing. I've shared it with my kids, I shared it with my wife, I shared it with my friends and it's just something you never hear from these top athletes like never.

Speaker 1: 8:22

And I'll go through some of the quotes as we talk about this. So that was the first boomer. Just kind of an introduction there. So let's get on to each of these things that I want to cover today. All right? So the first thing, the first topic, is winning isn't his identity, and I'm talking about Scotty in this case. So this quote I'm going to read to you is not from this past one. This is from a different. This is from before the Masters and actually he won it the night before he won it. This is a quote from him. I'm going to read it. I'm looking at my phone. I'm going to read it word for word here. It said my buddies told me my victory was secure on the cross Win or lose. My identity is secure forever. And it's a Scotty talking about the night before his master's final round. So even he knows that, even if he loses, his life isn't lost, it's not over. He has bigger plans and his life means more than just winning.

Speaker 1: 9:16

And you know, I've always rooted for these top athletes. I've rooted for I'm thinking of these three guys, uh, between Tiger, whichever I talked about Lance Armstrong and Conor McGregor. I've always rooted for them because they, they're just, they're awesome or they were awesome at their craft, at their sport and but they'll let you down, right? I mean they, if you know anything about them, they, they really, I mean Lance, let me down so badly. I think I've talked about that before on a different, like a long time ago, podcast. I I bought into Lance Armstrong. I bought, you know, I got the wristband, the yellow wristbands, the shirts you know Livestrong the yellow wristbands, the shirts you know Livestrong.

Speaker 1: 9:52

I was watching the Tour de France all the time and, by the way, I just started watching it again a couple of years ago because I took almost a 10 year break from the Tour de France because when he was, you know, he had actually admitted that he was cheating and doping and, you know, using all these drugs and stuff Like that killed me. It did I mean because I put my faith in him. Not, I didn't, I'm not saying I didn't believe, you know, I wasn't a believer back then, but let's just say I put a lot of faith in him because he was like the greatest cyclist and he represented America and we never we didn't have that long time and you know, it was just awesome but and he was larger than life and I just but you know, he just these people can let you down. Conor McGregor, I don't know why I root for him, because he's just these people are just rude and toxic individuals. He's got a lot of legal stuff, um, and not in a good way, um, but I I tend to overlook some of these guys, their faults, because I was like, oh, but they're just great athletes. But the problem is, people let you down, even people you don't know. I mean, I just these people let me down, but your faith in the Lord won't let you down. Okay, I mean Jesus Christ, if you have a relationship with him, will not let you down. He died for us so we can be free and spend eternity in heaven with him, our Lord and creator. And so what Scotty was saying his identity isn't what he does. It identity isn't what he does, it's who he believes in and trusts. And I just want to say Scotty believes that and so do I, and that's the next boomer.

Speaker 1: 11:19

All right, the next topic is called when the trophies fade. So this is another thing he said. This is the recent one. He said you win it. Then it's like okay, what are we going to eat for dinner? Life goes on and he just doesn't put a lot of stock in that. He's like, well, okay, you win it and you're happy. For a little bit it's fleeting, it's only for a few moments. You're happy, happy, happy. And it's like okay, now we have to go on to the next tournament. Now, what's for dinner? Do the kids need a bath? You know there's other things.

Speaker 1: 11:52

And you know I admit I had a lot of trophies when I was a kid. They weren't like I wasn't the greatest athlete, but I played a lot of baseball. I actually bowled a lot and you know I had a decent amount of trophies. I know some were like, you know, participation trophies or whatever, but you know they stood for dedication and hard work and you know being there and doing your best. And you know, when I packed up my stuff when I lived near Buffalo and was going to move down to Florida, I couldn't bring everything. So I mean I threw my trophies away. You know I was sad but I didn't really. You know, I don't know I didn't do anything with them anymore. I mean I kind of wish I kept them because they mean something again. But you mean I kind of wish I kept them because they mean something again. But you know I just couldn't keep them. And you know awards do mean something, they just, you know I don't always look for limelight as a teacher.

Speaker 1: 12:40

I do appreciate the rare times I've been recognized for my hard work. I've been honored at different banquets for my grant writing. I've written grants for and received over $30,000 in equipment for my PE program and that's been a blessing. And you know I love bringing new experiences to my students. However, I've never been a teacher of the year and you know, does that bother me? Sometimes it does. I feel like I've proved myself. I've done this for a long time. I'm very innovative and fun and dedicated to my students. But I'm hardly ever nominated and when I do, I haven't really made it. Or when I have been, I haven't really made it far in the process. Now do I need validation? No, but it's nice for people to say, hey, you're the best in your field, at least around here or whatever. So you know. But listen to Scotty, I'm trying to get a different perspective.

Speaker 1: 13:31

So here's another quote. It says from him winning is fulfilling from a sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from the deepest places of your heart. And I really think that defines his perspective on medals and trophies. I mean, he wants to win. He did say that as well. He wants his years of hard work to pay off monetarily and by winning championships. So you know he wants to provide for his family and you know winning millions of dollars does help, obviously. But he does struggle with that Like why does he want to win so bad? Why do we? Because winning defines greatness, but it's fleeting, it's amazing, but it doesn't last. It doesn't satisfy your soul the way your faith in the Lord would or will. You'll always be thirsty for more and more and more money, trophies, recognition, and someday it won't even matter. You can't bring your trophies with you when you die. I'm sorry, but you can decide on where you go when you die and my recommendation is to choose wisely, all right.

Speaker 1: 14:31

The next one is family over career. And here's the quote from before again the open. Recently he said I'd much rather be a great father than a great golfer. If golf ever started affecting my home life, that's going to be the last day I play. And again, I know he's making millions of dollars, I get it. He probably could walk away from golf this second and be fine the rest of his life. But you know, being the best at something takes sacrifice.

Speaker 1: 14:58

I spend a lot of time on my craft by myself. I write podcasts, I create other content online. I try to do this when, you know, early in the morning or when the kids are asleep, or after school, when I have some time before everybody gets home, and, you know, in the summer, when I have some time and my kids are sleeping. Whatever, you know, my wife is a teacher. So we, you know, we get a lot of family time together, which is good, really good, but a lot of people don't have that. You know they struggle financially. Some parents travel for work. You know it's just. Sometimes it's hard. I do work an extra job I've talked about before the local arena. I just worked all weekend long. Honestly, yes, after recording this, I worked all weekend Search of Soleil. I worked actually six times Thursday, friday, two on Saturday, two on Sunday just for a little extra money. You know it hurts that I didn't see my kids as much, but I did see him all summer long and I told him about this so that I was going to be one weekend that I just work a ton. And you know, for me I try not to let that affect my family time. It's hard, I get it, and Scott and his wife have a young son. If you see that, it's really cute.

Speaker 1: 16:09

He's on the golf course at the end. But his goal is to separate golf and family, with family coming first. He doesn't want to be an ambassador for golf like Rory, or walk the red carpets like Tiger. He doesn't want the fame. He just works hard at his job, plays in tournaments and goes home to his family. He wants to earn a living for them and provide for them as best as he can. But he's prepared to walk away at any point. Isn't that crazy? He's just like. You know what I'm done. He doesn't want the fame or fortune, like I said, but he has both. He wants a solid relationship with his family. That's what's most important to him. And again, it's easy to say. But he's a multimillionaire, yeah, I get it, but imagine walking away from being number one in the world at something, and I'm not saying he's going to do it, and he's not saying he's going to do it a hundred percent or anything, but he'd rather be a better father and husband than a golfer, and I think that's pretty cool, all right.

Speaker 1: 17:03

So the final point I'm trying to make here I guess the final topic is his ultimate purpose, and here's a, here's a quote for me, the reason why I played, or the reason I play, golf, is I'm trying to glorify God and all that he's done in my life. And I'll tell you what legacy is a really funny thing. And I wrote another article. I wrote a different article about it, which I'm not going to go into now, but I'll link in the show notes.

Speaker 1: 17:28

You want to be remembered for stuff Like you want to be remembered because everybody wants to be remembered. But then it's like well, why does it matter? So you know one hand. You're like oh man, I want to make and I do. I want to know that I made a difference in my students' lives, that they became better people because of me, not just you know better at soccer or something, and that's important. But you know better athlete fine, awesome. But I want them to be great people and maybe just have a little part in that.

Speaker 1: 17:55

So you know, I do struggle with legacy and you know I think about my grandparents a lot because my wife, I didn't meet my wife until right after both my grandparents passed away and it was the same year and I'm like, oh man, I wish they would have met her and my kids. And you know, I tell her and my kids about my grandparents but like there's nothing else, like I don't have anything of theirs. I mean I have little trinkets of theirs and stuff, but it's you know what I mean. It's all that's gonna. The memories are gonna fade and I think that's why I write and I podcast and stuff and I put out stuff because my kids will have something tangible for me, you know, from me when I'm gone or of me.

Speaker 1: 18:32

But you know what's Scottie's perspective is glorifying the Lord is what matters the most. I mean he doesn't care about growing the sport. He even says that he's not and people have said that about him other golfers. He doesn't really care about being, you know, being in the limelight, being on TV, but he also doesn't want to like waste his talent. So his talent is golf. I wish my talent was golf. His talent is golf and he wants to glorify the Lord by using his gifts to the best of his ability and maybe that that's his platform for, you know, getting more people to go to church or to read the Bible or and he doesn't say that necessarily, but him being, you know, a prominent figure, I guess, in culture, maybe he can. You know that's his purpose and you know, a prominent figure, I guess, in culture, maybe he can. You know that's his purpose.

Speaker 1: 19:16

And you know, just like Scotty, I feel like I'm called to be a teacher. You know I'm not going to be, you know, on TV and famous and rich, and honestly I don't really want to be on TV, but more money would be okay. I'd like more money, like everybody. But you know, that's my calling. I feel like my calling from God and I feel like that's what. There's a quote I want to bring up at some point in a different podcast, different thing from Chariots of Fire, where I'm going to mess this up now because I don't have it in front of me but the main character says I feel God's presence when I run. I feel like that's what makes him happy, or something like that, where you know you're doing the right thing when you're called for a certain purpose and you want to glorify the Lord in that way. And so, you know, scotty can golf, I can teach, I'm not going to waste my talent, all right.

Speaker 1: 20:14

So my final thoughts are and this is kind of, I guess, kind of the cowbell tip of the day is, you know, scotty just gave me a different perspective. I'm not saying he changed my life, but he gave me a different perspective. I mean, you know, as somebody at the top of the world at something, he just changed the way I think about some stuff. I mean, you know, I always craved likes and comments. I mean, I think everybody does, even if you're not a content creator, you want Facebook likes or you want, you know, whatever.

Speaker 1: 20:43

And I, you know, I want to make money selling my products and stuff and I want to be a leader in my field. You know I want, I want to be known as the best PE teacher these kids have ever had. But you know, I want to also think about the bigger picture, the faith, family, and you know, my marriage, my children, my you know, that can come. That comes before, it should come before my career and that's the main thing I think that I'm trying to take out of it. I hope you get something out of what I just you know again told you about, read to you about his quotes, and you know that's it. Again, whatever you believe, I don't, I never judge anybody. I don't do that. That's not what I'm doing.

Speaker 1: 21:24

This I just love what he put out to the you know that interview and I hope you really, if nothing else, listen to the interview, watch the interview. He seems like a very humble, kind person. No, I don't know him, although he did walk right by me in that tournament. I got a video of it. He walked right by me, but I don't know Scotty. But I appreciate what he put out there and I hope you enjoyed listening to this. So, pe Nation, take care, have a great day, week, weekend, whenever you listen to this and let's keep pushing our profession forward. Thank you.