Golf

Scottie Scheffler wins 2nd Masters in 3 years, says he uses his talent 'for God's glory'

By Kevin Mercer Apr 15, 2024
Scottie Scheffler holds the trophy after winning the Masters, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

For the second time in three years, Scottie Scheffler is leaving the Masters Tournament at Augusta National in a new green jacket.

The No. 1 player in the world cemented his spot at the top of the golfing hierarchy by pulling away from the field down the stretch. He won by four strokes with a four-round total of 11-under par. Sunday’s triumph was Scheffler’s second career major, the first coming on the same course two years ago.

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On a leaderboard peppered with golf’s biggest stars, Scheffler was unquestionably the man to beat. Entering Sunday’s final round with the outcome still very much in doubt, the 27-year-old got a much-needed reminder that his true victory has already been purchased on his behalf.

“I love winning. I hate losing. I really do,” Scheffler said in his post-tournament press conference. “And when you’re here in the biggest moments, when I’m sitting there with the lead on Sunday, I really, really want to win badly. And my buddies told me this morning, my victory was secure on the cross.

“And that’s a pretty special feeling to know that I’m secure for forever and it doesn’t matter if I win this tournament or lose this tournament. My identity is secure for forever.”

He continued later, saying, “I believe that today’s plans were already laid out many years ago, and I could do nothing to mess up those plans. I have been given a gift of this talent, and I use it for God’s glory.”

The comments are similar to what he said after his first Masters win two years ago, when he was asked how he balances his desire to compete — which is fierce — without letting it define who he is as a person.

“The reason why I play golf is I’m trying to glorify God and all that He’s done in my life,” he said then. “So for me, my identity isn’t a golf score.”

On the Tuesday before this year’s tournament, Scheffler was again asked what defines him.

“I’m a faithful guy,” Scheffler responded. “I believe in a Creator. I believe in Jesus. Ultimately, I think that’s what defines me the most. I feel like I’ve been given a platform to compete, and, you know, show my talent. It’s not anything that I did.

“… It’s hard to describe the feeling, but I think that’s what defines me the most is my faith. I believe in one Creator, that I’ve been called to come out here, do my best, compete and glorify God.”

Scheffler and his wife, Meredith, are expecting their first child later this month. Meredith, who is often amongst the crowd cheering her husband on, is back at home in Dallas preparing for the birth. Scottie said he’d leave the Masters if she went into labor, regardless of the situation. It never came to that, but he shared that he was able to talk to Meredith via FaceTime on Sunday.

“She just asked me if she could pray for me,” Scheffler said. “And I actually wasn’t able to talk to her very long this morning, which was unusual. She sent a lot of prayers. My neck was bugging me a little bit. Just prayed for some healing and prayed for a lot of peace out there.”

With the sports world watching, Scheffler’s boldness in sharing about his faith in Christ has swiftly gained traction on social media, but it’s nothing new for him. Scheffler said it was in college at Texas that he truly began to understand what Christ had done for him.

“I would say it’s easier for me to rely on the Lord when things are bad than when things are really good,” Scheffler said in 2023 on the College Golf Fellowship podcast. “… I think one of the most profound things in my walk of faith is recognizing my need for a Savior, not believing that I could connect with God but believing that God was the One connecting with me.”

Following his initial rise to world No. 1 and first Masters victory, Scheffler was featured in the Summer 2022 edition of Sports Spectrum Magazine, in which he shared about how he lives out his faith while being a successful professional athlete.

“My identity is not as being a Masters champion — is not what I shot — and that frees me up a lot,” he said. “God has given us a skill we feel we’re using for His glory.”

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