Reigning RBC Heritage champion Scottie Scheffler shares his ideas on returning to Harbor City this week and displays on the Masters.
Q. What’s it imply to you to defend your title right here this week at RBC Heritage?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It’s enjoyable being again right here in Hilton Head. Now we have particular recollections right here from final yr’s event. It’s good to be again on the town. Like I mentioned, the meals’s actually good.
It appears like a very easy week for us coming off of Augusta. The golf course is de facto nice. It’s a easy week for us. Most individuals lease homes right here locally. It’s straightforward to get to the golf course. It’s a easy, calm week for us, and it’s plenty of enjoyable as nicely.
Q. This course isn’t so long as Augusta. Does that play extra into shot shaping and provides gamers who don’t drive as a lot, I don’t wish to say a bonus, however an opportunity to attain as nicely.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It’s undoubtedly a positional golf course for positive. This golf course is rather more about management and placing your ball in the precise spots and staying out of the difficulty.
The fairways listed here are a lot smaller than Augusta and a flatter golf course general. A little bit of a distinct check, however undoubtedly nonetheless a great check.
Q. Your head area was a bit totally different final yr. You have been proper there able to have your first child. Over the past yr, how has your perspective of the sport of golf and possibly life basically modified since an enormous milestone in your life?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Having Ben round is fairly superior. He’s plenty of enjoyable. It’s enjoyable for us to have him right here this week. That is the third yr I’ve performed this event, and now we have some good recollections right here. It’s very thrilling.
Took him for a stroll on the seaside final evening. We’re getting to essentially get pleasure from being locally right here, and it’s been plenty of enjoyable.
Q. You heard, I’m positive, in regards to the firing of the cannon into the Calibogue Sound. Now that you just’ve skilled it, are you able to speak about that a bit bit?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Fortuitously, I had some ear plugs. It’s all the time good when a cannon goes off. It’s additionally the primary time I’ve hit a tee shot whereas the cannon goes off. It was undoubtedly a novel expertise. I used to be undoubtedly glad simply to have the ability to make contact with the ball and never embarrass myself on the market.
Q. What was it like hitting that little membership?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It was a distinct feeling. No glove, had a reasonably large jacket on. It was undoubtedly distinctive however plenty of enjoyable.
Q. Was it quite a bit heavier?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I couldn’t inform you as a result of I used to be carrying a jacket. The whole lot felt bizarre.
Q. You’ve had the chance to be concerned in fairly just a few ceremonies the final a number of years. How does this evaluate to it, and is that this the loudest one you’ve participated in?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: That is the primary opening ceremony I’ve been part of. That is one thing that’s distinctive to this event. It’s a really cool custom and distinctive to be part of.
Q. The official announcement of a combined group occasion within the Olympics. Your emotions about that?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Nicely, it feels like a few of us could have one other alternative to win a gold medal for our nation, which is all the time cool.
So far as the Olympics goes, any time you get to go and characterize your nation, it’s a very particular feeling. I haven’t heard a lot in regards to the format or something like that. A combined group occasion ought to be enjoyable. I don’t know precisely what it will likely be, however I feel any alternative you may must win a gold medal to your nation might be fairly particular.
Q. The primary week they’re utilizing distance measuring gadgets. Are you going to make use of that this week, and do you assume it’s going to assist?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: You’re not going to love this reply, however I form of forgot about that.
(Laughter.)
I’ll belief Ted what he needs to do. I don’t actually care. He’s the one which will get the quantity. I’m positive we’ll have it within the bag.
We’ve been utilizing it PGA the final couple years, haven’t we? Is it going to assist tempo of play? Possibly a couple of minutes. Will it’s something important? No. This event, what impacts the tempo of play is strolling the golf course. I feel we’re enjoying twosomes all week, so it should go from a 5 hour spherical to possibly 4 hours or much less.
While you see the most important adjustments in tempo of play, all of it comes from going from three guys to 2 guys in a pairing. It’s simply simpler to get across the golf course.
Additionally, the gap strolling from inexperienced to tee is an enormous issue as nicely in case you’re going to avoid wasting 15, 20 minutes off the spherical. This golf course is fairly easy when it comes to getting round.
Q. Do you assume they need to be used?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I don’t actually have a powerful opinion on it. In the event you get a golf course like this the place it’s laborious to essentially get offline. In the event you get offline, you’re simply within the forest.
In the event you’re simply punching out and hitting bizarre photographs, I feel on a number of the greater golf programs if you get fairly far offline, it may be a bit little bit of a — a much less benefit to an amazing caddie who possibly has a manner of doing the numbers higher than different caddies, or possibly has put within the work to get numbers from sure areas. So it may take away a bit little bit of that.
I’m undecided if it should have a major affect on tempo of play, however we’ll see. It’s one thing we haven’t examined out earlier than. Will it save a couple of minutes? I don’t assume it will damage tempo of play, however you by no means know. My reply is we’ll see what occurs.
Q. What’s your private desire on that? What would improve the tempo of play on the TOUR?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I feel the one solution to have a major affect on the tempo of play, in case you take a look at the common spherical time final week — Thursday and Friday you’re enjoying in threes, Saturday and Sunday you’re enjoying in twos — there’s going to be a major distinction, in all probability over an hour distinction in tempo of play.
The tempo of play debate is humorous. I feel individuals wish to watch thrilling golf. I feel that’s what it’s all about. Let’s say if we do all these adjustments and we save 20 minutes off of a spherical of golf. Is any person going to sit down down on the sofa on Sunday and go, nicely, I didn’t have 5 hours to look at a spherical of golf, however I’ve obtained 4 hours and 40 minutes. Now I’m in.
I feel, if we’re going to spend so much of time and vitality, I feel the place I’d wish to spend it’s get extra individuals concerned within the recreation of golf, extra individuals capable of come and play. It’s an amazing recreation. It’s an amazing sport. You be taught plenty of life classes enjoying golf.
What’s most necessary for me as a participant, the place I wish to spend probably the most time and vitality particularly within the recreation of golf is getting individuals concerned. I’ve met a few of my greatest associates in the entire world enjoying the sport of golf. It’s a very particular recreation that I feel extra individuals ought to wish to play.
Q. Any highlights stand out from being within the Butler Cabin with Rory?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: In that second, prefer it was such an emotional day for him, I form of simply tried to remain out of the way in which and principally get the jacket on with out embarrassing him or myself.
I obtained to look at the entire celebration. I watched the end. It was actually cool for me to have the ability to see as a result of I’ve — I don’t have the understanding of what it’s prefer to be requested in regards to the profession grand slam, however I’ve a small understanding of what it’s prefer to be requested, hey, you completed this, however you haven’t completed that. It may be very taxing on individuals generally.
It was cool to have the ability to see Rory get the job completed. Undoubtedly from the surface it regarded much more like reduction than something. Rory has completed every little thing within the recreation of golf, and that was actually the very last thing for him to perform. The man has gained FedExCup, THE PLAYERS, all 4 majors. Possibly the one different factor can be the Olympics is what he would wish to win.
So for him, it was actually cool for me to be there in that second. He’s a great good friend of mine. To have the ability to congratulate him and simply see the enjoyment on him and his household was actually cool.
Q. What do you convey from final yr’s win that can assist you this yr?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Final yr, I got here right here fairly drained from the final week, and I did a great job of managing myself and the way I obtained across the golf course. Undoubtedly will mirror on how I performed and struck the ball final yr right here when it comes to preparing for this week’s occasion.
Q. Are you much less drained now?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah.
Q. Looks as if a fairly exhausting week.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It was an exhausting week, but it surely takes quite a bit out of you to win a golf event emotionally. On Sunday, yeah, I used to be within the event. It takes a bit bit out of you, however the adrenaline you get from truly profitable the event is quite a bit totally different than getting shut.
I’m sitting there on 18 fairway final week, and Rosie was at 10-under. I’m pondering to myself, I’m going at this pin. I’m going to attempt to gap this, after which he makes it, and also you’re like, nicely, event’s over. I misplaced. Didn’t win, misplaced, no matter.
I used to be Teddy, and I’m like, all proper, Teddy, I suppose I’m going to purpose on the center of the inexperienced now. He’s like, yeah, purpose on the center of the inexperienced. Let’s get out of right here.
As an illustration, if Rosie misses that putt and I gap it, large adrenaline rush, and that takes one thing out of you. Form of just like the adrenaline rush you get from getting arrested. It takes one thing out of you.
(Laughter.)
So far as being spent, I’m not practically as spent as I used to be final yr. The occasion on Sunday regarded barely totally different than it did final yr. I nonetheless had enjoyable with associates, but it surely’s only a totally different feeling. Final yr, as an example, we flew residence, was residence for a day and a half and traveled and obtained in an airplane. That takes a toll in your physique.
As an illustration, this yr we frolicked at Augusta on Sunday, drove over right here yesterday, had some lunch, obtained some therapy, slept in at present. Really feel able to roll.
Q. Your quick takeaway from yesterday was simply not having your greatest, which occurs, and hanging in there and combating fairly laborious. Something change within the final day when it comes to any of your ideas? And do you’ve got any thought why the ball wasn’t going the place you wished it to?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I informed Meredith one evening, one of many hardest components of at present is, once I purpose the golf ball this fashion is it both went that manner or that manner. It very not often went that manner.
It was a taxing week for me, however like I mentioned, I haven’t had my greatest stuff this yr, however I really feel like I’m studying quite a bit. Every week I really feel like I’m bettering and persevering with to be taught. It undoubtedly is good to be right here at a event — I hit some balls earlier than I came to visit right here at present. I really feel like every day I come to the vary, I’m getting a bit bit higher. Issues are beginning to really feel extra the way in which they need to.
I’m excited for this week. It’s a very good check of ball hanging, this golf course. You’ve obtained to curve it each methods. You’ve obtained to hit photographs. We’re going to get some wind. It’s important to management spin, management trajectory. I’m wanting ahead to this week.
Q. Scottie, are you able to speak about your loved ones being right here and this complete — the entire ambiance, household pleasant, and with the ability to convey your loved ones right here this week?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It is a event the place plenty of gamers will convey their household. It’s very straightforward for us to have the ability to lease a house in right here, simply benefit from the week. It’s an amazing strolling neighbourhood. You keep shut. The eating places have been nice. We’re staying near the seaside this week, so already took Ben on a pair walks on the seaside. He ate some sand yesterday — plenty of sand yesterday truly.
It’s plenty of enjoyable. It’s good for us. Now we have some associates coming to city to stick with us this week. I’m simply wanting ahead to a calming week, get to get pleasure from some competitors.
For us it’s a straightforward week, and it’s enjoyable. You get to convey your loved ones. I don’t actually know how you can elaborate aside from it’s plenty of enjoyable.
Q. It’s not likely a wanting again query, however contemplating you principally began the yr a month late, did you discover any sense of urgency in attempting to meet up with Augusta? Is there any a part of you going ahead that, now you’re nearly again to regular when it comes to catch up?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: There’s undoubtedly a side to that, not solely as a result of I began a month late, however I used to be set again 4 weeks by damage and never with the ability to do the stuff I’d usually do.
As an illustration, if you take a look at the low season, I’ve issues I attempt to enhance on, completed what I wished to perform, really feel prepared going into the season. Abruptly, I’ve obtained to take a month off. Loads of that point, it feels such as you’re beginning over since you lose energy, lose mobility.
I did my greatest to maintain these issues up, however there’s solely a lot you are able to do with one hand. I don’t wish to do a bunch of exercises on this facet after which come again and this facet and be even weaker.
Taking 4 weeks of golf is an prolonged break. I’d sometimes take that proper when the season ends so I’ve time to construct again into the course of the common season, and this yr I wasn’t ready to do this. So I used to be enjoying a little bit of catch-up.
Like I mentioned, I really feel like I’m bettering every week. Physique’s beginning to really feel higher. Swing’s beginning to really feel higher. I really feel like I’m working in direction of having one other good season.
I haven’t had my greatest begin this yr, however I’ve had some good finishes. It was undoubtedly good to be again in competition final week and in Houston. The sensation of being in competition at a golf event is plenty of enjoyable, and I’m hoping to do this this week.
Q. Do you’re taking some inspiration seeing Rory win the profession grand slam?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I really feel like, once I see any person profitable a event, the sensation you get from profitable a event is a fairly particular feeling. For me, I want it lasted longer than it did. It doesn’t actually final very lengthy.
I really feel like watching anybody accomplish something within the recreation of golf, it takes plenty of work. I don’t assume fairly often about profession objectives or something like that. I strive my greatest to remain within the current.
Was it fairly superior watching Rory win the grand slam? In fact it was. However so far as my life goes, I attempt to keep within the current. So proper now I’m centered on this week, and once I get residence subsequent week, I’m going to be getting ready for my subsequent event.
On the finish of the day, my motivation is all inner. Was it actually cool attending to see him accomplish that? Sure, after all. Successful the profession grand slam, I feel that’s one thing that any golfer would dream of, however on the finish of the day, I’m simply attempting to get probably the most out of myself. That’s about it.
DANIEL MEARS: I’m Chef Daniel Mears of Fraser’s Tavern, and that is the burger you created for us. It’s got our brioche bun with sesame seeds, Outdated Bay aioli, pepper jack cheese, crispy applewood smoked bacon, crispy onion straws and naturally the jalapeno peppers.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Truly, I’m ravenous. So that is good.
