Interview with World #1 in 2025, CJ CUP Byron Nelson winner Scottie Scheffler
Q. You simply captured your 14th PGA victory, first of the season, and right here on the Byron Nelson the place you made your PGA TOUR debut. What does it really feel like?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It’s fairly particular. This match means rather a lot to me. I grew up coming right here to observe. It’s very particular to have received this match.
Yeah, I don’t actually know the way to describe the sensation apart from it’s actually enjoyable to have the ability to play right here in my hometown in entrance of the hometown followers. It was a very enjoyable week, actually particular week, and I undoubtedly loved it.
Q. A historic wire-to-wire win, entered the ultimate spherical with an eight-shot lead. Inform me about ideas coming into the ultimate spherical and pushing.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It is a golf course the place you possibly can form of make a run, and I knew that I couldn’t simply coast to the end line right this moment. I knew I needed to put collectively spherical.
Let’s say I performed tremendous secure right this moment and shot even par, Erik would have chased me down there. I knew I needed to get out and make some birdies. Did job on the entrance 9 and was in a position to play some constant golf right here. I made the error on 3, however responded rather well with a bunch of birdies after that.
All collectively, week.
Q. In the midst of addressing the followers, you bought choked up. I used to be simply form of questioning what was it that entered your head that precipitated you to have these emotions?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Once I take into consideration this match, I take into consideration a whole lot of completely different stuff. I grew up coming to observe it. This was my first begin on the PGA TOUR after I was in highschool. The woman I used to be relationship on the time is now my spouse. We’ve one son. My sister was caddieing for me on the time. She was right here right this moment. She has two children.
My household was all in a position to be right here, and it was simply actually, actually particular reminiscences, and I feel at occasions all of it comes crashing all the way down to me without delay. We’ve a whole lot of nice reminiscences as children coming to observe this match. I simply dreamed to have the ability to play in it, and it’s extra of a dream to have the ability to win it.
I by no means actually received this far to be sincere with you. I at all times simply dreamed of taking part in golf on the PGA TOUR. I might come out on the driving vary and watch these guys apply, hitting their model new vary balls. That’s all I needed to do was come out right here and play a golf course that was in nice form and compete on the most effective golf programs on the earth in opposition to the most effective gamers.
It truly is a lifetime of laborious work and sacrifice from a whole lot of the those who I’ve round me, and my household is clearly the starter for that. Yeah, I suppose when my household is right here, I at all times are inclined to get a bit emotional.
Q. Scottie, pardon me if I didn’t dig this up in analysis, however in 2010, you’re 13. Had been you right here when Jordan type of did his factor as a 16-year-old or not? Do you bear in mind?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I’m certain I used to be right here. I might at all times like to return to the match and watch. I might come to this match, and I might usually tried to go to Colonial a bit as nicely. Colonial was somewhat bit farther for us. Generally after going to Byron, I might get the golf bug and wish to exit and apply.
I feel, if you come right here as a child and also you see the fellows hit balls on the driving vary and see what they do on the golf course, they’re all so proficient. I simply needed to be like them. I feel after coming to this match for a pair days, I might in all probability be hard-core training for the subsequent week or two.
Q. Is there a favourite reminiscence that stands out as a child?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Favourite reminiscence, I’m probably not certain. I’ve problem remembering particular situations, however I undoubtedly bear in mind popping out and sitting on the driving vary rather a lot. I at all times preferred to attempt to go to the driving vary as a result of that’s the place you could possibly watch probably the most golf. I at all times needed to return to apply rounds as a result of there can be no one out right here and it was at all times much more relaxed. You could possibly see guys hit every kind of photographs.
I feel the lasting reminiscence I’ve as a child was simply with the ability to play within the match and what it meant to me on the time. It actually impressed me to return out right here and take a look at to do that for a residing much more.
I grew up watching guys that performed on the PGA TOUR at Royal Oaks and was impressed by them. Popping out right here and with the ability to play on this match, it actually fired me as much as come out right here and take a look at to do that for a residing.
Q. Are you going to provide Jordan grief about successful this match earlier than he did, or are you going to go straightforward on him?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I feel I’ll take it straightforward on him.
Q. Scottie, did you see Tiger play out right here? Did you ever come out right here and watch Tiger play on the Nelson?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I’m probably not certain. I did come out and watch, I feel, within the years by which he was right here, however I don’t have particular reminiscences of watching him.
Q. As gamers, you’re at all times onto the subsequent as a result of it’s an ongoing factor. You’re not taking part in subsequent week, you’re at residence. I used to be questioning what you had in thoughts for a celebration. Go over to Royal Oaks with the hamburger guys, or what have you ever received deliberate for a celebration?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: That’s query. I don’t know what we’re going to do for a celebration. I do know we’ll eat good meals, hopefully tonight, and we’ll push into Bennett’s bedtime little bit, however we’ll see. We’ll undoubtedly have fun. Being right here at house is fairly good.
Quite a lot of occasions if you end a match, you’ve received to catch a flight residence. It’s very nice to have the ability to hop within the automobile and be in my very own mattress tonight.
Q. Final 12 months Rory talked about the way you impressed him, and seeing what you probably did, that basically form of pushed him. Now Rory has received THE PLAYERS, which you probably did, and the Masters, which you probably did. Has Rory impressed you this 12 months?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I feel any time someone has crushed any of us out right here, I feel we’re all — I suppose you could possibly say impressed, however I feel we’re all fired as much as come out right here and compete. I feel that’s what’s nice about our recreation. Week in and week out, we get to return out right here and compete. This week I used to be the most effective participant. I’ve the week off, and we’ll see the week after who’s the most effective participant on the PGA.
Rory has been taking part in some large golf this 12 months. The profession grand slam was actually particular to observe. I used to be glad to have the ability to be there for it. I feel any time you’re getting beat, you’re at all times fired up just a bit bit further to exit and apply.
I really feel like my recreation is trending in path. I’m excited to begin the remainder of the season.
Q. Scottie, I needed to ask you, I used to be out watching you right this moment from a distance due to the crowds had been big. I used to be simply blown away by your golf. It was form of a wierd week. You had like a ten-hour spherical on Friday, and then you definitely performed at midnight final evening. Is it simply — describe what it’s prefer to be taking part in so nicely and forward and the way you keep within the second. Did you lastly let your thoughts wander somewhat bit on the final couple of holes?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Perhaps on the final couple of holes. It is a golf course the place there’s some hassle. There’s water coming down the stretch. With the heavy tough, you may make some errors. There’s at all times birdie alternatives as nicely. I by no means actually felt like my lead was too comfy. I at all times tried to maintain pushing, hitting good photographs.
Actually I felt like — in ’22 on the Masters, I might say I misplaced give attention to the 18th inexperienced and four-putted. So if I used to be to begin trying round and searching on the crowd and doing all of the various things out on the golf course, I’d in all probability begin hitting golf photographs offline and begin screwing it up and do foolish issues on the market. I did my greatest to remain centered. I stored being dedicated to every shot and tried to shoot the most effective rating I might right this moment.
Perhaps on 17 and 18, perhaps the frustration from making bogey on 17, it was virtually extra like happening 18, I’ll attempt to soak this in somewhat bit extra. On the finish of the day, I used to be simply attempting to be dedicated on the market. It was a whole lot of enjoyable for me to have the ability to play in entrance of the house crowd, and it was a very particular week.
Q. That is distinctive to have the Korean letters on the trophy, and they’re going to truly change the gold letters to your title, the champion’s title. How do you are feeling about this trophy? After which you should have the title with the opposite champions.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I feel it’s a very cool trophy. I’m proud to be on this as nicely. I’m undoubtedly going to have Si Woo educate me somewhat Korean to ensure that me to have the ability to learn it.
Yeah, like I mentioned on the market, I’m actually grateful for CJ’s assist of this occasion. This occasion means rather a lot to me and means rather a lot to our group. CJ has executed an ideal job sponsoring this occasion and being an ideal accomplice for the membership right here. We’re actually grateful for his or her assist of this occasion and the PGA TOUR.
Q. I heard from the chef on Friday you ate two meals on Friday if you had been ready lengthy. Then he known as to the chef and provides them the autograph. How come you do this for him? To precise your thanks for the chef or one thing?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: The meals was actually good. I did have a number of plates on Friday. Thanks for letting everyone know that. It was an extended rain delay, I’ll say that.
The meals was actually good. There was like 20-something cooks on the market cooking a bunch of meals. They had been working actually laborious this week. A couple of of them got here out and requested me for an autograph. I’m not going to show down somebody who’s been serving me free meals all week, particularly meals that was that good. I had a whole lot of Korean meals this week, and it was all actually good.
I had a whole lot of that quick rib after which some greens. I had some good grilled rooster. Then I had the spicy rooster, which was some fried rooster. I had in all probability a bit an excessive amount of of that this week, however it was fairly good.
Q. Scottie, we talked to Erik earlier when he completed, and he mentioned that, if you holed that putt on 9, he simply form of shook his head as a result of he was in there shut. Did you guys alternate seems to be at that time?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I do bear in mind strolling off the inexperienced like in direction of my bag, and he was form of similar to standing there, and I might like really feel him taking a look at me. I form of simply appeared up and smiled at him, and he simply smiled again.
I knew he was going to return out and have day. He’s a very good participant. He’s an especially laborious employee. Like even once we sat down in scoring, I feel he preferred — he noticed the best way I hit the bunker shot on 18, and I feel he preferred one thing about it as a result of he requested me, hey, what membership do you utilize? He’s at all times attempting to get higher, and he works actually laborious.
He’s buddy of mine. I performed rather a lot with him after I first got here out on TOUR, and he’s an excellent good man.
He had a very good entrance 9. It was going to take one thing particular for him right this moment in an effort to catch me. I feel he did his greatest to place up a particular spherical. I simply performed rather well as nicely.
His recreation is in a great spot, and this undoubtedly received’t be the final time you see him up on the leaderboard.
Q. Does it irritate you in any respect that he beat you by a shot over the weekend?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Didn’t know that.
Q. Doesn’t sound prefer it does. I needed to ask you concerning the shot at 17, the chip shot. What was your response when that occurred?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: The primary or the second?
Q. The primary one. And the second. You’ll be able to speak about that too.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I had a very bizarre lie in there. I used to be attempting to play somewhat low shot. I assumed I used to be going to return — with a 56 diploma, I assumed I used to be going to return out clear even by way of the bizarre lie and simply didn’t. That’s about it.
Q. For the highest gamers on the earth, the timing of this match doesn’t come at a good time. You might have a giant occasion subsequent week with the PGA. So it takes — it’s your hometown match, however it takes fairly a dedication so that you can play it. I simply surprise in case you’re cognizant of simply the truth that you performed it and now the #1 participant on the earth has received this match, the way it raises the stature of this match at a very important time for the match?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Once I take into consideration this match, I take into consideration Mr. Nelson. I take into consideration what he did for the sport of golf. He was a person of religion, and he was an ideal individual as nicely off the golf course. He was an individual that I’ve learn rather a lot about. I’ve had the chance to satisfy him a number of occasions after I was a child, and I do know rather a lot about him. He was an amazing participant and an amazing individual. So we glance as much as him in a wide range of methods.
I’m proud to be right here supporting his match and his legacy. We’ve some nice legacy tournaments on the PGA TOUR. I consider that Mr. Nelson additionally did rather a lot for the PGA TOUR. For his match to have an enduring legacy right here, not solely in Dallas however on the PGA TOUR as nicely, I feel is admittedly essential.
Once I grew up desirous to play on this match, I by no means actually dreamed of being the #1 participant on the earth, I by no means thought of that stuff, however I hope it does nicely for the match. I used to be proud to have the ability to assist it this 12 months.
It’s a troublesome time of 12 months general. While you get into the guts of the season, there’s main championships and the signature occasions. It’s a busy time. You form of have to choose and select your schedule.
I might like to play each week on TOUR. We’ve so many nice tournaments. You need to decide and select. This was a match this 12 months that I actually needed to be part of. I’m going to take subsequent week off and get some relaxation and prepare for the PGA Championship.
