As a junior amateur player from Dallas, As a teenager, Scotty Schaeffler loved to train and play in long pants. This may not be a big deal elsewhere. Don't forget, though, that his hometown is Texas, where there are hot summers every year, as well as long warm climates and high humidity. In general, playing in shorts in Texas is not only a suitable option, but often a necessary option.
But Schaeffler wore long trousers while practicing at the Royal Oaks Country Club. After all, professional golfers (at least at the time) needed to wear long trousers on practice rounds as well as on game days – and the teenager wanted to be a professional golfer. It was his dream all along.
So he put on his trousers, like a professional player.
(Schaeffler wins World Championships - Dell Technologies Competition)
However, his dream is not to become the world number one golfer. It was something he had never really thought about. Of course, he wants to be the best player, and he likes to compete. He wants to beat the opponent and win the game.
But to reach the first place in the world? "I never imagined this in my dreams." Schaeffler said.
So when Schaeffler appeared at the World Championships-Dell Tech Hole Race, he didn't realize he could become the "World Number One" at the end of that week. In fact, he didn't realize it until the day before the final, when asked this question by an on-site reporter.
Even so, he never distracted himself from focusing on world rankings when he was battling Kevin Kisner for the title — except to tell his wife Meredith on Saturday night that "becoming number one in the world" could happen.
Until her husband told her, Meredith had no idea that Schaeffler was about to reach the top of the world.
"She had no idea," Schaeffler laughed, "I told her because I wanted to go through the process with her, even though her focus was clearly not on my world rankings." ”
"She knows how much effort I've put in, sees the failures I've experienced over the years and the sadness of trying to achieve something and not being able to succeed."
(Schaeffler hugging his wife Meredith after the game)
Meredith told her husband that failure was a common occurrence and that he would succeed the next day. He then defeated former world number one Dustin Johnson in the semi-finals, followed by former champion Kissner.
It was Schaeffler's third victory in the last five games, and he overtook Spaniard Joan Ram as the new "world brother". For the player, who has never been in the world's top ten before February this year, it is indeed a rapid rise.
Although he never sought the position, he is now the best golfer in the world.
"It's something I want to achieve, and it's something I believe I can do," Schaeffler said. But he insists his focus is on beating his opponents and that everything else is just a bonus.
"I've always been a very competitive person," he said, "so for me, being at the World Championships– the Dell Tech Hole Race is a goal in itself." I love to compete and enjoy the challenges that come with weekly competitions. It's really interesting for me and it's amazing to be able to win the game. ”
"Never thought about the rankings. My attention is always on the game itself. ”
Of course, he was already number one. So, he now has a bigger goal. People have new expectations of him. Staying in the "world first" position is very stressful.
(Schaeffler and Dey are in the same group at the 2021 World Championships - Dell Technologies Competition)
Speaking of which, we have to mention Australian player Jensen Day. He never shied away from his goal of "world first". But once he did it and achieved this goal, his energy seemed to be exhausted.
After winning the World Championships in 2016– the Dell Tech Hole Race, Day began dominating the world rankings for nearly a year until early February 2017. Despite winning two games in 2018, he has never been able to return to the top of the table – his world ranking has fallen to 118th with a three-year "championship drought".
Will Schaeffler's mindset be different? Maybe. As he himself said, he didn't care too much about the world rankings. At the same time, he didn't think it would change him, and his friends insisted he wouldn't get into a loss.
"I've known Scotty since he was 8 years old, and I think a good mindset has helped him," said Jordan Spieth, also from Dallas. On the pitch, he's a contender, but he's actually very relaxed and can get along with everyone off the pitch. I think he just saw 'world number one' as a cool label and still purely liked golf. ”
Spieth believes that it is his personality that controls Schaeffler's style of play, not his desire for "world number one". "He just loves to play and he's playing better than everybody else now."
(Boones was one of Schaeffler's best friends))
Sam Boones was one of Schaeffler's closest friends on the PGA Tour, and he and Schaeffler lived in the same house during this year's Masters. In describing this friend, Boones used one word—silly.
Faced with the pressure of ranking first, this calm state may be the perfect antidote.
"He doesn't have to define himself just from the point of view of golf," Boones said, "because obviously the sport is very difficult, there will be smooth stages, there will be some bad moments." Schaeffler understood that golf was not his own. What matters is not how loud a person's name is, but what he does. ”
"Once someone becomes the number one in the world, they get a lot of attention, and there are some changes in every aspect. But to be honest, he hasn't changed at all. Boones praised his friend, "He's still the one who's a little silly." Off the pitch, he was fun and we had a great time together. All he did was take it easy and not take life too seriously. He's one of the most competitive guys I've ever met. ”
Hearing Boones describe him as "stupid," Schaeffler agreed.
(Optimistic and calm "world first")
"I think so," he laughed, "I always like to laugh. I played well with him too. Maybe the state of 'Optimist' makes me look a little silly. I think self-deprecation is important because there will be a lot of tough days on the field and there will always be more losses than wins. So being able to not take yourself too seriously is a useful way to adjust, because everyone experiences failure every week. ”
Maybe there's one more thing that keeps Schaeffler well in the first place. That is humility. The people around him clearly saw that too.
"My friends still make fun of me," Schaeffler said, "and I still have to do housework at home." Nothing has changed. ”
Stay in "silly" shape and win golf matches. For the new "World One Brother", it seems to be a rather interesting method.