The moment came at the 5:58 mark of Scottie Scheffler’s press conference, just after winning the 2024 Masters golf tournament. The question came from veteran sportswriter Shawn Martin.

Martin: “You say constantly that your identity is not in your golf scores. What is it about winning and competing then that you find satisfying?”

Scheffler: “You know that is a really good question. I was sitting around with my buddies this morning and I told them I wish I didn’t want to win as badly as I did. I think it would make the mornings easier, but…I love winning, I hate losing, I really do; and when you are there in the biggest moments, when you have the lead on Sunday, I really, really want to win badly. My buddies told me this morning, my victory was secure on the cross.”  

I wish I had been in that room, to watch the effect of those words. It is likely that one will have to search for the interview, as those words won’t make ESPN or any other national media outlet.

One can watch the interview and see, how upon retelling that story, Scheffler swallowed his emotions. There were probably others in the room who felt the same way and were deeply touched by the beautiful simplicity of his words, and the power of his convictions.

His interview was being reviewed because he had grown up in Dallas and continued to call Texas home. That short, powerful story about the cross led to watching the entire 2024 post-Masters interview, as well as the 2022 post-Masters interview. Scheffler won the 2022 and this years’ Masters tournaments and is ranked the number one golfer in the world. 

All that is impressive in the sporting world, for certain, however, the manner with which he so easily and confidently speaks about the role of his faith is inspiring, and unfortunately, uncommon. 

Of the thousands and thousands of interviews broadcast to a sports-crazy nation, Scheffler’s two interviews stand alone. They are remarkable for their consistency, confidence and absence of ego – not even a hint of ego.

Of course, all those reasons are why his interviews will not be featured on national networks. His words were not edgy, he has no cause spawned of victimhood, and he is not creating controversy. 

When asked what his wife, Meredith – who was back in Dallas days away from delivering a baby – may have told him on the morning before the final round, Scheffler said that she asked to pray for him. In the 2022 interview he explained that they always pray for peace. 

Scheffler went on to explain, “I want to feel peace and His presence on the golf course. That is my prayer every day.”

When asked about his faith after his first Masters win, Scheffler explained, “My faith effects all aspects of my life, not just my life on the golf course…the Lord has given me a skill and I am trying to use it for his glory.”

Scheffler easily transitioned in both interviews from speaking about his faith to the mechanics of golf, or the tactics at playing at Augusta. The transition is as natural, as real, as could be imagined. It spoke volumes about the sincerity of his comments regarding golf and God. 

There is another trait which Scheffler demonstrated – a reassuring degree of self-depreciating humor. From his wearing of golf attire to his third-grade school to his 4-putt finish at the 2022 Masters, Scheffler could laugh at himself all while flashing a wide grin.

There were more nuggets of wisdom in Scheffler’s interviews. When responding to a question about discontentment (the desire to want more – more wins, more money) he responded, “I think that is what the human heart does, it wants more. I think you have to fight those things and focus on what is good.”  

About his upcoming fatherhood, Scheffler offered, “…what I look forward to the most, is being able to love my child as my parents loved me.” 

The golfer took plenty of time to describe the influence of his family, his friends, fellow golfers and his golf team of caddie Ted Scott and coaches Randy Smith and Phil Kenyon.

Regarding the future, once more Scheffler offers some instructive comments. He said, “I don’t like to think too much about the past or the future…I live in the present. I will continue to put in the work so that when I step to a tee at a tourney I have done everything I could to prepare and play as freely as possible.” 

When asked, in 2022, if his faith freed him up to perform in the moment, he responded “100 percent it does!”