Scottie Scheffler ready to quit golf as Open favourite gives remarkable press conference

Open favourite Scottie Scheffler has opened up on the meaning of life and golf and admitted he asks himself: “What is the point?” And the best player in the world revealed even twice winning the Masters was “an unsatisfying venture” and he would quit if his job started affecting his family life.

The American is the first player since Tiger Woods in 2007 to achieve 100 consecutive weeks as world No 1 - and he claimed his third Major with his five-shot win at the US PGA.

And Scheffler will bid to complete the third leg of a career Grand Slam here after notching 11 consecutive top-eight finishes at last week’s Scottish Open. The relentless winner of 16 PGA Tour events is not also renowned for his philosophical insights - or captivating press conferences. Getting arrested at the US PGA last year was outrageously out of character.

But before teeing up at Royal Portrush tomorrow, the devout Christian spoke honestly about the existential crisis he faces playing and winning - and how his only true fulfillment is off the golf course.

“Look at this week for example,” said Scheffler. “What's the best-case scenario? I win this golf tournament, and then I'm going to show up in Memphis, and it's like: ‘Okay, listen, you won two Majors this year: what are you going to do this week?’

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“If I come in second this week or if I finish dead last, no matter what happens, we're always on to the next week. The show goes on. Sometimes the feeling of winning only lasts a few seconds. You work your whole life to celebrate winning a tournament for a few minutes. It only lasts a few minutes, that kind of euphoric feeling.

“Is it great to be able to win tournaments and to accomplish the things I have in the game of golf? Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes just to think about it because I've literally worked my entire life to be good at this sport.

“To get to live out your dreams is very special, but at the end of the day, I'm not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. I'm not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world because what's the point? This is not a fulfilling life. It's fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart.

“There's a lot of people that make it to what they thought was going to fulfill them in life, and you get there, you get to No. 1 in the world, and they're like: ‘What's the point?’ I really do believe that because what is the point? Why do I want to win this tournament so bad? That's something that I wrestle with on a daily basis.

“When I sit back at the end of the year and try to reflect on things, like having that sense of accomplishment from winning the Masters tournament, from winning the PGA Championship, I have a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for it, but it's just hard to explain. ‘It just doesn't satisfy’ is how I would describe it. It's an unsatisfying venture.

“Why do I want to win The Open Championship so badly? I don't know because, if I win, it's going to be awesome for two minutes. I'm kind of a sicko; I love putting in the work. It's one of the greatest joys of my life, but does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? Absolutely not.

Asked what he does find fulfilling, Scheffler added: “I love playing golf. I love being able to compete. I love living out my dreams. I love being a father. I love being able to take care of my son (Bennett). I love being able to provide for my family out here playing golf.

"I'm blessed to be able to come out here and play golf, but if my golf ever started affecting my home life or it ever affected the relationship I have with my wife (Meredith) or my son, that's going to be the last day that I play out here for a living.

"This is not the be all, end all. This is not the most important thing in my life. That's why I wrestle with, why is this so important to me? Because I'd much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer. At the end of the day, that's what's more important to me.”