Scottie Scheffler is back in the mix for this weekend’s Travelers Championship after falling short at the U.S. Open, though his family may have a couple lessons to learn from last year
Scott Scheffler overcame some undue pressure of his own at last year’s Travelers Championship(Image: Getty Images)
The Travelers Championship wraps up this weekend as Scottie Scheffler seeks to become the first man in more than 20 years to successfully defend his title. And father Scott is sure to be on hand in Cromwell, Connecticut, to support his son in his bid for yet another piece of history.
Scott Scheffler Sr. was front and center when his namesake beat Tom Kim in a playoff to collect last year’s crown at TPC River Highlands. The pair both finished on 22 under par before Scheffler Jr. parred the 18th to end the playoff at the first time of asking.
But there was controversy among the celebration after his father found himself in the sights of one disgruntled golf fan. However, his reaction to the incident gave some insight as to where his three-time major-winning offspring gets his class.
Scheffler Sr. hunkered down between one of the grandstands and a ShotLink tower to get the best view of the 18th green. And it should come as no surprise others in attendance had the same idea.
It was then the former carpenter was alerted to the fact he was an obstacle to those behind him. And one fan let it be known as he shouted: “Hey, move out of the way!”
A PGA Tour report on the incident told the rest of the tale, and Scott’s reaction wasn’t what one might expect from most athletes’ dads. One could understand why many would go on the defensive, adamant in their attempts to witness their child’s shining moment in all its glory – but not Scheffler Sr..
Scottie Scheffler has enjoyed incredible success over the last 18 months(Image: Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
“Scott waved his hand to apologize and kneeled down, blocking his view in the process,” read the account. “He laughed and shrugged, realizing then that he didn’t need to see what would happen.
“He has watched a similar scene play out more than a few times in recent months. Those fans hadn’t. They deserved to see it. The sound would tell the story anyway.”
That it did as the legions in attendance let out a roar in response to Scheffler, who finished T7 at the U.S. Open on Sunday, holing out for the win. Kim finished a close runner-up but came off second-best to a player enjoying the finest form of his career to date.
Scheffler Sr. has had a lot to celebrate watching his son play over the past couple of years(Image: Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Scheffler’s triumph netted him the top prize of $3.6 million and a sixth win of 2024 at the time. As a result, he became the first player on the PGA Tour to win six events before July since Arnold Palmer did so back in 1962.
The New Jersey-born star oozes class in every definition of the word throughout his game. But he carries himself with sophistication, too, as was recently evidenced at the PGA Championship, when he had to play with a back-up driver after his was declared unfit for play and nevertheless got his hands on another major title.
Scheffler Sr. displayed the same sense of style and hubris in a moment where he had license to act out in very different manner. No fuss, and not a peep of petulance, the same stoic mentality that is quickly earning his son a place among the greats of golf.