Newly crowned Open champion Scottie Scheffler has underlined his class by offering to fund the renovation of the Texas Longhorns’ golf facility at his former college
Scottie Scheffler’s generous gesture has emerged since his Open Championship triumph(Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Scottie Scheffler proved he hasn’t forgotten his golfing roots by giving something back to his college.
The world No.1 is now a four-time major champion after winning last weekend’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush. It was his second major success of the year after he won May’s PGA Championship, meaning he is now three-quarters of the way towards the career Grand Slam, which he can complete at next year’s US Open in the same four-year time frame as Jack Nicklaus.
The numbers continue to stack up for Scheffler, whose 17-under total gave him a four-stroke victory at Portrush but belied how comfortable his win was. But amid his glittering achievements, which have seen him compile incredible wealth, he still remembers those who played an important role in his journey to becoming one of the leading sports stars on the planet.
Since his Open triumph, it has emerged that Scheffler will generously fund the renovation of the Texas Longhorns’ practice facility at the University of Texas Golf Club.
The facility will be named Scheff’s Kitchen in honor of one of UT’s most famous alumni, which also includes Jordan Spieth. Scheffler remains close to Texas coach John Fields and his wife Pearl.
When the 29-year-old returned to Austin last fall for Texas’ alumni pro-am, he let Pearl wear his recently won Olympic gold medal. Per NBC Golf, Field said: “That helped him because he knew everyone wanted to see that gold medal… and Pearl got to be an Olympian for the day. He just finds fun ways to enjoy that moment but not be too overwhelmed by it, and he’s really good about it.”
Scheffler is the reigning Olympic champion(Image: David Cannon/Getty Images)
Despite his run of success, Scheffler continued to bat away comparisons with Tiger Woods. Speaking after his Open triumph, he said: “I still think they’re a bit silly.
“Tiger won, what, 15 majors? This is my fourth. I just got one-fourth of the way there. I think Tiger stands alone in the game of golf. He was inspirational for me growing up. He was a very, very talented guy, and he was a special person to be able to be as good as he was at the game of golf.
“I don’t focus on that kind of stuff. That’s not what motivates me. I’m not motivated by winning championships. I don’t look at the beginning of the year and just say, ‘Hey, I want to win X amount of tournaments, I want to win whatever it is.’
Scheffler has been compared to Tiger Woods(Image: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“I have dreams and aspirations that I think about, but at the end of the day I feel like what motivates me is just getting out and getting to live out my dream. I get to play professional golf, and I feel like I’m called to do it to the best of my ability.
“I don’t place much emphasis on things that I can accomplish. It’s just mostly about putting in the proper work and coming out here and competing. I’ve always done my best when I’m able to live in the present.”
