Golf no longer Scheffler’s top priority
AUGUSTA, Ga. – They say that the Masters doesn’t start until the back nine on Sunday, but they were wrong today.
This Masters started and then quickly ended one hole earlier, on the ninth green, where five minutes of late-afternoon drama changed everything for the now two-time Masters champion, Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler came to the ninth tee tied for the lead with his playing partner, fellow 27-year-old American Collin Morikawa.
But when he walked off the green on his way to the 10th tee, he was the fortunate owner of a three-shot lead.
His dominance only built from there, as the 2022 Masters champion coasted
Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the Masters on Sunday in Augusta, Ga. to the 2024 Masters title with four more birdies on the back nine to run his winning score to 11-under par, four strokes ahead of runner-up Ludvig Aberg of Sweden.
Scheffler’s march to victory was decidedly different than the last time he did this two years ago, when his emotions exploded on the 18th green in an embarrassing four-putt, even though he still managed to defeat Rory McIlroy by three strokes.
This time, he was all business. “I tried not to let my emotions get the best of me this time,” Scheffler said. “I kept my head down. I don’t think I even took my hat off and waved to the crowd walking up 18. I did my best to stay in the moment, and I wanted to finish off the tournament in the right way. And I got to soak it in there after 1-putting instead of 4-putting, which was a little bit better.”
Scheffler is a cool customer, as steady and determined (and talented) a player as there is in the game of golf at the moment. But under that calm exterior, a fierce competitor lurks.
“I love winning,” he said. “I hate losing. I really do. And when you’re here in the biggest moments, when I’m sitting there with the lead on Sunday, I really, really want to win badly.”
Nowhere was that more evident than when he stood down the hill from the ninth green, little more than 100 yards from the pin, with a lob wedge in his hands. His approach hit behind the flagstick and then spun backwards toward the hole, rolling and rolling as hundreds of spectators rose to their feet in giddy anticipation, believing something spectacular was about to happen.
It turns out the ball did not fall off the face of the earth into the hole, but it certainly came close, stopping just a couple of inches away.
The tap-in birdie took Scheffler to 8under par for the tournament and gave him a momentary one-stroke lead over Morikawa.
But that was about to change. After Scheffler’s heroics, Morikawa peered out from the bottom of the glistening bunker at the front left of the green, standing over his ball.
ner. Game 1 is Sunday.
No. 2 New York vs. No. 7 seed: Winner of the No. 8 Miami at No. 7 Philadelphia play-in game winner. Game 1 is Saturday.
No. 3 Milwaukee vs. No. 6 Indiana: Game 1 is Sunday.
No. 4 Cleveland vs. No. 5 Orlando: Game 1 is Saturday
● Western Conference first-round matchups.
No. 1 Oklahoma City vs. No. 8 seed: from winner of the No. 7 New OrleansNo. 8 Los Angeles Lakers play-in game loser vs. No. 9 Sacramento-No. 10 Golden State play-in game winner. Game 1 is Sunday.
No. 2 Denver vs. No. 7 seed: from winner of the No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers at No. 7 New Orleans play-in game winner. Game 1 is Saturday.
No. 3 Minnesota vs. No. 6 Phoenix: Game 1 is Saturday.
No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks: Game 1 is Sunday.
Play-in schedule
● No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers at No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans, TNT, 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday. Winner is the No. 7 seed against No. 2 Denver in a West firstround series
● No. 10 Golden State at No. 9 Sacramento, TNT, 10 p.m. ET. Tuesday.
● No. 8 Miami at No. 7 Philadelphia, ESPN, 7 p.m. ET Wednesday. Winner is the No. 7 seed against No. 2 New York in an East first-round series
This all transpired on the ninth green in five minutes, from 4:40 to 4:45 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. No one knew it yet, but with the wind in his sails, the Masters was ostensibly over as Scheffler was never seriously challenged by anyone again.
“I feel like playing professional golf is an endlessly not satisfying career,” he said after it all was over. “For instance, in my head, all I can think about right now is getting home. I’m not thinking about the tournament. I’m not thinking
● No. 10 Atlanta at No. 9 Chicago, ESPN, 9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.
● Loser of Miami-Philadelphia vs. winner of Atlanta-Chicago, ESPN, Time TBD Friday. Winner is the No. 8 seed against No. 1 Boston in an East firstround about the green jacket.
“I wish I could soak this in a little bit more. Maybe I will tonight when I get home. But at the end of the day, I think that’s what the human heart does. You always want more, and I think you have to fight those things and focus on what’s good.”
Most immediately, that’s the birth of his first child, a topic of much discussion here this week when he said he would leave the course at any moment if his wife Meredith went into labor. His of being a diva his sophomore year,” Tameka said. Then the pandemic hit, and Thomas had to start his personal rebuilding process. Despite his struggles in 2020, he played seven games after intending to take a redshirt season. In 2021, he returned to thirdteam All-ACC form.
The NCAA blanket waiver for an additional year of eligibility due to COVID-19 made 2022 the make-or-break campaign for Thomas. But two weeks before the season, after Thomas said he worked himself into the best shape of his life, he broke his foot and nearly missed the entire year, managing to return for three games.
Thomas had grown up in the church and sang in the choir. In 2021, he devoted himself to Christianity and formed a relationship with God, Thomas said. Because of what he went through in 2020 and his newfound piety, he was able to navigate the first significant injury of his career. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility and started 11 games last season and finished with a team-high 21 quarterback pressures.
Thomas “put the work in to come back,” Swinney said.
“Because there was a time where I wasn’t sure if he was going to play football again. And now look at him,” Swinney said. “He’s a young man that’s in total control of his life and just has great confidence and spirit. He’s come through the other side.”
Off the field, Thomas wants to be an inspiration to others by highlighting the importance of discussing feelings.
“Not even just bad things,” Thomas said. “Just people in the world go through things in life. No matter how far you get knocked down or you feel that you’re down and out, you can always get back up.”
Clemson fans reached out on social media to say that his message resonated with them.
“I think he’s a great example to so many people – known and unknown – that have dealt with some type of mental health situation,” Swinney said. “The fact that he’s willing to use his platform to speak out on that, I know it sheds a series.
● Loser of Los Angeles Lakers-New Orleans vs. winner of Golden-State Sacramento, TNT, Time TBD Friday. Winner is the No. 8 seed against No. 1 Oklahoma City in a West first-round series. life – their life – is about to change forever, he knows.
“I will go home, soak in this victory tonight,” he said. “I will definitely enjoy the birth of my first child. But with that being said, I still love competing. My priorities will change here very soon. My son or daughter will now be the main priority, along with my wife, so golf will now be probably fourth in line.
“But I still love competing. I don’t plan on taking my eye off the ball anytime soon, that’s for sure.” great light on a real problem, but also, I know, encourages a lot of people that need it.”
Being open about his past is “really easy” for Thomas. His father, Ezra Thomas, has served two lengthy jail stints during Xavier’s lifetime. Tameka said Ezra always told Xavier to not hide from mistakes. Xavier applied the message in his own way.
“He’s helping himself by helping somebody else,” Tameka said.
Xavier Thomas motivated by Micah Parsons’ success
While Thomas did not finish his Clemson football career in three years, he completed his degree in criminal justice during that time. He also obtained a master’s degree in athletic leadership.
The additional three years at Clemson – double the amount of time he intended – taught Xavier to be more focused, Tameka said.
But Thomas still paid attention to what his former recruiting class was up to, including his teammates at IMG Academy in 2018. Nolan Smith of the Philadelphia Eagles is also a close friend, and Thomas also played alongside Andre Cisco (Jacksonville Jaguars), Evan Neal (New York Giants) and Greg Newsome II (Cleveland Browns).
People ask Thomas if players his age already having professional success, while he dealt with hardship, bothers him. It doesn’t. He learned that timing is different for everyone and that comparison is an unfruitful exercise.
“It motivated me a lot, just seeing my guys have success,” he said.
The foremost example Thomas can look to is Parsons, the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Pro. The two met on the recruiting circuit and attended camps together more than six years ago.
“Whatever organization that does draft me, I just want that fan base to know that they’re getting a relentless player, and a player that’s going to help them win games,” Thomas said. “… They’re going to love me, whichever organization chooses me.”