Some athletes claim they’re here to enjoy the experience, and Scottie Scheffler might genuinely mean it.
Before the Olympic men’s golf competition, players posed with whiteboards highlighting their goals for Paris. Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Matt Fitzpatrick all wrote that they aimed to win gold. But Scheffler, the American standout, had a different goal in mind: “Have Fun.”
Scheffler’s approach to the Olympics is indeed focused on enjoyment. He took on the role of tourist earlier in the week, visiting the Louvre museum with his wife, Meredith, and their newborn son, Bennett. The family also attended the U.S. women’s gymnastics team event, where they witnessed the team clinch the gold medal on Tuesday.
Despite his relaxed demeanor, Scheffler is still in pursuit of a gold medal. His quest for gold, which can indeed be fun, begins on Thursday at Le Golf National. He is set to tee off at 4:11 a.m. ET alongside Rory McIlroy, who has an interest in dressage, and Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg.
As Scheffler balances having fun with the competition, it will be intriguing to see how his approach influences his performance on the course. His attitude serves as a reminder that even at the highest levels of competition, the experience itself can be just as valuable as the pursuit of victory.