Scottie Scheffler dropped a 67 on Thursday on the Hero World Problem, however solely after dropping some jokes on Wednesday.
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This week’s Hero World Problem is just not an official PGA Tour occasion and includes a small area of 20 gamers. Consequently, issues are rather less severe within the Bahamas in comparison with a regular-season match. Scottie Scheffler’s demeanor in his pre-tournament press convention is proof of that.
Whereas Scheffler has a repute as an elite trash-talker on the course with an awesome humorousness, his responses in match press conferences are often all enterprise.
However when the questions posed to him Wednesday received heavier than is typical for the Hero’s laidback ambiance, the World No. 1 determined to have a bit enjoyable with the reporters within the press room.
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Early within the presser, Scheffler had been repeatedly requested concerning the function of cash in golf, in relation to each the massively elevated purses lately and the controversy over Ryder Cup participant pay.
So when a reporter requested Scheffler what he and match host Tiger Woods chatted about when Woods visited Scheffler’s group throughout their Tuesday apply spherical at Albany, Scheffler took the chance to lighten the temper, albeit with a deadpan supply.
“I feel more often than not we simply speak about cash and the way the purses should be greater,” Scheffler replied with a straight face. “At the moment we actually grinded on the Ryder Cup and the way it’s simply such BS that we’ve by no means gotten paid. Tiger was actually annoyed, he seems like he hasn’t made sufficient cash in his profession.”
As Scheffler’s response drew laughter from the media, a wry smile broke throughout his face. However he wasn’t fairly achieved.
“I really feel the identical approach [as Tiger] — I really feel like final yr I didn’t receives a commission sufficient for what I did,” Scheffler joked. “Largely that, only a bunch of griping.”
For the report, Scheffler earned a whopping $62 million on the course this yr between his match winnings and FedEx Cup bonus.
When the jokes have been by way of, Scheffler took a second to narrate what he and Tiger truly talked about on Tuesday: placing and Tiger’s children.
“Generally I like to select Tiger’s mind, he’s an awesome man to have the ability to bounce stuff off of. At the moment he’s strolling round together with his putter so began speaking about placing a bit bit,” Scheffler mentioned. “Talked about his children. It’s actually thrilling, whenever you ask any person about their children, they at all times get so excited and that’s actually enjoyable for me to have the ability to do with individuals as a result of they get so excited and it’s enjoyable to share what’s happening. Tiger’s the identical approach, he at all times will get excited when he will get to speak about his children.”
As for Ryder Cup pay, Scheffler did share some sincere ideas on that topic, too, explaining that golf has by no means been concerning the cash for him.
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“So far as I’m involved, I don’t play golf for cash. I’ve been enjoying golf my entire life without spending a dime and the cash’s only a bonus. If any person desires to pay us to come back out right here and play golf, that’s nice, I’m not going to say no to it. I’m going to do the perfect I can in my group to steward that cash nicely.”
He additionally claimed that regardless of all of the controversy and acrimony round Ryder Cup gamers getting paid, Scheffler is assured that if compelled to, each U.S. participant would pay for the chance to compete within the biennial occasion.
“I feel each one in every of our gamers would pay to play within the Ryder Cup if that’s what was requested of us,” Scheffler mentioned. “I feel it’s a bit bit foolish for a match that makes a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars} to ask for the gamers to pay as nicely, however I feel all of us would. I undoubtedly would.”
Scheffler, who received seven instances within the 2024 season, isn’t about to take it simple on this unofficial offseason occasion. He opened the match with a five-under 67 on Thursday to get into competition for the very actual $1 million winner’s prize.
