Scottie Scheffler is aiming to defend his Travelers Championship title this weekend and his father, Scott, will be in attendance to offer his support in Connecticut
As the Travelers Championship draws to a close this weekend, all eyes are on Scottie Scheffler as he aims to be the first in more than two decades to retain his title. And he’s likely to have dad Scott by his side in Cromwell, Connecticut, as he chases yet another historic victory.
Scheffler Sr. was right there cheering when his son triumphed over Tom Kim in last year’s dramatic play-off at TPC River Highlands. The pair were locked at 22 under par before Scheffler Jr. clinched the crown with a par on the first play-off hole.
However, amid the celebrations, a commotion involving Scheffler Sr. caught the attention of golf fans. But his dignified reaction to a confrontation with a disgruntled spectator revealed a possible source of his son’s grace under pressure.
Positioned between a grandstand and a ShotLink tower to catch a glimpse of the final green, Scheffler Sr. unsurprisingly found himself in a spot coveted by fellow spectators. But a PGA Tour report (via The Mirror US) depicted the class of the man Scottie takes his cues from.
That’s when the ex-carpenter realised he was blocking the view for some. And it culminated in one fan frustratingly calling out Scott: “Hey, move out of the way!”
In regards to what happened next, Scott’s response defied expectations. Where many a sportsperson’s parent might stand their ground, Scheffler Sr’s modesty shone through and reflected the the kind poise his son usually displays around the greens.
“Scott waved his hand to apologise and kneeled down, blocking his view in the process,” read the account. “He laughed and shrugged, realising 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.”
Indeed, the crowd’s roar did indeed tell him all he needed to know as Scheffler, who finished T7 at the US Open on Sunday, clinched the victory. Kim was a close second but fell short against a player in the prime of his career.
Scheffler’s win earned him the top prize of £2.7million and marked his sixth victory of 2024 at the time. Consequently, he became the first player on the PGA Tour to win six events before July since Arnold Palmer achieved the same feat back in 1962.
The Texan is accustomed to exuding class in every aspect of his game. He carries himself with sophistication, as was recently demonstrated at the PGA Championship.
It was there he had to play with a back-up driver after his was declared unfit for play. Nonetheless, he still managed to secure another major title and didn’t make a bit of fuss over the entire ordeal.
Scheffler Sr. displayed the same sense of style and confidence in a moment where he could have reacted very differently. No fuss, and not a hint of petulance, the same stoic mentality that is quickly earning his son a place among the golfing greats.