Rob Issa, FISM News
[elfsight_social_share_buttons id=”1″]
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler began the second round of the Masters at 4 under par while Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, and Viktor Hovland were tied for the lead at 7 under.
Last year, Scheffler became just the fifth golfer to enter Masters weekend ranked No. 1 in the world and go on to win the tournament. The prestigious Masters is the first of the four PGA Tour major championships in the professional golf season held annually in April at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia
After putting on the green jacket at Augusta in 2022, Scheffler declared how his Christian faith helps him play the sport.
“The reason why I play golf is I’m trying to glorify God and all that He’s done in my life,” Scheffler said. “So for me, my identity isn’t a golf score.”
Scheffler’s wife, Meredith, helps him keep his focus on the Lord.
“Meredith told me this morning, ‘If you win this golf tournament today, if you lose this golf tournament by 10 shots, if you never win another golf tournament again,’ she goes, ‘I’m still going to love you, you’re still going to be the same person, Jesus loves you and nothing changes,'” Scheffler said after his victory. “All I’m trying to do is glorify God and that’s why I’m here and that’s why I’m in this position.”
Scheffler doesn’t pray for wins. He wants peace, which helps him play better and leads to victories.
“Every day when we go out there, Meredith always prays for peace, because that’s what I want to feel on the golf course, is peace and have fun and just feel His presence,” he said. “So that’s her prayer every day. That’s my prayer.”
Before the final round last year, Scheffler’s caddy, Ted Scott, wore a ‘God is in Control’ t-shirt.
Scheffler is trying to become only the fourth player to win the Masters two straight years. Six-time champ Jack Nicklaus was the first to do it in 1965-66. Nick Faldo did it in 1989-90 and Tiger Woods was the last in 2001-02.
“Any time you can get mentioned in the same breath as a Tiger and a Jack and a Nick Faldo is really special,” Scheffler said. “It’s not a motivating factor for me.”
Despite earning millions for his victories, Scheffler hasn’t splurged on lavish purchases. The 26-year-old Texan still drives a 2012 Yukon X with about 190,000 miles on it. He still lives in the same house with his wife.
“I bought a cold tub. That was a pretty big indulgence,” Scheffler said. “Still not running at home, but we bought it. I’m sure eventually — maybe — I’ll get a new car. I don’t know. I’m not huge on that kind of stuff.”
WOODS, MCILROY STRUGGLE
Woods shot 74 on Thursday and entered the second round nine shots back of the lead.
“If I can just kind of hang in there, maybe kind of inch my way back, hopefully, it will be positive towards the end,” said Woods, who is still recovering from a serious car accident in 2022.
Rory McIlroy shot a 72 and was seven shots behind after one round. McIlroy is aiming to win the one major that keeps him from the career Grand Slam. He came to his 15th Masters with plenty of confidence after recording the best final round in tournament history last year to finish second.
“The only thing I could say is I proved to myself I could do it,” McIlroy explained. “As much as I didn’t really get into contention, there was part of me on the back nine last year that thought I had a chance. To play the way I did, and eagle 13 and have those feelings, in my mind anyway, I felt like it was a breakthrough.”
For the first time, the Masters allowed players to do interviews on the course. McIlroy answered questions for the ESPN telecast and Max Homa also joined the broadcast during his round.