How does Scheffler balance his desire to win with his secure identity?

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Scottie Scheffler balances his drive to win with a belief that his identity is secure regardless of outcomes

Scottie Scheffler says he still intensely wants to win, especially in the biggest moments when he is leading on Sunday. He balances that desire by tying his sense of security to faith, which he describes as giving him the feeling that he is secure forever whether he wins the Masters or loses it. With that identity secured, he focuses on competing to the best of his abilities and staying present rather than getting attached to the lead or consumed by the past or future.
His desire to win stays strong even when he is leading
Scheffler describes the feeling of wanting to win “really, really” badly when he is sitting with the lead on Sunday at the Masters. He also admits he wished he did not want it as badly, saying that would have made the Sunday mornings easier. He still frames the week as a grind, with difficult conditions and a need to keep pushing through “ups and downs.”
Faith gives him a “secure forever” feeling that reduces the pressure of winning
Scheffler says his victory was explained to him as being secure on the cross, and he calls that a “pretty special feeling.” He connects that belief to a practical outcome on the course: it means it does not matter if he wins that tournament or loses it, because his identity is secure either way. He then says that with his identity secure, he can come out to compete, have fun, enjoy the game, and still accept the result at the end of the day.
He competes to his ability and avoids attachment to the lead
He describes trying to compete to the best of his abilities, saying that is how he feels he was “designed” and that he has been that way since childhood. He also says he did not let himself get attached to the lead, choosing to keep pushing instead. He adds that if he had played more defensively on the back nine, the finish could have been different, implying that his approach is about executing rather than clinging to a specific scoreline.
He fights the “wanting more” feeling by focusing on what is good now
Scheffler says he wishes he could “soak this in” more, but that the human heart always wants more, and he has to fight that instinct. He reports feeling in control of his emotions “as I’ve ever been,” and that he is maturing as a person on the golf course. He tries not to think too much about the past or future, saying he loves living in the present and plans to continue working on the path that brought him results, including his Masters win that came weeks before the birth of his first child.

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How does Scheffler balance his desire to win with his secure identity?

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