What We Overlooked With Scottie Scheffler During the Chaotic PGA Championship

As the curtain closed on the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, with Xander Schauffele capturing the Wanamaker trophy, much of the talk was still around the events on Friday morning. Anyone reading this doesn't need to be reminded of what happened. World #1 golfer, Scottie Scheffler, was arrested just feet from the club entrance and booked for second degree assault. It was as bizarre of a scene as I have seen in my 40+ years of watching sports. The questions being asked by so many were - how could this happen? How could the police not know who Scottie is? In the midst of this surreal event, I feel we missed something else. The question I was asking was, how could the #1 player in the world give his caddie a complete day off in the middle of a major championship?

Our work is important. This message has been ingrained in us since college, if not long before. We will be judged by our output, performance and a long line of other measurables. Success in life is achieved by what we accomplish through our work. Chasing the ever elusive job title, award or trophy is the goal. Knock everything else aside to get there.

For the best golfers in the world, there are four times per year their performance will be put under the microscope. Legacies are made from whether or not they ever wear a green jacket, a Jack Nicklaus medal, or hoist either the Claret Jug or Wanamaker Trophy. So much energy is spent throughout the year preparing to play their best during these four events. Why then, would any player give time off to their most valued employee when so much of their existence is being judged by how they play during these championships?

On Saturday of this year's PGA Championship and just one day removed from being booked as a felon, Scottie Scheffler gave his caddie Ted Scott a day off. Sure, this was scheduled months in advance, but it doesn't make the timing of it any less significant. Ted returned home to attend the graduation ceremony for his daughter, Gabrielle.

“It was a pretty easy decision,” Scheffler said. “He told me at the beginning of this year that that was the date that it was, so I got a backup caddie lined up.” Scheffler, who had only become a father himself days earlier, already knew family comes first.

'Family comes first' is a motto or creed which comes from the lips of many business executives or employers. Yet, when push comes to shove, it is quite often work or chasing a profit which comes first and usually at the expense of the employee and their family.

Looking in the mirror myself, I realize I put work first for many years and also expected the same of my employees. I missed weddings, family get togethers, important moments in my kids lives and know for certain I kept others from doing the same. The stakes were too high. We all needed to be at work. But.. did we really? Or, had we lost sight of what is most important?

When Ted Scott left Louisville on Saturday of the PGA Championship, Scottie Scheffler fell from the top page of the leaderboard and lost his chance at becoming the first player to complete the grand slam of golf since Bobby Jones in 1930. Scottie would later share a part of it was the adrenaline wearing off from the prior days events. Others pointed to Ted Scott not being on the bag. However you see it, most saw it as failure. I am not one of them.

In life there are only so many moments, firsts or lasts which can be experienced with those we love most. For Scottie Scheffler and Ted Scott, there will be other major championships to pursue. For Ted Scott's daughter Gabrielle, the message was clear - you are the most important thing on this day. I cannot think of a better reminder for any child to receive on graduation day as they head off to begin another chapter in their life.