This past weekend, Scottie Scheffler secured his second Masters win in three years, making him only the 10th golfer in history to do so. In his interview following his victory at the Augusta National Golf Club, he 27-year-old dedicated his win to God. “I was sitting around with my buddies this morning, I was a bit overwhelmed,” said Scheffler. “I told them, ‘I wish I didn’t want to win as badly as did I or as badly as I do.’ I think it would make the mornings easier. I love winning. I hate losing. I really do. And when you’re here in the biggest moments, when I’m sitting there with the lead on Sunday, I really, really want to win badly. My buddies told me this morning, my victory was secure on the cross,” he said. “And that’s a pretty special feeling; to know that I’m secure forever and it doesn’t matter if I win this tournament or lose this tournament. My identity is secure forever.” Scheffler later added, “I believe that today’s plans were already laid out many years ago, and I could do nothing to mess up those plans. I have been given a gift of this talent, and I use it for God’s glory. That’s pretty much it. So when I’m out there, I try to compete to the best of my abilities … I feel like that’s how I was designed. … At the end of the day, my identity’s secure already.”

Scheffler, whose wife Meredith is expecting their first child, said that while his victory is amazing, his family remains his top priority, with golf “probably fourth” down the line. “I feel like playing professional golf is an endlessly not-satisfying career,” Scheffler said. “For instance, in my head, all I can think about right now is getting home. I’m not thinking about the tournament. I’m not thinking about the green jacket. I’m trying to answer your questions, and I’m trying to get home. I wish I could soak this in a little bit more. Maybe I will tonight when I get home. But at the end of the day, I think that’s what the human heart does. You always want more, and I think you have to fight those things and focus on what’s good. Because, like I said, winning this golf tournament does not change my identity. My identity is secure, and I cannot emphasize that enough.” He also shared how his wife’s prayers were a big part of his success this weekend. “She sent a lot of prayers,” he said. “My neck was bugging me a little bit. She just prayed for some healing and prayed for a lot of peace out there.” Despite the pressure Scheffler felt on the course, he said he felt God’s presence. “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. So that’s her prayer every day. That’s my prayer and I really felt that today. I felt at peace,” he said.