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sports Wednesday 30 March 2022
Scottie Scheffler's desire to compete takes him to the top

By DOUG FERGUSON rare emotion from Schef-
AP Golf Writer fler after he won. He was
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Scot- wiping away tears after so
tie Scheffler only ever want- many hugs with wife Mere-
ed to play. That started with dith, his parents, in-laws, sis-
watching. ters and friends. There was
Six years before Scheffler one particularly poignant
won the Dell Technologies moment with his father,
Match Play to become the Scott.
No. 1 player in the world, "You're pretty good at golf,
he felt lucky just to get tick- man," he told his 25-year-
ets to Austin Country Club old son. "I'm more proud of
during his sophomore year who you are than your golf.
at Texas, the toughest of his You're a wonderful young
four years in college. man."
Even then, there was a pur- Making it even sweeter was
pose. winning in Austin, where
"I would always try to watch Scheffler earned a degree
somebody," Scheffler said. from the McCombs School
"I remember watching Rory of Business in four years
(McIlroy) hit balls on the without summer school (he
range, and I remember works hard in the library,
hearing the noise that his Scottie Scheffler holds the trophy after winning the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship too). He considered it a
club head hitting the ball golf tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Austin, Texas. hometown win. And it was
made and being taken Associated Press redemption from last year,
aback. Like, 'Wow, this was when he was runner-up in
hit really solid.' said Sunday evening. the ball in play. Scheffler never looks beyond the the Match Play.
"I just remember watching "He was always up there described it as a long year. next shot, the next round, And oh yes, No. 1 in the
and kind of studying those around the tour pros when "That was hell," Smith said. the next tournament. world.
guys and just seeing what he was 8, 9, 10 years old. "His body didn't feel right. "It's not something that I "I never really got that far
I could learn, because And it was hilarious. He You see kids go through a didn't want to achieve or in my dreams," Scheffler
there's so many talented would just sit there like a growth spurt and there's didn't believe that I could said at the trophy presen-
guys out here and there's sponge. He'd sit over with pain involved, there's mus- do," Scheffler said. "I grew tation, choking up again. "I
so much I can learn from a shag bag, and then he'd cle growth, things that just up at Royal Oaks. I grew up just love to play golf. I love
them that any tidbit I could go off and try it himself. He don't work right." wearing long pants to go competing. I'm happy to
pick up on was going to be was jacking around with Through it all, Scheffler nev- practice because I wanted be out here, you know?"
beneficial." these guys, challenging er lost the feel in his hands to be a professional golfer. Smith was with him in Aus-
Randy Smith has seen all them to chip and putt and or the creativity between I dreamed of being out tin at the start of the Match
this before. compete." the ears — two of his great- here." Play and then returned
Smith, the PGA Hall of Fame A winner at every level, est attributes — or the de- Not winning until his 60th home. He is always work-
pro at Royal Oaks in Dallas, Scheffler experienced his sire to compete. start as a PGA Tour member ing, usually with juniors no
has worked with 10 juniors low point during his sopho- "Give him a left-handed set didn't bother him as much bigger than Scheffler once
who went on to play on more year at Texas when a of clubs and he'll figure out as one might think. He was was. He still recalls the boy
the PGA Tour. Scheffler was growth spurt in high school a way to beat you," Smith competing, and there was sitting on the Royal Oaks
6 when his family moved — now at 6-foot-4, he said. great joy in that alone. range, soaking up shots
from New Jersey and joined would have trouble hiding It was always about a And then he won three and picturing himself doing
Royal Oaks, and Smith can in a dumpster — caught up chance to compete, with- times over the last six weeks, the same.
still remember a boy small with him. His arms were sud- out contemplating where reached No. 1 in the world "It's not watching the last six
enough to hide in a trash denly longer. There were it might lead even as he and his head was spinning weeks, it's the last 18 years,"
can. back injuries. piled up trophies in junior trying to take it all in. Schef- Smith said. "We can talk a
Mostly, he remembers how After being named NCAA golf, college and now at fler didn't even realize the lot about golf swings and
he wanted to hang around freshman of the year, his the highest level. It's not top ranking was at stake all this and all that. But he's
the pros. only top 10 was finishing that Scheffler didn't think until Saturday. got the brain to carry it. He
"I'm not talking run-of-the- ninth in the Big 12 Champi- he was capable of being That only added to a mo- could really be something
mill mini-tour pros," Smith onship. He struggled to get No. 1 in the world. He just ment big enough to elicit special."q

Goodell: No timetable on NFL investi-

gation of Deshaun Watson

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A ual misconduct charges Our investigation hopefully
resolution to the NFL's inves- brought by 22 women. He will have access to more in-
tigation into Deshaun Wat- still faces 22 civil lawsuits. formation. We will speak to
son's conduct could take Goodell said "there is no everyone who can give us
some time, Commissioner timetable" for the NFL com- a perspective." As for a po-
Roger Goodell said Tues- pleting its investigation. tential suspension for Wat-
day. "We're going to let the facts son, Goodell noted that a
The quarterback, now with lead us, find every fact we discipline officer jointly ap- Cleveland Browns new quarterback Deshaun Watson speaks
Cleveland after a trade can," Goodell said. "At pointed by the league and during a news conference at the NFL football team's training fa-
from Houston, will not be least there is a resolution players' union would make cility, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Berea, Ohio.
indicted on criminal sex- from the criminal side of it. that determination. q Associated Press