The World Number One, Scottie Scheffler, kicks off his 2026 season on the PGA Tour this week by competing in the The American Express at La Quinta, in California. In his official pre-tournament press conference, he delivered a speech as recognisable as it was solid, once again emphasising his particular way of understanding professional golf: competing from day one, focusing on the present, and accepting that improvement never stops, even when reaching the top, as in his case.
Scheffler explained that this tournament is a real benchmark for him to assess the state of his game after the winter break, much more reliable than any training session at home. “I like starting the season here because it’s a good way to measure where my game is at,” he noted. He insisted that “tournament golf is very different from practising at home; there’s nothing like going out there and playing 72 holes.”
“I don’t come to tournaments to fine-tune my game. I like to arrive prepared”
The Texan golfer, who will turn 30 next June, wanted to make it clear that he doesn’t see tournaments as mere testing grounds. His competitive mindset doesn’t understand rehearsals in front of the fans: “I don’t come to tournaments to fine-tune my game. I like to arrive prepared.” However, he acknowledged that after a long period without competing, there’s always a small adjustment to be made, something that is normal even for the world ranking leader: “You might have to shake off some competitive rust after a long break, but that’s normal.”
When asked about the pressure of maintaining his status as World Number One, Scheffler once again showed modesty. For him, every tournament starts exactly the same as for the rest of the field: “When you stand on the first tee, we all start at par. In golf, there are no advantages.” An idea that directly connects with his approach to the season, without specific goals and without obsessing over targets: “I’m not a particularly goal-oriented person; I try to focus on the present.”
“When you stand on the first tee, we all start at par. In golf, there are no advantages”
What Scottie did want to make clear is that having dominated the circuit with an iron fist in recent years doesn’t imply that a certain type of complacency can appear, quite the opposite: “There are always ways to improve. You can fine-tune a bit more in all areas of the game.” What is clear is that Scheffler enjoys being on the course: “I love competing, I love playing, and I love being out here. The PGA Tour does a great job of taking care of us, and the communities always welcome us very well.”
To conclude, the Number One left a reflection on golf and his way of finding motivation each year: “It’s a game that can’t be perfected, and that’s what keeps you coming back every day. There’s nothing better than hitting the ball exactly how you want.” Scheffler returns to the scene without fuss and with his usual calm demeanour, ready and willing to dominate the circuit from day one.
