Scottie Scheffler said that in a press conference on Sunday, April 10, after winning the 2022 Masters Golf Tournament.

So why did he cry like a baby?  Was he sick?  Sore?  Tired?  Scared?

Here’s the context of his comment:

A reporter asked: “Scottie, how did you handle the late tee time today, and what did you do last night, what did you do this morning, and how many episodes of The Office did you watch?”

“Last night was pretty easy.  I was tired.  We went and got some food.  I spilled my dinner in the car on the way home; that was extraordinarily frustrating.  You can see Meredith [Scottie’s wife] is still laughing at me.  She thought it was the funniest thing ever; I didn’t think it was so funny at the time.  So, last night was fine, this morning [Sunday] was a totally different story.  I cried like a baby this morning; I was so stressed out.  I didn’t know what to do.  I was sitting there telling Meredith, ‘I don’t think I’m ready for this.  I don’t feel like I’m ready for this kind of stuff.’  I just felt overwhelmed… It was a long morning.  It was long... I calmed down when I got to the course.”

Another reporter addressed Scheffler: “You talked a lot about your desire to compete and how much that means to you.  How do you balance that desire to compete and to immerse yourself in it without letting it define who you are as a person?”

Scheffler answered: “It all goes back to my faith.  The reason why I play golf is because I’m trying to glorify God and all that He’s done in my life.  So, for me, my identity isn’t a golf score.  Like Meredith told me this morning, she said, ‘If you win this golf tournament today, if you lose this golf tournament by 10 shots, if you never win another golf tournament again, I’m still going to love you.  You’re still going to be the same person.  Jesus loves you.  And nothing changes.’  And all I’m trying to do is glorify God and that’s why I’m here and that’s why I’m in this position. So for me, it’s not about a golf score.” *

Scheffler’s score – 10 under par – was enough to win the tournament and receive the coveted green jacket of the Masters.  It is one of golf’s greatest honors and highest achievements.

But note again what Scheffler said, “My identity isn’t a golf score.”  That is a wonderful perspective – the right perspective.

God does not want us to “find our identity” in our occupations, our achievements, or our “jackets” (our clothing).  He wants us to find our identity in our relationship with Christ.

Without Jesus, we are lost, confused, and headed down a path to destruction – all because of our sins (Romans 3:23; 6:23).

Yet God still loves us.  He loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we can be saved and receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

With Jesus, we are saved, loved, and headed toward an eternity with Him (Romans 5:6-10; 6:23).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin and prepare for eternity those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

Who are you?  My prayer is that you will find your identity in Christ through your trusting obedience.