PowderedToastMan

I didn’t say he needed something to bring him back to competitiveness. The entire point of the post is that it seems from his comments he’s not currently enjoying the game of golf or being on tour. His comments don’t scream longevity. It’s clear you didn’t understand the message of the post or appreciate the psychology of sport. I reference Michael Jordan in the first paragraph; if you’re old enough, you’ll recall him being the most competitive player in the league and retiring twice after winning a championship (burned out). MJ at 60 regrets not going for 8+ titles in a row. Jack Nicklaus played major-winning golf, with 5 children, from the early 60’s until the mid 80’s. If you’re a student of the game, you’ll recall Jack also had thoughts of quitting early but adapted in ways to keep him competitive (and when I say competitive, I mean the desire to compete, not his ability to compete, which you deeply misinterpreted and I’m not even sure you know the difference). Yes, Scottie won another major because he’s the best player in the world and it isn’t even close. However, if you understand athletes and what drives them, Scottie’s comments are understandable, but there’s a concern there. We want Scottie going for all-time records, not stepping away in his early 30’s. We want double digit majors, not 4. What stops Scottie from being an all-time great at this point is himself, not others. So before your next hot take, maybe do a second or third read through of the post. Something else you don’t seem to understand is burnout. Athletes win all the time while burnt out, but you can’t operate forever on a burned out level. I’m certain Scottie will continue to take steps to address that, likely with reduced tournaments going forward as an example of preventative measures. One last thing, folks on here should stop comparing Scottie to Tiger and realize that he’s actually potentially the next Jack Nicklaus. Scottie’s game is Jack’s adapted to the modern game, not even addressing the other similar aspects of the players.

I only watched this small clip, but what I see is a burnt-out athlete. Scottie isn't MJ, but MJ retired for the first time at around the same age, asking similar questions ("what's the point?"). A renewed desire to reach new heights, along with a stubborn ability to stay in the moment, brought MJ back. Bob Rotella talks about how the enjoyment/satisfaction comes from chasing the dream rather than achieving it. It seems like maybe Scottie has lost that a bit, which by the way, is a normal human reaction to the level of success he has currently reached. I largely agree with the sentiment expressed here that Scottie is showing maturity with his statement, having his priorities in a good place. However, I've talked with a lot of older athletes who quit or stopped trying as much in their prime years, who would have done it differently now. It's really a catch-22 that many people experience at the end of their lives. I will say that I don't hear people regretting spending too much time with their kids, but Scottie is living his dream right now on tour, and it seems like he's forgetting that. Yes, his family is much more important, but he's depriving himself of joy by not being mindful that he is living his dream right now. If he hasn't already, I hope he has a good talk with Jack Nicklaus. That man perfected the work-life balance and was fiercely present, whether on the course or with his family. I have no doubt though that with a solid break from golf, Scottie's question of "what's the point" will seem like ancient history and will instead go back to winning tournaments.