Scottie Scheffler Says He Is Not Sure He Is the Best Role Model Despite TIME 100 Recognition
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260410 Scottie Scheffler of the United States during the second round of the 2026 Masters Golf Tournament on April 10, 2026 in Augusta. Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRAN / kod PA / PA1194 golf masters bbeng the masters augusta *** 260410 Scottie Scheffler of the United States during the second round of the 2026 Masters Golf Tournament on April 10, 2026 in Augusta Photo Petter Arvidson BILDBYRAN kod PA PA1194 golf masters bbeng the masters augusta PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxFINxDEN Copyright: PETTERxARVIDSON BB260410PA147
TIME named Scottie Scheffler as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, although his reaction was about as understated as it gets.
The PGA Tour announced on April 17 that Scheffler had been named to the Most Influential People of 2026 list. But the world No. 1 acknowledged it and then immediately questioned whether he belonged in that category. "I don't know if I'm the best role model," Scheffler reacted.
Scheffler maintained his characteristic composure when addressing the recognition.
"I'd much rather try and be a positive influence than a negative one," Scheffler said. "If I can be a positive influence on someone's life, that's a great thing. But at the end of the day, I don't know if I'm the best role model."
He talked about growing up with the dream of playing professional golf and feeling fortunate to have lived it out, but he was clear that the trophies and rankings are not what motivate him.
"That's not what satisfies me," he said, a sentiment he had already shared publicly at last year's Open.
This recognition came a few days after one of the strongest major performances of his career.
Scottie Scheffler’s Masters Run Shows Why He Deserves the TIME Recognition
Scheffler closed with rounds of 65 and 68 to finish 11-under at Augusta National. This was one shot behind champion Rory McIlroy. He also became the first player since 1942 to go bogey-free over the final 36 holes at the Masters.
His form before Augusta had slipped, with three straight finishes outside the top 10 after his streak of 18 straight top-10 results ended in February.
The 2026 Masters had a record $22.5 million purse, and Scottie Scheffler earned $2.43 million for finishing second. An AskGamblers analysis suggests he could lose more than $1 million in taxes, based on a combined federal and Georgia rate of 41.99 percent.
Even with that kind of money involved, Scheffler is still more focused on the kind of influence he has rather than how much he earns.
Read more at Daily Club Golf!
Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Pulkit Prabhav