Scottie Scheffler’s Foundation for Success: Hard Work Beyond the Golf Course

During the Genesis Invitational, Scottie Scheffler faced a challenging shot from a fairway bunker. His ball was awkwardly positioned, requiring an unusual stance. Instead of simply escaping the bunker, Scheffler aimed to get as close to the green as possible, using a fairway wood. He executed a unique swing, adjusting his body to maintain balance as his foot slipped in the sand, yet he successfully landed the ball near the green and made par.

Scheffler commented that such shots require unconventional stances and swings to get the ball where it needs to be, something he feels he does well.

This moment highlights a less discussed aspect of Scheffler`s game. Beyond his exceptional ball-striking and fluid swing, his success is built upon a strong foundation. This foundation includes not only incredible skill, dedicated practice, and technical precision but also a significant emphasis on fitness. This fitness focus has been key to unlocking Scheffler`s peak performance over the last few years.

His performance coach, Dr. Troy Van Biezen, noted that Scheffler wasn`t initially focused on gym work. It was only after experiencing physical challenges in college that Scheffler recognized the importance of off-course training for injury prevention and high-level competition.

Last year was exceptionally successful for Scheffler, marked by a Masters win and seven other tournament victories. Despite a hand surgery after an accident and missing the start of this season, Scheffler, in his pursuit of a third Masters title, emphasizes the importance of process, especially pre-tournament preparation.

Van Biezen emphasizes the uncontrollable nature of golf elements like wind and unpredictable bounces, and even swing consistency. However, he stresses that fitness levels are controllable, allowing them to manage and optimize this crucial aspect.

Van Biezen recalls working with a young, 14-year-old Scheffler. Like many junior golfers experiencing back pain during growth spurts, Scheffler`s growth from high school to college was a pivotal point in his early career.

Van Biezen explained that rapid growth can cause imbalances and asymmetries. Golf`s repetitive motions can exacerbate these issues, leading to pain and injury. Scheffler`s rapid growth resulted in decreased flexibility.

Van Biezen, currently with the Dallas Stars, focuses on addressing physical weaknesses through mobility, stability, and strength training. His experience working with Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods has shaped his training philosophy.

Van Biezen recalls Tiger Woods emphasizing the importance of maintaining peak physical, emotional, and mental strength from the start of a tournament on Thursday to the final holes on Sunday.

Due to his growth spurt, Scheffler`s freshman year at Texas was challenging. Van Biezen collaborated with Scheffler`s swing coach, Randy Smith, and college coach, John Fields, to manage the physical changes affecting Scheffler as he grew significantly and worked to regain his amateur standing.

Despite Korn Ferry Tour wins and earning his PGA Tour card for 2020, Scheffler struggled to close out tournaments. Van Biezen identified cardiovascular fitness as a key area for improvement to enhance Scheffler`s ability to finish strongly on Sundays.

The solution was an offseason boot camp before 2021, focusing on building strength, flexibility, power, and especially endurance.

Van Biezen describes metabolic and high-intensity training designed to stress the nervous system, preparing Scheffler for the physical demands of major tournaments and enabling him to perform under pressure on Sundays.

While acknowledging that fitness alone isn`t everything, Van Biezen recognizes its significant contribution to Scheffler`s success. As Scheffler`s game sharpened and his Tour experience grew, fitness became a crucial advantage, leading to consistent wins. Scheffler has won all six PGA Tour events where he held a 54-hole lead (excluding the 2024 Tour Championship).

Scheffler mentioned that fitness training has eliminated aches and pains he experienced in college. He feels his body is now healthy and balanced, allowing for muscle building, a result of a long-term fitness journey.

Scheffler clarifies that his fitness focus isn`t solely on power or speed. It`s about consistently moving his body efficiently to prevent pain and optimize the specific movements required for a golf swing, as vital as mastering a 7-iron shot.

Scheffler explains that proper hip rotation enables better loading and power transfer, contrasting with movements that strain the body. He believes his workout routine is essential for maintaining his body`s performance over the past decade.

In the gym, Scheffler`s competitive nature is evident. Challenges like rowing sprints alongside fellow pros Tom Kim and Ryan Palmer fuel his workouts.

Van Biezen notes Scheffler`s competitive gym banter, recalling instances where Scheffler playfully challenges his peers, pushing them to perform harder during workouts.

Van Biezen quickly learned that incorporating competition was key to maximizing Scheffler`s offseason training.

Now, Van Biezen and his team can identify subtle signs indicating when Scheffler isn`t properly loading his right side, leading to swing issues and potential back discomfort. Swing coach Randy Smith is also attuned to these issues and communicates with Van Biezen, often sending videos for analysis and advice.

Van Biezen emphasizes his long-term understanding of Scheffler`s body movements. He uses this knowledge to design targeted gym exercises to correct movement patterns and activate specific muscle groups.

They use mobility exercises to improve Scheffler`s hip rotation, a small adjustment that significantly impacts ball-striking consistency, often making the difference between a good and an exceptional performance.

According to Van Biezen, Scheffler is inquisitive and seeks to understand the purpose behind his training. His success has solidified his belief in Van Biezen`s performance philosophy. Scheffler has expanded his recovery routine at home with cold plunges, red light therapy, and compression boots.

Van Biezen explains that while power and dynamic exercises are part of the training, the core is consistent corrective work focusing on mobility and stability. Scheffler understands and diligently performs these foundational exercises daily.

Scheffler follows a typical tournament week routine designed by Van Biezen. Monday is for heavy lifting, Tuesday focuses on functional mobility, and Wednesday is for pro-am play and light practice with no extra workouts. Pre-round mobility routines are adjusted based on tee times and daily needs.

Van Biezen emphasizes the dynamic nature of the body, influenced by factors like travel and rest. Their approach is to adapt training week by week based on Scheffler’s needs.

Nutrition, guided by Van Biezen and supported by Scheffler`s wife Meredith, is another optimization aspect. Meredith`s health-consciousness ensures Scheffler eats healthily, reinforcing Van Biezen`s nutritional guidance.

While generally eating well, Van Biezen educates Scheffler on nutrition, allowing some flexibility. The focus is on optimizing Scheffler`s condition before competition, but even top athletes have indulgences.

Van Biezen humorously mentions Scheffler`s love for pizza, which they manage by allowing it occasionally as a compromise within his overall diet plan.