Scottie Scheffler Moves Past an Emotional Return to Augusta National

With a recent visit to Augusta, the world No. 1 soaked up the perks of his 2022 win in order to be better focused for his title defense.

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Scottie Scheffler went to Augusta National last week for the first time since winning the Masters. Part of the visit was to enjoy the perk of getting to play the course anytime as a participant in the tournament. And Scheffler took advantage, playing on Monday and Tuesday with his father, Scott, and his swing coach, Randy Smith, along with an Augusta National member.

Scheffler wore his green jacket around the club, stayed on site, enjoyed the ambiance, and got to see the changes to the par-5 13th hole (he will now be hitting a driver off the tee instead of a 3-wood, in most instances).

But the visit had another purpose: to deal with the emotions of having won a major championship there.

“I’ve never done that throughout the years since I’ve been playing in the tournament," said Scheffler, who visited on Monday and Tuesday and will make his fourth Masters appearance next month. “I just go at tournament time. I never really had time before to go there for a couple days, but this time, made time for it and it was very special and I’m glad that we did it.

“We had a great time. It was good to kind of get some of the memories and stuff out of the way before the tournament starts. That way, I can just be focused on the tournament the week where we’re there."

Scheffler, who did a media conference call for the Masters last week, said going back into the clubhouse is when winning the tournament hit him again.

“Probably going back into the Champions Locker Room and seeing kind of everything and I guess kind of feeling a little bit of a different position at the club,’’ he said. “The Masters and Augusta National treats their champions extremely well. I was very fortunate to be able to go back there and enjoy being back on property, getting to wear the jacket on the golf course, getting to go to dinner and do all the stuff that you get to do out at Augusta National was very special.

“I think going back probably made it feel a little bit more real. Because at times this year … yeah, the jacket’s at my house, but at the same time nothing really seems exactly real. Hadn’t really sunk in.