Scottie Scheffler, born on June 21, 1996, has rapidly ascended to the pinnacle of professional golf. From his days on the University of Texas golf team (2014-2018), where he contributed to a Walker Cup victory in 2017, to being named PGA Rookie of the Year in 2020 and achieving the #1 ranking in the PGA in 2022, Scheffler's journey is a testament to dedication and optimized performance. As of now, Scottie’s total PGA Tour winnings are estimated to be well over $91 million. He very recently won the Olympic gold medal for golf in Paris.
This article explores the diet and workout strategies that fuel Scheffler's success, demonstrating how he maintains peak physical and mental condition to dominate on the course.
Uncomplicated Approach to Fitness and Nutrition
One of the most striking aspects of Scottie Scheffler's approach to fitness and nutrition is its simplicity. He doesn't overcomplicate things, maintaining a routine that works for him both in terms of his golf game and his physical well-being. Scottie Scheffler likes to keep things uncomplicated. He does not complicate his training routine, his eating habits or his golf swing. Why should he? They are working for him.
GolfForever Training System
Scheffler wholeheartedly endorses GolfForever training tools. He utilizes a swing trainer to enhance his golf swing's rotation and burn calories, showcased through workout videos.
Personalized Training with GolfForever
GolfForever offers a video-based training system tailored to individual body types and schedules, aimed at improving movement, enhancing performance, and preventing pain. This system provides guidance from world-class doctors, coaches, and trainers, including those used by Scottie Scheffler and other tour professionals.
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The platform offers personalized plans that adapt to physical needs, evolving with the user, whether they are young, old, competitive, or simply seeking to avoid aches and pains. These plans incorporate warmups, flexibility exercises, and other routines designed to unlock key muscles, enhance range of motion, and add speed to the swing. It’s what your body needs - and your game.
The system is accessible through an easy-to-use app, streaming short routines to devices or TVs, and utilizes portable training equipment without requiring complicated setups.
Key Exercises for Golf Performance
GolfForever highlights specific exercises that mirror Scheffler's training approach:
- 2-Way Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch: Improves hip mobility, essential for a fluid golf swing.
- Single-leg Deadlift with Upper Back Rotation: Enhances stability and rotational power.
- Hip CAR with Alternating Lateral Lunge: Builds power from the ground up.
Evolving Fitness Routine
In his earlier years, Scottie practiced fitness by playing golf constantly. While Scheffler initially relied on constant golf play for fitness, he recognized the need for off-course workouts to prevent back pain. He now integrates targeted exercises to maintain his physical condition.
Caloric Awareness and Diet
Scottie generally keeps his calories at 2500 per day to maintain his weight. Scheffler maintains a daily caloric intake of around 2,500 calories to manage his weight, understanding the importance of balancing energy consumption with the demands of professional golf.
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Flexible Approach to Diet
He knows that an occasional bad hole isn’t going to ruin a round. It’s frustrating, but not devastating. Similarly, he doesn’t obsess over days that he overeats. He thinks of his daily calories as over par, under par or at par. He feels that he can lose or maintain weight without eating perfectly. Many of us keep on eating after we overeat. We don’t care as much since we have ruined the day. Scheffler adopts a flexible mindset towards his diet, comparing his daily calorie intake to a golf scorecard. He doesn't fixate on occasional overeating, viewing it as a single "bad hole" that doesn't ruin the entire "round." This approach allows him to maintain consistency without feeling overly restricted.
He focuses primarily on caloric awareness, being mindful of the number of calories he consumes. He understands that fluctuations are normal and that overall consistency is more important than perfection.
The Role of Endurance
Dr. Troy Van Biezen, Scheffler's trainer, emphasizes the importance of endurance in maintaining peak performance throughout the demanding PGA Tour schedule.
Building Endurance for Success
When he first came onto the PGA Tour, nobody knew who Scottie Scheffler was,” Troy said. “But one of the things I noticed was that he wasn’t able to close the deal. One of the biggest things was his endurance. To address Scheffler's initial struggles with closing tournaments, Dr. Van Biezen focused on building his endurance. This involved a combination of strength and speed training, along with high-intensity "burners" at the end of workouts.
Training Regimen
“We do a lot of strength moves, a lot of speed moves. At the end of the workouts, we do burners or hits. It can be riding a bike for 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off. It can be smashing a ball for 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off. It can be sled pushes. Something that’s cardiovascular taxing, because I wanted to challenge his nervous system; even during his post-workout.” These burners challenge Scheffler's nervous system and improve his cardiovascular fitness.
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Impact on Performance
The impact on the MastersAfter earning his first major title at the Masters last year, I asked Dr. Troy if he thinks Scheffler would’ve won without the help of strength training - especially given the length of Augusta National. Dr. Van Biezen believes that Scheffler's strength training has been crucial to his success, particularly given the physical demands of courses like Augusta National. He notes that the travel, time zones, and logistical challenges of the PGA Tour take a toll on players, making endurance training and recovery essential for staying at the top of one's game.
Advice for Amateur Golfers
For amateur golfers looking to improve their game, Dr. Troy advises focusing on mobility and flexibility.
Mobility and Flexibility
“You have to have mobility and flexibility,” he Troy said. “Golfing requires that, it’s just so important. I think a lot of amateur guys, what we often see is, while they’re in the gym and they workout, they just don’t have mobility and flexibility to move the way you need to in a golf swing… you have to be able to turn and move.” He emphasizes that many amateur golfers lack the necessary mobility and flexibility to execute a proper golf swing, even if they are strong.
The Mental Edge
Beyond physical conditioning, Scheffler also focuses on the mental aspects of the game.
Controlling the Controllable
“While you can’t predict the next gust of wind or a buried lie in the bunker, you can control how your body moves, your physical strength, and how prepared you are to execute the shots that matter most,” Scheffler says. Scheffler understands that golf is a game of managing the controllable elements. While external factors like wind and course conditions are unpredictable, he focuses on controlling his body, preparation, and mindset.
Breathing and Focus
The author in his green jacket with the Golf Performance Center's Tyler Campbell, Dr. Josh Brant helped the author to work on his breathing and connecting to his target before and during the golf swing. Working on breathing and maintaining focus on the target throughout the swing are key mental strategies he employs.