Scottie Scheffler appears to be one of the most laid-back and modest people you will meet off the course. The World No. 1 does, however, have a reputation for being a touch heated on the course, which is understandable considering how much he wants to win every competition he enters.
Scheffler’s burning ambition has never, as far as we know, materialized in a club throw, club snap, or any other tangible form. Although Scheffler’s on-course frustrations did once explode during his Longhorn days, according to his former Texas golf instructor, it was due to a disagreement with one of his former classmates and current PGA Tour pro, Beau Hossler.
When asked about the incident—which started when Scheffler, a freshman at the time, inadvertently hit Hossler’s ball when they were both in the same group but playing in different matches—Fields responded, “That was almost a fight.” Scheffler and Hossler were paired together in both of the two sessions of the one-day competition, which was held in Lubbock and was sponsored by the rival Texas Tech Red Raiders. Scheffler was already hot because he had already lost his morning match.
During the afternoon round, Hossler and Scheffler both hit a drive that was 15 yards beyond the other on a par 5.
“Beau walks by this golf ball and he looks at it, and for whatever reason he thinks that he’s outdriven Scottie by 15 yards,” Fields explained. Beau glances at the golf ball as we pass right by it, and Scottie doesn’t seem to be thinking at all. When Scottie makes his shot and we approach the [other] ball, Beau turns to face the ball and says, “This is not my ball,” looking down.
Naturally, Scheffler was not overjoyed to learn of Hossler’s discovery.
“You would’ve thought Mount Vesuvius just went off, like we had a volcano 15 yards below us,” he stated. “Scheffler sprinted 260 yards to the green in a dead sprint, picked up the ball, ran back, and hurled it at Beau’s feet because he was so furious that he had hit the wrong ball. Scottie loses the hole now that Beau makes the accurate shot.
Even though he just lost a hole, it’s hurting him. And now that they’re arguing on the way up to the green, I eventually informed Beau, “We are not going any farther until you apologize to Scottie for that,” on the par-3 next hole.
Hossler finally agreed to apologize after some initial pushback, and they both went on. One reporter was able to resurrect the story during Hossler’s post-round news conference, asking him if coach Fields embellished the story slightly or if it was entirely accurate, given Scheffler’s previous success and his solid start at the Houston Open on Thursday. According to Hossler, it was definitely the latter.
“It wasn’t inflated, sorry. If anything, Coach Fields deflated it, according to Hossler. Before the regional, we were having this mess-around competition there. In essence, we were engaged in a game. He was playing a youngster from New Mexico, and I was playing a kid from New Mexico. I’m not sure if you’ve ever been to Lubbock, but the wind is always blowing.
Hossler went on, “I think that number two is kind of this blind par five.” “We both made a mid-range hit and did whatever. I strolled by the first ball and toward the second, which is ten yards ahead. I became aware that the ball I was standing next to was not mine when he struck it in the back.
Though our insignia differed, we were each using a Titleist anything, 3, featuring a longhorn. Mine was unmarked, but the other one was. He was not content. You’re the one who hit the wrong ball, I said to you. I know that’s not a — but I didn’t hit it like you did.”
It’s funny that when Fields first related the tale in January, he said Hossler had said the same thing before deciding to accept responsibility. You have to applaud Hossler’s stubbornness for believing Scheffler was at fault, even after over ten years.
“The transaction was awful. Though it didn’t imply anything, Hossler remarked, “It was just that we’re both very competitive.” The thing that I found most amazing about our Texas golf team was that every member of the squad was either a really skilled golfer or a pretty good player who was fiercely competitive. We were constantly itching to kick each other in the ass.
“He was plainly upset about the penalty that had been imposed. I don’t hold it against him if he’s not pleased. He was the only one who hit the incorrect ball, therefore I still believe it was his responsibility. I acknowledge that I need to have verified more thoroughly that the object was, in fact, mine, but nevertheless, it’s a compelling tale.”
According to Hossler, the bad blood persisted for just two hours. That’s what friendship is all about. It was alright after we boarded the plane to return home.
