For athletes, a career often unfolds in shining layers—each one built on the last, each one chasing greatness. For a football player, it’s the roar of a Super Bowl or the gleam of an MVP trophy. A basketball star might stack All-Star nods like bricks in a legacy. In golf, it’s the majors, green jackets, and world rankings. These layers define ambition, drive, and identity. But when an athlete becomes a parent… those layers shift in ways no trophy ever could.
Take Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 golfer in the world, for instance. Scheffler and his wife, Meredith, welcomed their first child, a son named Bennett, last year. Fast forward to now, and Scheffler shocked everyone when he revealed that being a professional golfer is “not fulfilling life.” He straight-up claimed that he’d stop competing if his profession began to affect his family life.
“I’m blessed to be able to come out here and play golf, but if my golf ever started affecting my home life or it ever affected the relationship I have with my wife or my son, that’s going to be the last day that I play out here for a living,” he recently said. “…I’d much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer. At the end of the day, that’s what’s more important to me.” Enter the NFL legend, Tom Brady, who has a different take on this.
In his 199 Newsletter, Brady reflected on the pyramids of life—your health, relationships, family, work, hobbies—and how no one can give everything 100% all at the same time. Brady observed, “Every layer of that pyramid is a priority… When the priority is to take care of your mental and physical health, which is #1 always, that’s what you do. First you take care of yourself, then your partner, then your kids, and so on. When the priority is to take care of your career, whether it’s a three-week training camp or four rounds of major championship golf, that’s what you do. When it’s time to get to work, work becomes the priority.”
He used Scottie’s recent statement as an example. “Scottie said he’d rather be a better father and husband than a good golfer,” the Patriots‘ legend continued. “And my question is: why are those mutually exclusive? Sure, they’re different blocks on the pyramid, but they’re part of the same pyramid. They’re connected! For instance, I think part of being a great father is being a great example of doing what it takes to take care of your family.
“I chose to do it by playing football. My dedication to the sport, the hours of practice, the moments when I was laser focused—those were times when I believe I was doing the best possible thing for my family and my kids, by prioritizing my profession and teaching, by example, what it takes to be really good at your job, what it takes to follow through on commitments, what it takes to be a great teammate; and showing them, also by example, that work is a big part of all of our lives.”
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Brady compared life to a pyramid made up of different layers. And it’s not just for the athletes. It’s for every individual. For him, it starts with yourself, which he calls the No. 1 priority. Then comes your partner or spouse, then your kids, and then your career or job. But when Scottie said that he’d rather be a great father than a golfer, Brady countered with his own point. He believes that you don’t have to choose. Those are not the different layers of the pyramid. Those goals aren’t in conflict.
For instance, Brady mentioned that he showed his kids what commitment looks like. Because they saw him wake up early, train hard, and keep promises to his team. His dedication helped provide for them. And as per Tom Brady, kids learn by watching. So, if you focus on the right part of your life at the right time, and do it with real purpose, then everything else gets stronger too.
Either it’s fatherhood or your relationship with your partner. It starts with yourself first, and is followed by the rest of your relationships. Partner, kids, and then career. At least that’s what Tom Brady believes.
Scottie Scheffler responds to family over profession debate
Career accolades are no stranger to Scottie Scheffler. At least that’s what we’ve been witnessing for years. PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, PGA Tour Player of the Year, PGA Tour FedEx Cup Winner, you name it. And now, the No. 1 golfer in the world is all set to officially start his quest to win his first British Open. But it’s not his profession, accolades, or winning golf tournaments that matter to him.
It does, of course. But not as much as being a husband of a loving wife and a dad to a little son. Scheffler made one thing clear: if he ever brings the bad things home as part of his golf career, it will start to affect his family. And if that ever happens, he’ll quit golf. And he explained honestly, “To get to live out your dreams is very special, but at the end of the day, I’m not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. I’m not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world because what’s the point?” He said.
“This is not a fulfilling life. It’s fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it’s not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart. Every day when I wake up early to go put in the work, my wife thanks me for going out and working so hard. When I get home, I try and thank her every day for taking care of our son. That’s why I talk about family being my priority because it really is.”
His statements are definitely worthy of your time, as Scottie honestly responded to the debate of family over golf by fans. Taken all together, one thing seems clear, a couple of things, to be precise: it’s just a matter of perspective when it comes to your career and personal life. While Scottie believes in family over golf, Tom Brady believes in figuring out the priorities straight. But in the end, both of them are right in one way or another.
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