In Praise of Scottie Scheffler and One of Golf's Most Liberating Feelings

Scottie Scheffler finished his third round on Saturday at 10 strokes off the lead.

In weeks past, we'd be discussing how yet again, Scheffler's in a position for a miraculous chase. But now that almost feels like simple clockwork. What I'm locked in on is the World No. 1's latest Golf Guy Crashout move. Hurling his golf ball safely and effectively into oblivion.

In years past, I've loved Scottie's go-to, post-shot exclamation—"How!?" That's the sound of a man who knows exactly what's supposed to happen all of the time. A man on a quest to conquer the unconquerable. The tension in the statement is palpable.

But relatable? Nah. I could ask myself this question on the golf course constantly. A few weeks back, I yanked a 5-iron approach out of the left rough. It hit a bench on the property and bounced further away from my intended target. I did not ask, "How?" I knew how.

But picking up 45 grams of betrayal and launching it out of your life forever. That is liberation. Scheffler has done this twice in recent memory. Most recently at Bay Hill.

You'll notice there aren't crowds of people, other golf holes, or residential backyards in the direction of his deployment. This is the moment within the moment. The spark that opens the door to getting over it.

Many times I've wanted to throw my cursed golf ball as far away as possible. Many times I've refrained due to surroundings, namely stuff that could break or people giving cop energy. But its the moment you look up in a rage and see the depths of the forest or the subtle wake of an actual lake that your inhibition is released. It's the green light. It's the hand stretched out toward you. It's Robert Redford in the woods with a beard giving you the nod of approval.

I know there's plenty of release buried deep within the opportunity to slam a club, kick the tire of your golf cart, or cut deep into your playing partner's insecurities with verbal insults.

But these are not the moves. That's just behavior you toss and turn in bed about later. Instead take the serene opportunity to transport back to lakeside fishing as a kid—picking up stones and seeing how much you've got in you. Or standing in the backyard showing your dad you can throw that baseball fence-to-fence. And the satisfaction you get as it lands in his mitt effortlessly.

Back in the now, you're saying goodbye forever. Not just to your golf ball, but to the moment, the mistake. You're becoming a master of compartmentalization. You're going to use a nice new ball on the next hole. The next hole is all that matters.

So throw freely my fellow golfsick humans. If the universe provides you a window in the form of a few acres of nothing. Give it a toss, keep that elbow tucked.

There are few better ways to release the anger out there, you just have to wait your turn.