Just like any human would, your mind starts to wander a little bit out there on the golf course. We’re out competing for four or five hours at a time and you’ve got to let your mind wander. I tried to soak in the stuff around me … I looked up at the trees at times and I looked up at the patrons occasionally to try to soak in some of their energy.

I did not let myself get attached to the lead. I just tried to keep pushing. I think if I had played a little bit defensively, it would have been a significantly different finish. I went for the green in two on 13, and was able to make birdie, and I attacked the pin on 14 and made birdie. Went for it again on 15 for a nice par, and I hit a really good shot on 16 to make birdie again. If I was just trying to make pars on the back nine, I would have been standing on 18 having to make par and hoping Ludvig (Åberg) would only make a par.

The Sunday morning this time around was definitely different than two years ago too. Instead of just me and my wife, Meredith at the house, I had a couple of my buddies with me, and we sat and relaxed, and I tried not to think about golf. But it was increasingly difficult. They were a great support for me and while it was a long morning, it was well worth it. I told my buddies I was a bit overwhelmed, and I wish I didn’t want to win it as badly as I did. I think it would make the mornings easier. However, I love winning and I hate losing. When you’re here in the biggest moments, when I’m sitting with the lead on Sunday, I really, really want to win badly.

My buddies then told me my victory was secure on the cross (Note: Scheffler’s faith is Christianity). That’s a pretty special feeling to know that I’m secure forever and it doesn’t matter if I win this tournament or lose this tournament. I get to come out here and compete, have fun, enjoy it; and then at the end of the day, win or lose, my identity is secure. So when I’m out there, I try to compete to the best of my abilities. I feel like that’s how I was designed. I’ve been that way since I was a young kid.

I wish I could soak this in a little bit more. Maybe I will when I get home. But at the end of the day, I think that’s what the human heart does. You always want more, and I think you have to fight those things and focus on what’s good.

I feel like I’m playing really good golf right now. I feel like I’m in control of my emotions as I’ve ever been, which is a good place to be. I feel like I’m maturing as a person on the golf course, which is a good place to be. I think it’s hard to argue with the results of the last few weeks. I’m going to go home and reflect on this win and soak it in as best I can. I try not to think about the past or the future too much. I love trying to live in the present. I’ve had a really good start to the year, and I hope that I can continue on this path that I’m on.