Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy discuss their thoughts on legacy ahead of The Open: ‘we’re all going to die’
There’s nothing better than the final major of the golf calendar to turn some of the world’s best players into philosophers. Especially when the final major is the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, where an extremely dry course is expected to give way to firm fairways and tougher conditions.
Heading into this week’s tournament, the Champion Golfer of the Year is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has had a somewhat challenging season by his extremely high standards, including a stunningly missed cut at the Genesis Scottish Open last week. But before Scheffler won the tournament at Royal Portrush last year, he famously asked: “What’s the point of it all?” he said. As we discuss what it means to win and achieve success on the road.
Something about England must make Scheffler a bit introverted, because he’s at it again this year. When asked about these comments and whether he was playing for his legacy or his history, Scheffler couldn’t help but make a slightly “sick” joke about it.
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Scottie Scheffler of the United States is interviewed on the ninth hole during the Heroes Classic ahead of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, on July 14, 2026. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
“Not really, to be completely honest. I’m not really playing for a place in history,” he said. “I’m not playing for something like that because it’s going to sound a little morbid, at the end of the day I’m going to live my life and that’s going to be the end of it. When it’s over I’m going to go somewhere else and I won’t be here anymore.”
“Is this going to be a quote after last year’s ‘What’s the point’? (Will it be) ‘we’re all going to die’ this year?” He added with a smile.
Yes Scottie, this will definitely be this year’s quote.
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Rory McIlroy had similar thoughts when asked about his thoughts on legacy and what he hopes people will think of him.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy looks at the ninth green during the practice round before the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. (Warren Little/Getty Images)
“I really don’t care,” he said. “I’d like to think that the people who love and care about me think a certain way about me, but yeah, I’ll be long gone. I’ll die. I don’t think I’ll see what people say about me. I’ll be twenty feet underground. I don’t think I’ll be a ghost. I don’t think I’ll be a ghost, so… yeah, I don’t care.”
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Two of the best players in the world talk about death before a major championship tournament. Just what we’ve all been waiting for. And to be fair, they’re both right. It is up to others to determine legacy and history, and worrying about it during tournaments can affect their ability to focus from shot to shot. Golfers, in particular, need to be able to hit their last shot and move on to the next shot. Worrying about their place in history doesn’t fit this mentality.
Scottie Scheffler (left) and Rory McIlroy are in two key groups for the opening rounds of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (Getty Images)
Jordan Spieth won the Open by three shots at 12-under-par in 2017, the last time the tournament was held at Royal Birkdale, but the scores could be even lower next weekend. Yes, the course is solid and will force players to make tough choices, but conditions are expected to be mild, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60s, no rain, and mostly light winds.
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But what difference does it make since we’re all going to die at the end of the day?
