After winning the 153rd edition of The Open, golf’s oldest Major and the only one played outside the United States — across legendary courses in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland — Scottie Scheffler shared a statement that speaks louder than a thousand stats:
“I’ve learned a lot from watching him. The way he plays a tournament is different from many other players. He puts his whole self into every shot he hits on the course, whether it’s his first shot on Thursday or the last one on Sunday.”
He was talking about Tiger Woods. But what stands out in those words is more than admiration for a champion — it’s a whole philosophy of play. A mindset that strongly echoes the teachings of Zen.
Golf and Total Presence - In Zen philosophy, every action deserves complete attention — even the simplest, most repetitive one. Zen teaches us to be fully present in what we’re doing, whether it’s meditating or hitting a golf ball. Two central Zen concepts help illuminate what Scheffler was referring to:
- Zanshin – “the mind that stays”: full awareness that carries through every gesture, before, during, and after the action.
- Shoshin – “beginner’s mind”: the ability to approach each moment as if it were the first, with openness and focus.
Scheffler recognized something profound: Tiger Woods is a living embodiment of this attitude. Every shot is the most important. Every moment is decisive — from the first tee on Thursday to the final putt on Sunday.
Ancient Roots of Zanshin and Shoshin - These concepts were developed in medieval Japan by martial arts masters and the Zen monk Dōgen in the 13th century. In the 20th century, teachings like these made their way to the West and while Tiger Woods doesn’t describe himself as a Zen practitioner, it’s well known that he incorporated meditation, visualization, and mental discipline into his training from a young age.
A Lesson Beyond Golf - What Scheffler conveys is a lesson that applies far beyond golf. In any activity, the only moment we truly control is the present. And only by being completely present can we truly give our best. As a Zen master might say: “There is no small shot. Only full shots.”
