“He was out of time!” – When Tommy Fleetwood made the golf world wave, but Scottie Scheffler only needs 5 words to make everyone silent
Rome – one of the most shocking moments Ryder Cup this year does not come from the perfect swing or a fateful Putting phase, but from words. Tommy Fleetwood, a calm British golfer, made a golf of the golf when suddenly aimed at Scottie Scheffler – who was holding the No. 1 position in the world – after his dramatic victory in the tournament.
In the press conference after the match, Fleetwood did not hesitate to declare:
“He is out of time! Maybe we are witnessing the end of a era.”
That sentence sounded like a lightning in the clear sky. Those who were present in the press conference room were stunned, and social networks immediately exploded. Hashtag #schefflerdone began to spread, along with thousands of factional comments – one side appreciates Fleetwood’s frankness, the other side is indignant because it is an act of disrespect for a true champion.
Scottie Scheffler – who has just experienced a season that is considered “almost perfect” – did not react immediately. But just a few hours later, he appeared in the private interview area of the American team, calm as usual. And then, in front of dozens of cameras, Scheffler only said the correct five words:
“Champions Never Talk, They Prave.”
(The champion does not say – they prove.)
There is no need for any other words. The whole room was silent, and on social networks, the wave of criticism of Fleetwood immediately turned her head. A series of famous golfers, including Rory Mcilroy and Justin Thomas, expressed admiration for the way Scheffler reacted: strong, cold and extremely classy.
Mcilroy shared on Twitter:
“It is the style of a real number 1 in the world. Scottie does not need to shout for anyone to believe his value.”
Meanwhile, the legendary Tiger Woods is also said to have a private message to encourage Scheffler, praising him for “responding in the way of a true champion”.
According to experts, tensions between the two stars not only originated from the results of the Ryder Cup, but also from the comparisons lasting over the past year. Fleetwood has repeatedly referred to that Scheffler “too dependent on techniques” and “lack of emotions on the field”. However, with the No. 1 title in the world and a series of great victories in 2025, Scheffler does not need to prove anything more.
An ESPN analyst said:
“Fleetwood has chosen the wrong person to provoke. Scheffler is not an emotional reaction, but with achievements. And that’s what makes the opponents most afraid.”
Stress reached the peak when fans were waiting for whether Scheffler would continue to keep silent or will respond on the pitch. And he did as he said. In the next round, Scheffler recorded 5 consecutive Birdie, closing the day of competition -8, far beyond European opponent, including Fleetwood itself.
In the stands, American fans shouted: “Prove it, Scottie!” – “Prove it, Scottie!”
And he did that – no need for words, no need to argue, just with a perfect shot, as a cold manifesto about the champion’s level.
At the end of the day, when asked about the previous noise, Scheffler just smiled and said softly:
“I never care about what others say about myself. I only care about how I will beat the next fruit.”
A simple sentence, but contains all the spirit of a golfer that has been redefining what is “the number 1 bravery”.
As for Tommy Fleetwood, he probably learned an expensive lesson: Sometimes, in the golf world, the silence of the champion is the most resounding voice.
